Print this Wine         1997 Frankland Estate "Isolation Ridge" Shiraz   FRANKLAND, GREAT SOUTHERN                 January Release   Shiraz       Given the great success of the Shiraz variety throughout Australia it is somewhat surprising that it is not more widely planted in Western Australia. Judi Cullam and Barrie Smith of Frankland Estate have produced some very fine wines under this label, showing that Shiraz is just as suited in the West as other locations throughout Australia. This wine has an amazing amount of perfume and spice, immediately throwing you into the Northern Rhone for comparisons rather than other Australian regions. There is sandalwood, cloves, violets and the muskiness of truffles. Quite exotic and supported by an array of fruit aromas such as plums and raspberries. Underneath these flavors is the earthiness and mineral characters that seem to define the "terroir" of Frankland Estate. After this incredibly complex bouquet the palate can be assessed with much anticipation. It doesn't disappoint. All the perfume is trapped and it fills the nasal passages with a hedonistic joy. It is amazingly perfumed and surprising that there is not another grape variety used to add the perfume. The earthy characters are also present. The texture is rich and juicy. The aftertaste is very long with subtle tannins and fairly crisp acids building up a structural framework. There is sufficient bite in this area to suggest the wine will age for some time. Indeed the fruit flavors and the associated perfumes are quite raw and very fresh. So this means the wine will get better and drink superbly as a mellow wine. A considerable number of wine lovers will best enjoy the wine at 5 to 7 years of age. Myself and a minority will drink it now and let it intoxicate you with the perfume. Look towards food with truffles and strong mushrooms as integral parts of the dish. The sauce used in such a dish should have plenty of complimentary herbs and spice such as cloves, thyme, tarragon and the like. The flesh could be a variety of meats but it should be strong flavored and heading towards the gamey meats.

Varietal All Varietals Bordeaux Blends Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Colombard Dessert Wine Grenache Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz Grenache Rose Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre Italian Varietals Marsanne Viognier Merlot Mourvedre Mourvedre Mourvedre Shiraz Grenache Muscadelle Muscat Other Pinot Grigio Pinot Gris Pinot Noir Port Riesling Rose Saignee Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Shiraz Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache Shiraz Petit Sirah Shiraz Viognier Syrah Viognier Estate All Estates Aramis Vineyards Blackbilly Bowen Estate Clonakilla Coates Craiglee Elderton Fireblock Flinders Bay Frankland Estate Grosset Wines Heathcote II Hill of Content Mount Horrocks Primo Estate / Joseph Rocky Gully Rutherglen Estates Sir Paz Estate The Catcher Wines The Jumping Grape Wines The Old Faithful The Wishing Tree Tir na N'og Region All Regions Adelaide Hills Adelaide Plains Auburn Australian Capital Territory Barossa Ranges Barossa Valley Blewitt Springs Bowen Estate Canberra District Cardinia Hills Cardinia Ranges Central Victoria Clare Valley Clarendon Coonawarra Cowra Eden Valley Fleurieu Frankland Geelong Great Western Griffith Heathcote Hilltops Region Hunter Valley Kangarilla King Valley Langhorne Creek Lenswood Lower Hunter Valley Macedon Ranges Margaret River McLaren Vale Mornington Peninsula Mount Carmel Murrenbateman New South Wales Norton Summit Nuriootpa Old Garden Vineyard Padthaway Piccadilly Polish Hill River Riverina Rutherglen Sevenhills South Australia Sunbury Tanunda Upper Beaconsfield Victoria Watervale West Australia Western Australia Woodside Yarra Valley Keyword Include Museum Notes? Yes   No Show me more wines: of this vintage of this varietal by this estate from this region