Review by: Robert Parker
Wine Advocate: Issue 167, October 2006
Rating: 98 POINTS Drink now - 2026

A new offering, the 2004 Shiraz Attunga 1865 comes from a Clare Valley vineyard planted in 1865. According to Kevin Mitchell, it is the oldest commercially active vineyard still producing in the Clare Valley. Aged 25 months in 100% new French hogsheads, this is a single vineyard cuvee of extraordinary elegance (rather than power). It is amazing to see how this old vine Shiraz fruit has resulted in a wine that is very linear, deep purple-colored, with notes of creosote, blueberries, crushed rocks, and acacia flowers. While it possesses extraordinary richness, what the taster gets is a sense of definition, elegance, finesse, and tremendous intensity. It appears to be seamlessly constructed, but I suspect more tannin will emerge once it has had some time in a cold cellar. It will be fascinating to follow this wine's evolution over the next two decades.