This is the third vintage of the second tier range for the Clare Valley's largest producer, the family owned, Taylors. 'Eighty Acres' sits between 'Promised Land' (at $13.95) and the Taylors Estate range ($18.95). It was introduced with the 2005 vintage selling at a recommended retail price of $16.95. The price of the current vintage has dropped to $13.95 so you should see it at that price, or cheaper. The 'Promised Land' wines are sourced from Taylors home in the Clare Valley as well as South Australian regions such as the Barossa, Coonawarra and Padthaway and are made to be fruit driven. The 'Eighty Acres' wines are sourced from the Clare and are given a more sophisticated oak regime - with fermentation for this wine taking place in Vinimatics and static fermenters before being placed in old American oak for the malolactic fermentation and a few months of oak maturation. There's a fair whack (6%) of the white grape viognier which has been co-fermented with the shiraz to give it an aromatic and textural lift. While 2007 was a pretty difficult year for the Clare Valley, this has heaps of concentration and richness suggesting that it was unaffected by the trickey weather conditions. There are some attractive floral aromatics, ripe black cherry and dark plum flavours, lush fleshy texture that is almost syrupy and supple, fine tannins. It's an excellent quaffer.

Rating: Bloody Good

Cost: $13.95

Winemaker: Adam Eggins, Helen McCarthy

Wide availability in all Australian states. www.taylorswines.com.au

Reviewed: 23 October 2009