DogRidge 2002 DV7 Shiraz PlonkOz04

A new name that I knew nothing about, the winery is located in McLaren Vale. In the past, the fruit has been sold to others and CellarMasters was using the label name, but not anymore. Mike Brown (of Gemtree) is now their winemaker so with access to good fruit and a talented person doing the work, the wines should be credible. Wayne Dutschke made the 2002 wines I sampled. The grapes for this wine come from a single vineyard planted over 60 years ago. The wine is sealed in Stelvin.

Deep, pure fruit showing plum, blackberry, chocolate and mulberry have loads of flavour and persistence. There are just enough smooth tannins to hold the structure together and provide a solid backbone; the acid is balanced but youthful and provides a contrast to the sweet fruit. Ample-weight, the complexity is agreeable and the consistency supple but it is showing youthful characters and the wine will be better in another few years. Rated as Recommended with **** for value (based on the case price of $25 a bottle) the rating should increase as it matures around 2007+.