Henry's Drive Reserve Shiraz 2001-

I've read previous reviews,and agree this is a stunning shiraz.

Inky/Opaque Colour, when you put your nose in the glass you know instantly it can only be aussie shiraz.The palate is crammed full of sweet damson fruit,touches of mixed spice and liquorice.
It is a real pleasure to drink now,tannins are super supple and it has massive depth and length.
Not sure it will keep,and feel it will be at it's best in a year or two.
The only trouble is it's hard not to polish off a
bottle yourself in a session.

Beckman,
Agree wholeheartedly on the Henry's reserve. But tell me please, what is damson fruit? Something indigenous to Down Under?

Cheers!
And remember: Life's too short to drink bad wine.

King -

If it's the same damson I know, it's a small tart plum usually used in jam (to tart to eat by itself). Growing up with a tree in the back yard even the birds wouldn't touch it - but man is the jam tasty

Thanks Eric. This will be filed under learn something new everyday.

Cheers!
And remember: Life's too short to drink bad wine.

I see the Brits use "damson" quite a bit, so looked it up once.
The MP & HD shiraz that I've had all make me start to sing (to myself, fortunately for everyone else ) The Kinks' "Lola".

is the 2001 better than the 2000?

Can't make a direct comparison between '00 & '01 for either the regular shiraz or reserve. Didn't have the '00 Reserve and haven't opened the '01 regular shiraz. Loved the '01 regular, but '01 reserve is big step up.

Let's roll...

Damson, is a small dark/blue plum, that is often made into an exotic jam/preserve.
I grew up in England and my Grandmother use to make it,but it is an English thing ..

LOVED the regular Shiraz, just got 4 bottles of the Reserve for $36. Thanks for the notes, I can't wait to try (he says as he finishes his glass of the regular 2001.... )

thank you redmeat,

but my question is still unanswered!

wich is better 2000 s-reserve or 2001 s-reserve?

What I meant was

"Loved the '00 regular, but '01 reserve is big step up."

Can't compare the regular and reserve bottlings for either year.

Let's roll...

I had this wine for the first time at a syrah/shiraz tasting this past weekend. All 13 wines were tasted blind. The '01 Henry's Drive Res. Shiraz was my WOTN and the group's #2 IIRC and it went against a great lineup of heavy hitters. Agree with the notes already given. This is a blockbuster wine and I highly recommend it. I just finished the 1/2 bottle that was leftover from the evening (there were only 6 of us and 13 bottles) and the wine is just as good 3 days later. Slightly darker but still balanced and drinking beautifully.

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For Boston! For Boston! We sing our proud refrain!

• 2001 Henry's Drive Shiraz Reserve - Australia, South Australia, Padthaway (10/9/2005)
  Purchased on release for $40. Great depth of color. Plummy, eucalyptus nose. The mouthfeel on this wine is absolutely superb - plush and velvety, but just shy of syrupy. Full-bodied and smooth, with the same velocity as a chocolate milkshake. The flavors echo this, with chocolate and sweet-extracted cherry. Long caressing finish, with a touch of coconut. This is a case where oak is clearly copious, but working symbiotically with the fruit and structure of the wine. Outstanding now. Could be at its peak. Paired well with Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine and Celery Root Mash. (94 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Cheers,

Otis

Geez, sounds like I need to move on my case.....after a few years with these wines, I really don't know what to make of them, love 'em but I'll be darned if I can figure when they'll go south and how fast they'll turn

TuaRita,

Hard to say where this wine will be in 3-5 years. Based on my experience with Aussie shiraz, my guess is that it will start to pick up a more port-like profile, and the freshness of the fruit will melt further into the oak. May be even smoother as it ages, but the exuberance will dissipate.

All guesswork, of course. The only thing I can say with certainty is that it's a delicious bottle right now.

Cheers,

Otis

OtisAbdulJabbar,
Nice to read your note. I agree 100% on your assesment of this awesome fruitbomb!

I must say though, that it is a hard match for food given it's overwhelming flavor profile.

Saludos desde Monterrey, Mexico!

PS I sneaked into your cellar at Cellartracker and will be making some suggestions as to what wines should be opened in your next CDP!

Agree that the 01 HD Reserve is a very good wine. The only wine I have had that I felt was a tad better than this is the 01 Shrivington. Both of these are outstanding

P-chain,

Good to hear from you!

The next time our paths cross (either in Chicago or Mexico), I'll be sure to pull a nice bottle from the ol' cellar.

Saludos,

Otis