“Restrained and pleasing, with good fruit and backbone.”   * *

	- Eric Asimov - New York Times - 21 March 2006

“A well-balanced, easy-drinking wine with a touch of spice.”   Critics Award

	- Leslie Sbrocco - 2005 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition - 28-29 May 2005

“spicy white pepper with hints of chocolate and vanilla.”

	- Entrée - October 2004

“Soft, ripe and peppery, with good berry and licorice flavors that linger.  Drink now through 2007.”   85

	- Wine Spectator - 15 September 2004

"Although a touch lighter in color and body, they still deliver full flavor and great value. "

	- Roger Rutan - REGISTER-GUARD (OR) 22 January 2003

"A great buy. Black cherries and dark chocolate, with firm but appetitive tannins. "

	- "The Big Red Ones" Alistair Highet

"In this happy, balanced marriage of 60 percent Shiraz and 40 percent Cabernet, the intense fruitiness of the Shiraz is countered perfectly by the structure of the Cabernet."

	- Sky Magazine - November 2001

"Bright ruby in color with good long legs, this wine has a big sweet nose of black cherry and caramel. "It's a pretty nose," remarked one taster. Full bodied and rich on the palate, the wine is well structured with mild tannins and thick with jammy cherry and currant flavors accompanied by subtle spice notes. The flavors linger with a delightful clove finish. This wine was excellent with the food; another star of this tasting."

	- TableWine.com - January 2001

"This very fruity blend has some interesting and complex notes on the nose, with herb, chocolate and sweet spice elements. A choice quaff that is soft on the palate, with lots of sweet fruit, it has a slightly tart, bittersweet chocolate note that provides a pleasingly drier, more serious finish than expected."   86

	- Wine Enthusiast - November 2000

"...has a light, bright nose of juicy red cherry, plum, and raspberry. The palate and finish continue the bright and juicy fruit character with berry, cherry, raspberry, and some pepper over light tannins."

	- The Colorado Wine News - October 2000

"...surprisingly elegant...medium-bodied wine with a lot of intensity, offering flavors of black cherry, black pepper, blueberry and chocolate. There's a racy quality to the wine that would make it an excellent companion to grilled food and pasta...offers a lot of vibrant character..."

	- Michael Dresser - Modesto (CA) Bee - September 2000

"Roast leg of lamb and meat pies are complemented nicely by the generous fruit flavors and rich, full body of either Cabernets or 'old vines'."

	- Dave DeSimone - Pittsburgh Post Gazette - September 2000

"Intensely fruity, deep, concentrated and spicy. The fruit is along the lines of a plum reduction cut with fresh berry juice, buoyed by firm acidity that lifts the finish. The tannins are in check, making this wine a good bet for current consumption."   88

	- Epicurean - August/September 2000

"...bright and tart with a light texture. There are generous fresh, berry fruit flavors. This tasty quaffing wine will leave you saying, "More, please."

	- Diane Teitelbaum - The Dallas Morning News- June 2000

"This medium-bodied blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon is a surprisingly elegant version of this common Australian combo. It's a medium-bodied wine with a lot of intensity, offering flavors of black cherry, black pepper, blueberry and chocolate. There's a racy quality to the wine that would make it an excellent companion to grilled food and pasta... a lot of vibrant character for such a low price."

	- Michael Franz - Times - May 2000

"Senior Winemaker Tom Newton has created a small gem, for it is filled with pleasantly rounded dark fruit flavors that are enriched by suggestions of pepper-spice and vanilla. The tannins of this delectable red wine are notably soft, and its finish is bright and well-balanced."

	- Robert Neralich - Arkansas Democrat Gazette - March 2000

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