Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2004

Amazing wine, at its peak right now. Opaq, almost black color; gorgeous nose of blackberries, melted licorice, violets, tar, smoke, chocolate and sweet spice, without a hint of the usual South African "dirt"; full-bodied, ultra-dense but amazingly balanced, with soft tannins, huge fruit and high acidity; surprisingly food-friendly given the huge extract and the extra-high alcohol content (15%); long aftertaste; pure hedonism. Excellent value given the quality and character. Much better than when last tasted, 2 years ago.