A blockbuster effort, it reveals deep, chocolaty, meaty notes intermixed with blackberries, cherries, and cassis. Inky/ruby/purple-colored, with a large mouthfeel, full body, and well-integrated acidity, tannin, and alcohol.
Deep garnet-black with a hint of brick, the 2006 Hillside Shiraz has pronounced notes of smoked game, hung meat, dried plums and kirsch, some cigar boxes, Chinese five spice and mocha. Structured, rich, very full and opulent on the palate is has a medium-firm level of rounded tannins and a long spicy finish.
The 2012 La Croix de Beaucaillou has a reserved but clean and focused bouquet of earthy black fruit, tobacco and a touch of bay leaf. It just needs a little more vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is an attractive pencil lead note, fine balance with quite a long tail on the finish.
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 La Croix de Beaucaillou gives up aromas of cassis, earth, black plums, black cherries and mulberries with wafts of menthol, cigars and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is lively and earthy with firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and mineral-laced.
A superb second wine, opulent and substantively textured, it shares more in common with a flamboyant, exuberant year such as 2009 than most 2010s. Dense purple, its oodles of fruit, luxurious mouthfeel and terrific finish make it a sleeper of the vintage.
It's developed but it keeps some fruit character, plenty of spices and balsamic aromas. The palate is polished but has some clout, with clean, focused flavors and a long, spicy and tasty finish. This represents good value for the quality it delivers.
It offers up a luxurious aromatic display of loamy earth, new saddle leather, blackberry liqueur, charcoal, and barbecue spices. Layered, chewy, full-bodied, and opulent with extravagant richness, sweet, supple tannin, and low acidity.