It’s 6.40pm after a long hard day. I need a drink, so I opt for a bottle of Miamba. I first sampled this one back in 2006 when working for Vintage Cellars and they were flogging it to their members over the phone. Loved it then and I loved it even more now.

Dusty. Magical. Plums. Juicy. Violets. Dark. Sensuous. Sensational.

The feel of midnight blue superfine silk flowing over skin. A lead fist in a velvet glove.

It’s a dark and dense blood red, almost black. Impenetrable and inviting. Spicey. Punchy. Forward. Incredibly long intense blackcurrant finish. Cedar. Cigar box. Dark chocolate. Chocolate covered fruit. Stunningly mysterious. Chewy tannins.

A hedonist’s delight!

24hrs later –

Still a little dusty but it has mellowed with more floral characters coming through. Still fruity though! With plenty of life. Red and blackcurrants, whiff of warm plums. Good dose of dark chocolate and i’m getting a glimpse of aniseed coming through.

On the palate, intense flavours of blackcurrant and chocolate. Lively acidity and slightly grippier and dirtier tannins then last night. It packs a punch for sure. Rich roast of lamb and potato. Rosemary! There’s some rosemary in there…

Like a hot chocolate with a hint of chilli. Lovely little bit of spice with heat.

48 hours later –

It’s even more complex and divine. Has opened up further and is even more hedonistically brilliant! Cloves, cinnamon, dark cherries, chocolate, plums and raspberries coming through. So much smoother on the palate – the spice is more subdued but still very much there. The tannins are grippy, the acidity incredibly juicy. Stunning long warm finish, with wild cherries and spices dominating. Utterly delicious. This is a lovely example of a blockbuster shiraz with a distinct chocolate aftertaste.

72 hours –

Smoother and chocolaty palate with the structure coming through as the fruit recedes. Not even starting the decline. This is definitely a very long lived wine. Would love to try this again and again as the years roll on!