The Pioneer Shiraz 2014 90 WE Jan20

…Dense and chocolatey, like a Black Forest cake… tangy red-fruit and licorice notes. There’s plenty of wood-spice and cola character from the oak influence, too. The palate is held firmly in place by powerful, woody tannins but the fruit is rich enough to hold its own. Big, polished and fairly well balanced, this should continue to cellar until 2029. – C.P.