First Drop Wines - The Cream

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.

2009 Barossa Valley Shiraz

Single Vineyard Location:
43% Seppeltsfield
34% Ebenezer
23% Greenock

Oak Maturation: 24 months sur lie in
70% new French oak hogsheads
10% new American oak barriques

A rich, textured, seamless wine that combines power and elegance. It’s seductive, with a pedigree that will see it mature for a further 10 to 15 years. Indulge now or reward yourself later.

REVIEWS

Gourmet Traveller WINE Aug/Sep 2012 - 'Top 100 New Releases', Huon Hooke, page 166

The Cream Shiraz Gourmet Traveller Review

2009 First Drop The Cream Shiraz, Barossa Valley
This is not quite the expected blockbuster, but is certainly generously proportioned. Some jammy overtones, plus fruitcake, chocolate, vanilla and super-ripe black fruits. Concentrated and long. Lusciously fruited and seductive.

5 STARS, 94 POINTS

[ visit Gourmet Traveller Wine here ]

Wine Spectator, Vol. 8, No. 30, August 2012, ' Insider', Harvey Steiman, page 4

The Cream Barossa Valley Shiraz 2009
Opulent, with a welcome savory note weaving through the ripe
cherry, red plum and black tea flavors. A glint of roasted meat and
sassafras adds complexity to the long finish. The tannins are wellabsorbed. Best from 2014 through 2019. From Australia.—H.S.

94 POINTS

[ visit Wine Spectator website here ]

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2013 Edition, Hardie Grant Books, page 257

The Cream Barossa Valley Shiraz 2009
The First Drop team seem to be able to tread the delicate line of power and restraint, while maintaining life and freshness in impressively concentrated wines; The Cream is a testament to this, as the layers of dark fruits, roasted meats, tar, bramble and sizzling bacon fat are held in check by taut tannins and fine acidity; more than just clever winemaking leads to a long and harmonious finish.
RATING 96

[ visit James Halliday Wine Companion website here ]

The Wine Front, April 2012, by Gary Walsh

First Drop Wines The Cream Shiraz 2009

As Anthony said to Cleopatra
As he opened a crate of ale:
Ooh I say

Raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, creamy oak, brown spices and a touch of earth. It’s big and intense, with a spread of mouth saturating fine grained tannin, toasty savoury oak and an almost liquorous and creamy Framboise character. Acidity is balanced and lends freshness – not shrill. It’s a big warm sweet berry/cherry pie of a wine, but has class and control. Those who seek (assuming sufficient funds) shall find happiness in the bottle.
RATING 94

[ visit The Wine Front here (subscription required for full viewing of reviews) ]

Robert Parker’s ‘Wine Advocate’ Issue #199, February, 2012
by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

The Cream Barossa Valley Shiraz 2009
A blend of 43% Seppeltsfield, 34% Ebenezer and 23% Greenock fruit, the 2009 The Cream Shiraz spent 24 months in 70% new French hogsheads, 10% new American barriques and 20% older oak. Deep purple-black colored, the nose is a little closed, offering very pure ripe blackberry and cassis notes with underlying pencil lead, earth, cedar and cumin seed hints plus a whiff of black truffles. Taut, muscular and densely packed with fruit on the full bodied palate, it has a medium to firm level of very fine tannins, crisp acid and a very long finish. Consider drinking it 2014 to 2024+.
RATING 93+

[ visit eRobertParker online here ]

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012 Edition, Hardie Grant Books, page 253

The Cream Barossa Valley Shiraz 2008
An even more minimalist front label; a blend of the three vineyards ex barrel, 60% new French, 20% newAmerican, 20% not specified. Deep colour, of course; this is the most powerful of this quartet, withintense, savoury black fruits, and nowhere near ready to drink; the balance of all these wines,massive though they undoubtedly are, encourages cellaring except for the piece of tree bark.
RATING 95

[ visit James Halliday Wine Companion website here ]

SA Life Magazine, 'Superstars', David Sly, July 2011, page 70

[ visit SA Life Online ]

Wine Spectator, July31, 2011, ' Recommended WInes from Australian
Harvey Steiman, page 57

[ visit Wine Spectator Online ]

West Australian liftout 'Weekend West', Ray Jordan, June 25, 2011

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

Wine Spectator, Vol. 7, No. 17, April 27, 2011, ' Insider', Harvey Steiman, page 4

[ visit Wine Spectator Online ]

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
by Josh Raynolds

2008 ‘The Cream’ Barossa Valley Shiraz
Opaque ruby. Dark cherry and blackcurrant on the nose, with complicating notes of violet, black cardamom and clove. Very rich but not at all heavy, offering broad dark fruit flavors and mounting tannins. Becomes chewier with air and picks up notes of black pepper and mocha. Finishes with good back-end cut. Quite unevolved right now and in need of at least a few years of bottle aging but this looks very promising. 91(+?)

[ visit Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar online ]

Robert Parker’s ‘Wine Advocate’ Issue #192, December 23, 2010
by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

2008 ‘The Cream’ Barossa Shiraz
The 2008 Shiraz The Cream is exactly as the name suggests, representing the cream of the 2008 First Drop crops, the very best barrels of the vintage. This year the wine is composed of the following sub-regional proportions: 43% Seppeltsfield, 29% Ebenezer and 28% Greenock. The wine is aged for 24 months predominately in new French oak hogsheads with some American oak barriques. Very deep garnet-purple colored, this wine gives intense notes of crushed blueberries, blackberries, baking spices and cloves with some earthiness, a toasty undercurrent plus a whiff of violets. Tautly structured by firm fine tannins and razor sharp acid that cuts though the rich, full, fat berry flavors, this wine demonstrates great balance and leaves a very long cinnamon toast and berry laced finish. Drink it 2014 to 2022+. 95pts

[ visit eRobertParker online here ]

Australian Wine Review by Andrew Graham
'Barossa Shiraz - The Icons and Wannabes Tasting'

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

[ visit this review online in its original context here ]

Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2010 Edition, page 301

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2010 Edition, Hardie Grant Books, page 241

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

Wine Spectator, May 31, 2009, Harvey Steiman

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

eRobertParker.com, February 2009, Jay Miller

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

[ visit eRobertParker.com online here ]

The Adelaide Advertiser, October 29, 2008, - Indulge - 'Tasting Notes', Tony Love

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

By Josh Raynolds for Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep/0ct 2008

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review
[ visit Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar online here ]

WBM100 Wine News and Reviews, August 2008, Tyson Stelzer, page 10

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review
[ visit www.awbm.com.au ]

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2009 Edition, Hardie Grant Books', page 234

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review

West Weekend Magazine, July5, 2008, Tasting Notes - Shiraz', Ray Jordan, page 25

Right-click image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to download review