2005 Pure Love Wines Desert Eagle Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia. 14.5%. $16.99 at Beekman, Glen Rock. Distributor not on label. "One Hundred Percent Pure Shiraz."
Deep red color, deep hue, excellent aroma of berries, spice and earth, restrained fruit and spice tastes hidden a bit by very firm tannins, but very promising with a few years of cellaring, medium mouth feel, a very long finish with wonderful spice, earth and fruit notes. A light oakiness that is quite pleasing. Very promising and very unusual at this price point from the Barossa. 3* now, but I'm sure it will be much more satisfying with cellar age. No EGA; served in plastic cups for legal reasons [!]. The eagle on the label is just wonderful, worth $17 just to own him.
Notes:
Beekman: Jayson Woodbridge produces the cult wine Hundred Acre Cab at $250 per bottle. With fellow winemaker Philippe Melka, Jayson is also involved with an Australian project. Like Layer Cake, Desert Eagle comes from sustainably farmed, low-yielding (3-4 tons per acre versus 7-8 tons typical of Barossa) vineyards. Part of the wine spends time in new French oak and it is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfuring. It diplays inky, dark, maroon hues as well as fresh blueberry and blackberry fruit. The wine showcases a terrific balance of power and elegance, a departure from the typical Barossa Valley fruit bomb.
Winemaker: http://www.vintagepoint.com/PureLove
Named for the Wedged Tailed Eagle: The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia's largest living bird of prey and one of the largest eagles in the world. It reaches 0.85-1.05 m in length and has a wingspan of 2.3 m. Females are larger than males, averaging 4.2 kg in weight and occasionally reaching 5.3 kg. Males usually weigh about 3.2 kg, although they may reach 4.0 kg. Australian Government Site.
