Ranked #8 of 30 2006 Shiraz from Clare Valley
89/100
3.5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Medium dark red purple: excellent colour. Fairly oaky nose (and, in hindsight, the colour is oak-fixed). Grippy oaky tannins pervade the palate. Firm tight and with good concentration, it's a youthful, backward, oak-driven style which will probably age long-term but always lack a little in charm and drinkability. Very corporate-style red wine.
Tasted: 27/12/2009
Drink: N/A
91 Points Robert Parker
The purple-colored 2006 Copper Trail Shiraz was aged for 20 months in a mix of new and used French oak. It displays a superb nose of black olives, plum, cassis, black raspberry, and smoky oak. This is followed by a full-bodied, layered, smooth-textured wine with tons of savory black fruits, ripe tannins, and several years of aging potential. Drink this impeccably balanced effort from 2012 to 2018.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Jay S Miller. December, 2009
89 Points Robert Parker
The 2006 Copper Trail Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre is a blend of 71% Shiraz, 19% Grenache, 6% Mourvedre and 4% Malbec. Deep garnet-purple colored is has intensely fruity warm raspberry, peppery, allspice aromas with touches of dried plum and tree bark. Full-bodied, it offers a medium level of silky tannins, a good backbone of high acid and a long finish. Drink it now to 2013+.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. December, 2010
94 Points James Halliday
Is full-bodied, but not heavy; there are spice, earth and licorice notes to the core of blackberry fruit; has good tannin and barrel ferment oak inputs. Drink to 2026.
James Halliday. July, 2021
"Whenever I see the name ‘Copper Trail’ I instantly think of ‘Copper Trial’. This wine has no significant reduction, mind you.
Menthol, rich blackberry nip, chocolate and a little meatiness with good cedar oak. It’s big, sweet and smooth, although pleasantly charry and savoury too, with fine grained tannins and a plump and plush mouthfeel that’s just a little unsettled by stinging bolted-on acidity. Lovely wine, although I’ve reservations about both the level and nature of the acidity. Time may well sort it all out – all cats are grey in the dark."
Rated : 91+ Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 15%
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2011 - 2016+
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, Monday, Nov 30 2009