I am Cheeky Chick, a bright young fresh curious Australian. I hail from two of South Australia’s best wine growing regions, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra, where the summer days are warm and the nights are cool. I grow by basking in the sun and pecking all day and rest at night while peeping at the starry sky looking for the Southern Cross. I am two lip-smacking succulent wines, a racy luscious crisp unwooded white called "Pecker’s Blend" and a rich rounded tasty red called "Peeper’s Blend".

This is vibrant fruit driven red wine emphasizing lovely soft tannins and excellent length and flavor. 2005 was a warm dry vintage with mild to warm days and no rain. All varietals were harvested in McLaren Vale and Coonawarra in March and April 2005 at Baume’s of between 13.2° and 14°. This is vibrant fruit driven red wine emphasizing lovely soft tannins and excellent length and flavor. A blend of 52% McLaren Vale Shiraz, 25% McLaren Vale Grenache, 20% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% McLaren Vale Viognier. 100% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation and 50% of the wine was matured in French and American oak barrels for six months.

The color is a full vibrant youthful deep red. The nose exhibits heady aromas of rich ripe berry fruit, cocoa and fresh cinnamon. Luscious sweet ripe dark berry and rich cassis flavors dominate the palate with gentle overtones of chocolate, earth, licorice, spice and moccha. Velvety soft tannins and subtle well-integrated oak linger on the finish. Serve with a juicy steak or roasted free-range chicken (oops!) or even a meal with a hint of spiciness would work well. It is drinking beautifully now and has the cellaring potential of 3 to 4 years.

Alcohol: 14%

pH: 3.59

TA:6.85

R/Sugar: 7.0g/l.

87 A bit firm, but the juicy, peppery plum and berry flavors take over, lingering on the open-textured finish. Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier. Drink now through 2009. Wine Spectator -May 31, 2007