2003 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon offers up aromas of cassis liqueur, graphite, toast, smoke, and camphor along with huge body, gorgeous sweetness as well as purity, a multilayered texture, and a colossal finish. I would opt for drinking it over the next 7-8 years, but keep one bottle back until age 12-15. There is so much here it is hard to believe this wine will collapse after 8-10 years of age. Interestingly, this 2003 does not appear to be quite as powerful or concentrated as the 2002s or 2001s, but that’s like splitting hairs. The evolution of this 2003 will be fascinating to follow. (RP) Review Date: October 2004