Henry's Drive Vignerons
Pillar Box Reserve
Shiraz
Padthaway, Australia
2007
15%
$15.98 -- Wine Library, Springfield, NJ
Color: Opaque blood red
Nose: Clove, blackberry jam, a little heat
Body: Full and creamy
Front: Blueberries, cafe au lait
Middle: Cherry, pepper, sage
Back: Asphalt, cedar
Burns clean?: Yes, mostly
Cap: Screwcap
Break out the roasted beets and the grilled lamb and the syrah. It's winter. Pillar Box is, I assume (loyal readers, spank me if I am wrong), sort of a "second label" of Henry's Drive, which makes a killer syrah. Back in the day I had the Pillar Box Red, and found it lovely, if uncomplex. This is a step up in every way, and not terrifically more expensive.
One of the most interesting things about it to me is the texture of the wine. The flavor profile isn't all that uncommon in Australian syrah. There's a bit more going on in it than, say, the Marquis Philips wines, but they're a dollar or two cheaper and easier to find. But they don't have the elegant roundness, the creamitude, of this bottle.
