Riddoch Coonawarra The Author Shiraz 2019

An inviting generosity of fruit has allowed for a greater emphasis on oak here. The Author laps it up, turning on a cedary, charry, savoury show of force. Blackberry, blackstrap licorice, chocolate, woodsy spice, cedar, smoky aromas. An ample Coonawarra Shiraz by any measure, it delves further into savoury and spice territory on the palate with more oak weighing in with bacon, smoked meats, earth, truffle, chocolate against a blackberry fruit intensity. And, my, how the spice shines: nutmeg, star anise, clove with a splash of menthol. Tannins roll fine and smooth completing the rich, complex scene. It may seem strange to note in a four-year-old Coonawarra Shiraz, but despite being a wine of plenty, it needs more time to fully integrate, to meld and to achieve full balance. It’s impressive but the best is yet to come.