Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz 2009

Stuart McCloskey, tasted May 2025 "All the fruit was lovingly hand harvested from vines ranging from 94 to 100+ years of age. Matured in new American and French oak hogsheads for two years. Originally released after 5-years of maturation. Extraordinarily inky black colour, which does not indicate the wine’s age. The bouquet is a different story as the wine has turned towards wonderfully complex, tertiary aromas of liquorice, beef broth, wood smoke, kirsch, spice-box, charcoal, graphite, pen ink, camphor, soy, kelp, warm earth, old leather, piping tobacco, mushroom consommé, earl grey tea, and comes to a rousing ending with menthol. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again – the aromatic complexity, one that evolves in my glass, provides as much pleasure as the act of drinking. I could genuinely spend hours swirling and sniffing. This is very much my kind of Aussie Shiraz – one that forces you to slow down and pay attention. Time has been very kind – the edges and tannins have been softened, pristine in its balance, a weightlessness without compromising on flavour. Overall, you are left with an unerring sense of harmony. It feels more like an aged Pinot Noir than a burly Shiraz… I can imagine myself sitting in a leather chair – in some posh, historic, London club, dipping the end of my imaginary fat cigar into my glass of ’09 Meshach. There is a sense of presence and grandeur - This wine tells a story and transports you to a better place. Amazingly, it has still not reached full maturity however, and for my palate, it’s not far off perfection. I can genuinely understand the wine’s release price. Without question this drinks like a £100+ bottle of wine. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware (great for the bouquet). Decant for 1-2 hours and enjoy the wonderful journey. Drink now to 2030+."