Notes - Amicus, meaning friend in Latin, is the venture of three friends: Amanda Vanstone, Robert Hill and Walter Clappis, well known Winemaker and bon vivant. Walter Clappis has been making wine for 28 years and is considered one of Australia's most outstanding Winemakers, being the only Winemaker to have ever won the Dan Murphy Trophy three times. Amicus Winery is based in McLaren Vale and grapes for the label are sourced vineyards in McLaren Vale and the Langhorne Creek wine growing district. Walter Clappis has always made wine employing traditional methods and his own vineyards follow Biodynamic principles, eliminating the use of pesticides and herbicides. The 2004 vintage provided near perfect conditions and the resulting wine is a blend of 60% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet and 10% Malbec aged in American oak. The wood characters are both subtle and supple augmenting the spice box, liquorice, blueberry, blackcurrant and dark coffee notes imparted by the fruit. There are cherry, peppery and plum notes on the nose combining with more spices from the Malbec. All these flavours follow on the the rich and velvety palate which has a lengthy, lingering finish. Will age for 8 to 10 years, but very approachable now.