The 1996 Annie's Lane The Contour Shiraz is sourced from the historic Contour Vineyard in Clare Valley, originally planted in 1967 on contour-aligned rows to maximise water retention and naturally restrict yields. While detailed vintage commentary for 1996 is limited, the wine has earned recognition for its concentration and longevity.

The most substantial published professional tasting note describes an opaque crimson hue followed by expressive aromas of blackberry, plum, sweet spice and well-integrated vanilla oak.

On the palate, dense dark fruit is framed by toasted oak, black pepper, liquorice and fine-grained tannins, delivering impressive depth without sacrificing harmony. The texture remains generous yet composed, carrying remarkable persistence through a long, savoury finish.