The Sticks Shiraz fruit was sourced from Sticks vineyards in the Yarra Valley. These sites are generally in warmer sites within the valley to promote varietal dark berry flavors for which Australian Shiraz is famous. Some fruit is sourced from more elevated sites to provide the classic white pepper character also found in Yarra Valley Shiraz. 2004 had a cool lead up but was a long hot vintage, with crops yielding as much as 25% above average. The cool lead up gave the fruit a longer ripening...