2005 Tait The Ball Buster

A great value in full-throttle red wine from Barossa is Tait’s 2005 The Ball Buster. This cuvee is becoming an incredibly popular choice for addicts of what are pejoratively called “fruit bombs.” However, there is a lot more to this wine than just fruit, and that simplistic term is the vinous equivalent of phony baloney. This blend of 80% Shiraz, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot was aged in old American and French oak for 12 months. It offers a dense purple color in addition to a big, rich perfume of blackberries, plums, chocolate syrup, and subtle wood in the background. Powerful and rich with loads of glycerin as well as hefty alcohol (15.8%), it is a classic example of an opulent, full-throttle Barossa red to consume over the next 4-5 years. Importer: Ken Onish & John Gorman, Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030