Elderton Estate Barossa Shiraz, 2014

This is a classic Barossa Shiraz--big, bold and ripe. But it has more fruit flavors and less tannin than many of its Barossa siblings. The wine was aged in "predominantly 2nd and 3rd fill American puncheons" for 24 months. French oak barriques, widely used in New World as well as Old World wines, hold 225 liters; puncheons are 500 liters so they are much less likely to impart smells and flavors to the wine, particularly if they are in their second or third fill.

Very dark at the center shading to medium dark crimson. Under screw cap, the wine is still showing very young. Voluminous aromas of black raspberries, dark chocolate, vanilla, mint and cloves. Much of the same on the palate. Not very much acidity to suit my taste but lots of sweet fruit flavors, plums and cherries as well as raspberries. Tannins are there but seem to add rather than detract from flavors. Gets better and better over the course of the meal. I would not hesitate to keep this for another five years but it is very enjoyable now.