"Heady, musky and exotically spiced, its ethereal and peppery perfume of blackberries, dark plums, cassis and mocha/dark chocolate oak has a meaty ripeness and an undercurrent of dried herbs. Full to medium in weight, its bright, briary flavours of sour-edged blackberries and dark plums reveal smoky, rustic and charcuterie-like nuances and spicy suggestions of licorice. The tannins are fine, drying and bony. Very seamless and balanced, it’s complete, complex and savoury, with more than a suggestion of Hermitage."  95 pts, Jeremy Oliver's On Wine, 6-23-06.

"Bright-hued violet color. Explosive and utterly captivating on the nose, showing pure cassis, blueberry, wild strawberry, cola, sassafras, espresso, mace violet and magnolia. The palate displays a full range of shiraz (or syrah) flavors: blackcurrant, blackberry, candied cherry and plum, cured tobacco, smoked meat, roasted coffee-you name it. Sweet as can be but there's superb focus and energy, too. Finishes sweet, lush and long, with fine-grained tannins slowly emerging to provide grip and structure."  94 pts, Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jul/Aug 06.

"The 2004 Shiraz Warner Vineyard (98% Shiraz and 2% Roussanne aged 20 months in 60% new French wood) exhibits classic aromas of pepper, blackberries, licorice, and flowers. Deep, chewy, moderately tannic, young and primary, it is an impressive Shiraz to enjoy over the next decade.
 
One of Victoria’s most brilliant wineries, Giaconda is fashioning hand-crafted, singular wines that are not only gorgeous to smell and taste, but innovative in both their blends and stylistic orientations. They combine the elegance and complexity of Europe, with the sensationally ripe fruit of Australia. Winemaker Rick Kinzbrunner studied at the University of California Davis and also apprenticed at Matanzas Creek, Simi, Stags Leap, and with Christian Moueix in Pomerol."  90 pts, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Oct. 2005.