2014 Ares

The 2014 Shiraz Ares is the flagship Shiraz and is a barrel selection that sees two years in new and once used French oak. Inky colored, with a sumptuous bouquet of ripe black fruits, smoked meats, menthol, exotic spices, and hints of scorched earth, it stays tight and compact on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a big, dense mid-palate, and a big finish. It’s holding things close to its vest and I suspect will be better with two to three years of bottle age and should keep for a decade.