The 2001 Syrah Piggott Range may be one of several Clarendon Hills’ Syrah cuvees that stand toe to toe with its 2002 sibling. A giant Syrah, it boasts an enormously rich nose of black fruits, subtle vanilla, smoke, and a hint of graphite. Extremely full-bodied, thick, and prodigious, it will be at its finest between 2008-2025. Imported by USA Wine West LLC, San Rafael, CA; tel. (800)-485-5753, for John Larchet, The Australian Premium Wine Collection

Saturated bright, dark ruby to the rim. Deep, brooding aromas of blackberry, violet, pepper and eucalyptus. Lush, deep, chewy and extremely primary, with a highly concentrated flavor of crushed raw blackberry. Densely packed, impressively rich syrah, finishing with powerful but ripe tannins. A bit like a junior version of this producer's Astralis. Next to a wine like this, many of Australia's extremely late-harvested shiraz bottlings come off as cooked, flabby and distinctly tiring to drink.