2002 Mitolo Shiraz GAM

Full ruby-red. Gamey, Northern Rhone -like aromas of roasted currant, violet, gunflint, minerals, bitter chocolate and licorice, with an overlay of sexy French oak. Concentrated, juicy and penetrating, with saline flavors of tangy black fruits and licorice. Wonderfully sappy wine with terrific inner-mouth energy. Finishes long and firmly tannic but not at all hard or dry. I like this style. (Epicurean Wines, Seattle WA

Produced from 26-year old vines and aged in French oak (80% new), the 2002 Shiraz G. A. M. reveals tremendous fruit purity, but it does not yet reveal secondary nuances. The inky blue/purple color is accompanied by aromas of ink, camphor, graphite, blackberries, and blueberries. While it possesses tremendous purity as well as an enormous full-bodied texture, it is neither heavy nor overbearing. This stunning Shiraz may be even better than the 2002 Savitar. Time will tell. Barrel samples of three 2002s revealed tremendous potential in what appears to be the finest efforts Mitolo has yet produced. There are 300-400 cases of each, and all three are scheduled to be bottled in October. Kudos to young importer (31 years old!) Ben Hammerschlag for unearthing these potential superstars. Importer: Benjamin Hammerschlag, Epicurean Wines, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 923-1376

Produced from 26-year old vines and aged in French oak (80% new), the 2002 Shiraz G. A. M. reveals tremendous fruit purity, but it does not yet reveal secondary nuances. The inky blue/purple color is accompanied by aromas of ink, camphor, graphite, blackberries, and blueberries. While it possesses tremendous purity as well as an enormous full-bodied texture, it is neither heavy nor overbearing. This stunning Shiraz may be even better than the 2002 Savitar. Time will tell. Barrel samples of three 2002s revealed tremendous potential in what appears to be the finest efforts Mitolo has yet produced. There are 300-400 cases of each, and all three are scheduled to be bottled in October. Kudos to young importer (31 years old!) Ben Hammerschlag for unearthing these potential superstars. Aug 2003, www.robertparker.com