I had high hopes that the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes would score in the low to mid-90s out of bottle

will keep the wine in good shape for the long haul

dry and solidly intense with excellent mid-palate concentration before culminating in a penetrating and mineral-suffused finish that delivers very fine length

A magnificent freshness pervades on the long finish

It has a medium ruby color and bright aromas of cranberries

Kilikanoon, Oracle Shiraz other_regions_italy I had high hopes thatThe 2002 Shiraz Oracle, which I reviewed last year, has gotten even better with an additional year of bottle age. From the Clare Valley (a slightly cooler climate region), it spent 24 months in 100% French oak (50% new), and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Its inky purple color is accompanied by sumptuous aromas of graphite, blueberries, blackberries, cassis, and subtle oak. There is great fruit on the attack, full body, wonderful elegance,