WTN: 2002 Shirvington Shiraz

Huge extracted nose of black fruits, oak, bubblegum and alcohol when opened. Massive and monolithic on the palate with dense black fruits, vanilla, low acidity and a plush texture. I struggled to drink this at first, but it became a bit more pleasant with time as chocolate and minty notes emerged and the oaky flavours calmed down slightly. The finish is incredibly long, but shows a lot of alcoholic heat. Not my style of wine, but better than I'd expected/feared. This was actually drinkable at periods (when the oak subsided and it took on a mint-chocolate flavour profile), but definitely not a wine I'd ever want to sit down and drink.

I've only tasted a Shirvington once (don't recall the vintage) but it was a Pam Anderson type of wine...lots of people like that style, but I find it (and her) disgusting and unappealing.

'Winger

This was actually drinkable at periods

Ahh the effect of the cooler vintage

I've also had the 02 Cabernet. This was superb in comparison - I was fearing something truly undrinkable (for me at least), after finding that their Cabernet barely resembled wine.