First Drop 'The Cream' Shiraz 2006
Rated 96/100 by James Halliday.

The Cream is blended at the optimum time from the best barrels from First Drop’s most prized vineyards to create the ultimate expression of Barossa Shiraz from the vintage. This year it is a blend of 41% Greenock, 35% Ebenezer and 24% Seppeltsfield. Matured for 24 months in 40% new French oak hogsheads & 30% new American oak barriques, Only 4 dozen of this awesome juice made it to New Zealand.

"The 2006 The Cream Shiraz is a barrel selection of the two best barrels of each of the single vineyards. As often happens, the whole is better than the sum of the parts. Opaque purple-colored, this glass-coating Shiraz offers a sensational nose of smoke, lavender, bacon, truffle, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. Voluptuous, complex, spicy, and intensely flavored, it is impeccably balanced, long, and age-worthy. Allow 6-8 years of further evolution and drink it from 2015 to 2035."
- 96/100 Robert Parker

"Inky purple color. Exotically perfumed bouquet of pungent blackberry and mulberry, with Indian spices and incense adding allure. Deep, rich and sweet, displaying spicy dark berry preserve flavors, supple texture and a suave note of candied flowers. This evolved in the glass and the open bottle, gaining more sweetness and spiciness. The finish features a wild array of dark fruits, flowers and pungent spices, and zero rough edges. Utterly captivating wine.
- 94/100 Stephen Tanzer

"Focused and juicy, with a real sense of elegance to the beautifully demarcated currant, blackberry and plum fruit, shaded with pretty spice and loamy earth notes. The tannins are minimized, but present."
- 94/100 The Wine Spectator