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Tag Archives: shiraz

Carmen Stevens Angels Reserve Shiraz 2022, Swartland, South Africa

31 Friday Oct 2025

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$11, 4 stars, 88 points, Naked Wines, shiraz, South Africa, swartland, syrah


Medium garnet colored, with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The wine has a slightly murky look, perhaps it’s not filtered?  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of plums, pomegranate, blackberry, smoke, game, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that fade quickly.  The flavors are medium in intensity and echo the nose, but with some added astringency, perhaps over-steeped black tea.  The finish is medium (+) in length and shows off some sweetness of fruit.  It’s a decent bottle that ran me $11 and gets 88 points, making it a 4 star effort.  It has some cellaring capacity, perhaps till 2030.  I am pairing it with smoked duck breast.  Salut….

Carmen Stevens Angels Reserve Shiraz

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Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz 2004, McLaren Vale, Australia

03 Sunday Aug 2025

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$330, 5 stars, 95 points, australia, mclaren vale, shiraz


Deep murky ruby fading to a slight copper edge, with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV), and signs of non filtration.  The nose has intense aromas of blackberry coulis, brambleberry, shredded coconut, vanilla, coffee, molasses, tobacco, eucalyptus, leather, leather, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins that are still grippy, yet integrating nicely.  The wine has a certain, unfiltered texture that gives is a unique mouthfeel.  The flavors are rich, intense and mimic the nose.  Layers of ripe fruit mixed with oak nuance and some tertiary development point to a wine that still has considerable aging capacity.  At 21 years old, this wine is still showing off its pedigree.  The finish is long and smooth, making me realize the tannins melt away ever so gently and leave me with a balanced and lush finale that shows off the fruit, wood and tertiary development.  This is a stunning wine, one which I opened way too early several years ago, and regret doing so after trying this second bottle.  Amazing stuff that gets 95 points from me.  We are pairing it with try-tip, in celebration of my daughter’s 21st year on earth, the same vintage.  One source online has a bottle for $330.  It’s a big price to pay, but my baby only turns 21 once.  5 stars.  Drink till 2045.  Here’s my first review, prior to wine training.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz

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Jim Barry The McRae Wood Shiraz 2000, Clare Valley, Australia

13 Sunday Jul 2025

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$47, 4 stars, 89 points, australia, clare valley, shiraz


Medium garnet colored with very evident bricking, and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of mulled plum, blackberry compote, raisins, prunes, walnuts, desiccated flower petals, dried coconut flakes, dried dill/herbs, a touch of eucalyptus and a hint of green almond.  That last line is interesting.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body and medium (-) tannins that are truly melded.  Medium (+) intensity flavors that mimic the nose and are interlaced with vibrant acidity that is tempered by the silky, if almost imperceptible tannins.  The wine has a gorgeous mouthfeel- akin to velvet.  The finish is medium (+) in length and very smooth.  This is a a very mature wine that is fading gracefully.  I remember drinking gallons of it in its youth and loving every drop.  It’s not cheap, but well worth the $47 entry fee for the current vintage.  It gets 89 points from me as it has very little aging capacity left.  Drink this 4 star wine sooner rather than later.  Salut….

Jim Barry The McRae Wood Shiraz

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Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Cabernet Shiraz 2021, Victoria, Australia

11 Tuesday Feb 2025

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$13, 4 stars, 89 points, australia, cabernet sauvignon, Naked Wines, shiraz, Victoria


Deep purple colored turning slightly bluer on the edges with slight staining and medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe plum, eucalyptus, vanilla, blackberry, brambleberry, baking spices, purple licorice, tomato leaf, green and black peppercorns, and acai berry.  It’s jam packed with dark fruit aromas.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins that are plush.  The ripe black fruit weaves through eucalyptus, vanilla and spice notes.  The green note I caught on the nose repeats on the mid palate with a touch of unripe stem coupled with some charred oak notes.  The finish is juicy and medium (-) in length.  I am enjoying the melange of flavors in this $13 bottle and think it will benefit from some short term cellaring.  I give it 89 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Cabernet Shiraz

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Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2021, Barossa Valley, Australia

23 Saturday Mar 2024

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$23, 5 stars, 91 points, Barossa, Barossa Shiraz, shiraz, syrah, VWTC


