Dark color and no obvious bricking. Definitely on the red fruit side of the ledger, with red currant and lean berry notes. There was some debate about the acid..I thought it was definitely there while another taster thought the wine too flabby or soft. Not sure where he was coming from there???? Tannins are definitely soft and integrated. The 1998 bell pepper quality is here, too, mixed in with the red fruit. While I greatly preferred the 2003, this was a very fine, elegant, soft, and easy drinking mature Cali Cab. Bravo, again! 88 points.
2001 Tower Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz. From the "Peter Lehman Private Estate" vines. Completely different, of course, than the Hunter Valley I've enjoyed so much...but actually quite delicious in its own way. Whereas the Hunter is all about the red fruit and the acid, THIS wine is all about black fruit and black pepper. Licorice, earth, blackberry...but very dry, not sweetly "fruity." There is also savory, lovely acid in this wine that really makes it slurpable. A solid 90 points for me.