Counterpoint Vineyards Moonambel Victorian Shiraz, 2001

At 10 years of age, this Shiraz is drinking nicely. The color is unambiguously deep and dark, and the black fruit-oriented aromas and flavors are intense. It's a full bodied and powerful wine, and the alcohol content is only 14.5%, but the finish has a menthol quality that reminds me of some Rhone wines from the warm 2003 vintage. Very enjoyable with the first few sips but soon gets tiring on the palate. Seems to me the alcohol and fruit are slightly out of balance at this stage of the wine's development.