Grant Burge is relatively unknown in the USA, but well known in Australia.  They make wines across several price points.  I have reviewed the Meshach Shiraz elsewhere on this site (which is excellent), and this is the 2nd offering I have had from this producer.  The MSJ series represents a sort of reserve level wine experiement they ran in the 1990's.  I believe they did it in 1994, 1996, and 1998, but have not released one since, at least not in this country.  You will only find these wines at auction sites and a few specialty on-line retailers, but I encourage all fans of Shiraz and Cabernet to try these wonderful wines.

The wine blends Shiraz grapes from the 80 year old Filsell Vineyard in the Barossa Valley of South Australia with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Coonawarra.  The wine was aged in 100% new oak barrels, roughly half French oak and half American oak. 

The wine still maintains dark purple coloring with no signs of brick or amber on the edges.  Black currant, mint, sage, and a hint of leather mark the nose here, with plenty of lush rich black fruit on the palate.  Enough cab is here to make this a really full bodied effort, the shiraz adds fruitiness and some pepper (not too much), and the blend works wonderfully.  Tannins are silky, with 13 years of ageing under the belt for this wine.  Despite use of 100% new oak, this is not an oaky wine.  Everything here seems to be in perfect balance, and this might be the best cab-syrah (shiraz) blend I have had to date.

4.5 stars

 

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