Going for Gold: Heartland Shiraz 2004

If you want to get the best red value of the release, better move quickly because Ben Glaetzer's 2004 Heartland Shiraz is not going to last long. I met gifted winemaking guru Ben Glaetzer in Toronto with Ontario agent Wayne Watts and was extremely impressed.

Thankfully, Parker hasn't rated this, or any of the Heartland wines, yet. If he did I am sure that it would be in the 93-point range. Look for a refined, very faintly smoky, cedar-tinged, plumy, ripe cherry nose. It is big and surprisingly extracty with mouthfilling, plumy, fairly juicy, black cherry flavours and a buttery, brioche finish.  Kudos to wine enthusiast Nick Christopoulos, who works at the Applewood Hills LCBO store in Mississauga.  He has apparently pre-sold some 140 cases to his customers on credit cards.