La Pleiade, Chapoutier/Laughton 2006

The 2006 Cluster M45 Shiraz was fermented with native yeasts and aged for 13-14 months in French oak. It offers up a soaring, complex bouquet of Asian spices, incense, smoked meat, game, and blueberry. This leads to a full-bodied, voluptuous, dense, structured wine with layers of succulent fruit, 8-10 years of aging potential, and a lengthy, pure finish. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2036. Having experienced a vertical tasting of the Jasper Hillwines, I may be underestimating the potential longevity of this brilliant effort.