Leasingham 2001 Classic Clare Shiraz PlonkOz04

It is with fond memories I remember buying this wine for $25 or less a bottle and it never failed to impress when it pulled out of the cellar years later. The 1994 which won the JWT is drinking superbly now and the 96 is still improving so the wine was definitely capable of ageing and improvement.

Attractive, ripe plum and blackberry fruit with abundant vanilla and coffee oak is clean and well balanced with the pure fruit just strong enough to shine through. Tannins are smooth, and the acid balanced which combines to produce an ample weight, supple velvety wine with a simple level of complexity. A well made "grey suit" (boring) wine that gets lost in the crowd. With a current RRP of about $45 it is rated as Recommended with ** for value, the rating may improve in a few years as the wine matures. If this is progress, I am happy to be called a Luddite.