This is one of those cases that proves a high-alcohol wine can be smooth and delicious, thanks to great winemaking. At 14.5% alcohol, I think most would classify Gemtree Vineyards 2006 Bloodstone Shiraz in that category, but unless you looked at the label, you'd never know - and especially for such a young wine!

From the Gemtree Vineyards Web site:

The 2006 growing season was remembered for a cool spring with excellent rains that enabled the vineyards to retain their natural balance, resulting in great acidity and wonderful structure. This wine exhibits balance and integration not common in wines so youthful. We have sourced Bloodstone Shiraz from a combination of our oldest vineyard on Tatachilla Road and from Gemtree's home block. Bloodstone is open fermented for 10 days then gently pressed into French and American oak for 12 months.

Tasting Notes
Colour Brick red/purple
Nose Violets, red currants, forest floor, blueberries, plums, liquorice, aniseed, sweet spice- nutmeg.
Palate An explosion of sweet violets and red berry fruits explode on the front palate. The flavour profile builds through the mid palate where a remarkable backbone of acidity carries the flavours of red fleshy fruits, anise and liquorice. The finish of fine persistent tannin and overlying generosity give this wine the legs to run the distance.
Cellaring 10 - 15 years.

We really enjoyed this, and I also like the fact that part proceeds of the sale of every bottle of Gemtree goes directly back to Greening Australia to enable the ongoing development of the Gemtree Wetlands.