Ranked #72 of 104 2005 Shiraz from Barossa Valley
86/100
3 Stars
Huon Hooke
Deep red purple/black. Smells like timber planks; aggressive and harsh. Heavy and aggressive; astringent and oaky/tannic to close. Finishes with an oaky taste. It's hard to see it coming good. Does have sweet fruit in the middle, but it's clumsy
Tasted: 16/06/2007
Drink: N/A
93 Points Robert Parker
The 2005 Shiraz “Bella’s Garden” was sourced from Barossa Valley. Opaque purple in color, it offers a reticent perfume of pencil lead, blueberry, and blackberry. Supple, ripe, and with all components in harmony, this medium-bodied Shiraz has uplifting acidity, excellent depth, and a lengthy finish. It will evolve for 3-5 years and drink well through 2020.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Jay S Miller. October, 2007
"From the Barossa, the inky/ruby/purple-hued 2004 Shiraz Bella’s Garden offers notions of mint, blackberries, smoke, dusty earth, and a distinctive licorice and creme de cassis character. This layered, full-bodied, powerful (all of these wines have 15-16% alcohol), stunningly complex, rich, impressive Shiraz requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 10-15."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 167 Oct 2006