The third wine at our tasting event was this Shiraz from the Barossa Valley.  I picked it as I have tasted this wineries offerings in the past and feel they exemplify Aussie Shiraz.  I was not disappointed.  Deep ruby colored with medium staining and medium viscosity even though it sports a 15% ABV!  High intensity aromas of game, prune, coffee, licorice, dark chocolate, and chocolate covered blueberries were the comments from the crowd.  It’s technically a dry wine that shows off ripeness on the palate with a sweet sensation- medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body and medium tannins.  Ripe blueberry and blackberry, coffee, creamy chocolate, oak notes and very nicely melded tannins.  The finish was medium (+) in length.  A beautiful wine that scored 17 points on our sheet.  For $23, this wine is a steal that gets 91 technical points from me and therefore a 5 star rating.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

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Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz 2019, Barossa Valley, Australia

07 Sunday Jan 2024

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, australia, Barossa, shiraz


Inky colored and opaque with some wall staining and high viscosity (14.7% ABV).  The nose of this Shiraz has aromas of ripe blackberry, vanilla, black cherry, baking spice, eucalyptus, violets and bramble berry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins plus a full body.  Ripe dark fruit dominates with some eucalyptus and baking spices supporting.  Vanilla makes its entrance on the mid palate as well as some rooibos tea.  The finish is long with bramble featuring plus some spice.  The tannins- they are well integrated and I just realized they are so well balanced.  This is a lovely drop that will drink nicely till 2030 and pair with grilled meat, Sunday roast or hearty stews.  91 points and for $20 it’s a 5 star effort.  Salut….

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Coopers Hawk Camille Audacious NV, South Australia, Australia

13 Monday Nov 2023

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$60, 4 stars, 93 points, australia, shiraz, south australia


Deep ruby with some staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, violets, acai berry, cassis, mint, crushed gravel, charred oak and some baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  A full body awaits with ripe black currants, black plum, mint, charred oak, a pretty floral note and some mineral tones.  The finish is long and full of ripe black fruit and some oak influence, delicious.  It goes on for quite a while.  The structure is very balanced and the wine has a generous mouthfeel.   This Shiraz based wine is going to pair well with our Roast Rib dinner but I would also throw it at some grilled lamb chops, a venison roast or even beef brisket in the smoker.  At $60, it’s not a weekday pounder but it gets high marks from me with 93 points.  Drink this 4 star effort till 2030.  Salut….

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Specially Selected Shiraz 2021, Barossa, Australia

06 Friday Oct 2023

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$10, 1 star, 82 points, Aldi, australia, Barossa, shiraz


Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has aromas of candied cherry, blueberry pie, pomegranate, red currant and baking spices.  It’s a little bit fake smelling tbh.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins but there’s a sourness not associated with acidity that bothers me.  The body is medium and the flavors are pretty bland- consisting of smoky wood, blueberry and baking spices.  This wine is quite unbalanced with a high dose of heat on the shortish finish that is really bothering me.  Overall this $10 offering from Aldi is disappointing me as I had good luck with other bottles in their lineup.  It gets 82 point from me and 1 star.  Drink now.  Salut….

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Mission Estate Winery Reserve Syrah 2020, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand

31 Thursday Aug 2023

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$25, 5 stars, 92 points, gimblett gravels, Hawkes Bay, new zealand, shiraz, syrah


Deep purple with medium viscosity and slight staining (14% ABV).  The nose gives me medium intensity aromas of blueberry, açaí berries, black plum, pepper, vanilla and cardamom. The aromas are very pinpoint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins that are very smooth like powder, and a full body. Dark fruit with florals and sweet oak make for a very smooth and delicious palate.  The finish is quite long and reveals a core of rich, ripe blueberry wrapped with those powdery tannins- a delicious drop that gets 92 points from me.  Drink this $20 wine till 2030.  Purchased in the UK, wishing we had it over here in ‘murica cause it’s a 5 star wine.  Salut….

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Carmen Stevens Angels Reserve Shiraz Grenache 2021, Western Cape, South Africa

17 Saturday Jun 2023

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$10, 5 stars, 89 points, grenache, Naked Wines, shiraz, South Africa, western cape


Medium ruby colored with slight wall stains and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this 82/18 Syrah blended with Grenache has medium intensity aromas of ripe black raspberry, black cherry, coffee bean, bacon fat, lavender, baking spices and a hint of greeness- perhaps some mint?  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium intensity tannins that are smooth.  The body of this tasty wine is medium to full and I get the dark raspberry/cherry and oak nuances with a meaty streak that syrah brings to the table.  The floral component is more prominent on the palate than it was on the nose but a re-sniff reveals that is is opening up in that direction.  The finish has a touch of heat that quickly blows off, otherwise it is short to medium in length and mainly fruit driven with raspberry and some black plum notes.  You could pair this delight with pretty much any meat dish, it’s flexible and has a nice, easygoing mouthfeel.  89 points from me with a drink by 2027 window.  For $10 it’s worth stocking up on- 5 stars.  Salut….

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