Henry’s Drive ‘Pillar Box’ 2012 Red and 2013 Shiraz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Henry’s Drive ‘Pillar Box Red’ Padthaway Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2012
  Blended Red from Australia - South Australia

  Review Date : 13-Nov-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, even, black-hued ruby-red colour. The nose is gentle and smoothly presented, quite slender in proportion, showing uncomplicated ripe dark red berry fruit with nuances of plums, expressed with a degree of restraint. Subtle eucalyptus, ink and spice notes emerge with aeration. Medium-full bodied, the mouthfeel is soft and plush with smooth and gentle flavours of sweet dark red plum and berry fruit. The fruit expression is light, but the palate has weight and vinosity, with soft tannin structure and integrated acidity. Eucalypt, ink and chocolate nuances unfold to merge with the plum and berry fruit, and the wine flows to a soft, light finish with a little alcohol heat. This is a soft, integrated, ripe, plummy Shiraz-blend with somewhat shy expression. Match with barbecued fare and casseroles over the next 2-3 years. A blend of 66% Shiraz, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot fermented to 14.5% alc., and fermented in tank with no oak contact. 17.0-/20 Nov 2015 RRP $20.00 Full, very dark, near impenetrable black-red colour with youthful purple hues. This has a tightly concentrated, stylishly restrained nose with good depth of ripe blackberry fruit interwoven with black pepper and blackcurrants, the aromatics lifted by spices and cedary oak. Fullish bodied, the palate is firmly concentrated with a core of rich blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. The fruit is sweet and lush, revealing black pepper, Asian spices and cedary oak layers. Fine-grained tannins provide line and structure, and the palate has drive, leading to a long, elegant spicy finish. This is a firmly concentrated and structured Shiraz blend with a rich and sweet core of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Match with roasted red meats and hard cheeses over the next 5+ years. 66% Shiraz, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from estate Padthaway vineyards, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 6-8 months with 60% French and 40% American oak. 17.5-/20 Mar 2015 RRP $19.99
• Henry’s Drive ‘Pillar Box’ Padthaway Shiraz 2013
  Syrah from Australia - South Australia

  Review Date : 13-Nov-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, near saturated purple-hued black-red colour. This has a full and voluminous nose of ripe and layered spicy black berried and plum fruit, interwoven with liquorice, mint, piquant spices, and oak vanilla melded with cedar and eucalypt. This is smooth and harmoniously integrated. Medium-full bodied, full, rich and softly succulent fruit flavours of ripe black plums blackberry fruit, exotic Asian spices, liquorice and eucalypt are harmoniously melded with cedar, vanilla oak and mint, forming a deep core. This has considerable tannin extraction and presence, but is balanced by the fruit opulence, providing a plush, supple mouthfeel. Light and soft acidity enhances the richness and the wine flows smoothly to a densely packed finish with plum, chocolate and vanilla oak flavours. This is a full, softly concentrated and succulently rich Shiraz with integrated plum, cedar and eucalypt flavours. Match with slow-cooked game meat over the next 6-8+ years. 100% Shiraz fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 60% French and 40% American oak. 18.5/20 Nov 2015 RRP $25.00