Kaesler, Old Bastard, Barossa Valley 2004

Kaesler’s icon cuvee is their Shiraz Old Bastard, produced from a single vineyard planted in 1896, and aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. The 2004 is a big yet remarkably elegant, deep purple-colored Shiraz offering notes of blueberries, black raspberries, and toasty oak, a superb texture, admirable richness, and a long, heady finish. There is plenty of tannin lurking beneath the cascade of fruit, glycerin, and extract. While accessible, it is too young to drink at present, and is meant to keep for 2-3 decades. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025+. Importer: Ben Hammerschlag, Epicurean Wines, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 923-1376

• Drinking Window: 2008 - 2025
• Reviewer Name: Robert Parker
• Review Date: October 2006