Tag Archives: shiraz

Sam Plunkett Forest Hut Vineyard Shiraz 2019, Pyrenees, Australia

06 Friday Jan 2023

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Somewhat hazy (unfiltered?) but a very opaque shade of ruby in the glass with medium legs and slight staining on the walls.  The nose is intense with gorgeous aromas of blueberry, blackcurrant, black cherry, menthol, elderberry, coffee bean and chocolate powder.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  Really ripe flavors of black cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant and elderberry meld beautifully with the menthol and coffee notes.  Rich and full bodied this is a delicious wine that only rings in at 13.6% ABV, surprising to me.  The tannic structure is excellent, giving a nice and silky dryness to the mouthfeel while fading gently as the fruit continues to roll on to a long finish.  This is an outstanding Shiraz if you like them big and bold, which suits me fine for the Lamb chops I am grilling to pair with.  I would say this one has some cellaring capacity but is drinking beautifully now and will last until 2028.  92 points from me for this $17 wine makes it a hard to beat 5 star effort.  Salut….

Juicy’s Shiraz Assemblage 2020, South Australia

10 Thursday Nov 2022

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This blend of Shiraz is a medium shade of garnet in the glass with defined legs (15% ABV).  The nose has pronounced aromas of black plum, black raspberry, blackberry, cinnamon and dill.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and very supple tannins.  Medium bodied- this delicious wine has very ripe fruit flavors of plum, dark raspberry and black cherry with some licorice, pepper and cedar.  The alcohol shows up on the back end with a touch of heat on the throat, which was to be expected.  The finish is medium in length and I get dark red and black fruit with some oak notes.  Really delightful wine that gets 89 points from me and at $13 it’s a steal worthy of 5 stars.  Drink over the short term with some braised beef ribs or perhaps a roast leg of lamb.  Salut….

Sorby Adams Jellicoe Shiraz 2017, Eden Valley, Australia

14 Friday Oct 2022

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Medium ruby turning garnet color from this 5 year old wine.  The nose has aromas of black raspberry, red plum, menthol, licorice, coffee and some ripe blackberry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins and a full body.  It coats the mouth with richness and flavors of black raspberry, coffee, anise, plum and blackberry.  It ends with some charred oak notes alongside the dark red/black fruit.  The finish is medium length with some tingle from the alcohol (14% ABV) and tannins.  I like this style of wine, not over-top-top jammy.  It is a more restrained Shiraz that obviously has ripe fruit and good structure.  90 points from me for this $17 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  I’m pairing with stewed leg of lamb and roasted aubergine.  Drink till 2016.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Moritz Syrah 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

06 Monday Jun 2022

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Deep hues of ruby along with a hint of age- a garnet edge.  The nose has lovely, pronounced aromas of black plum, blackcurrant, licorice, vanilla, blackberry jam, cedar and spice box.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and well-melded tannins that are grippy yet unobtrusive.  The rich, ripe black fruit flavors dominate but I get some charred oak, black tea, licorice and spices in this full bodied beaut.  It flows seamlessly to a somewhat tart and slightly tannic finish that lasts a good 20 seconds.  I really like this winery, they produce enjoyable wines that age well.  This one will keep going until 2030 at the earliest and pair well with grilled meats, rich stews and wild game.  93 points from me for this $40 wine makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Tomfoolery Black and Blue Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, Australia

04 Wednesday May 2022

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It’s nearly opaque- probably medium to deep ruby in color.  It’s age is not showing at all but the alcohol (14.5% ABV) presents some lively legs in the glass.  The nose is a beaut.  Rich blackberry, black plum compote, purple licorice, mint, coconut, vanilla, baking spices and a blueberry jam note on the tail end.  Quite complex and certainly chock full.  The palate is dry with juicy acidity and melded tannins. The flavors are not as pronounced but they balance beautifully with the structural components to give me a full bodied mouthfeel that leaves me with a medium finish that is jaw watering.  I like this wine, it has layers of fruit and nice secondary notes.  It drinks relatively easily but is full of flavor and is still fresh.  91 points, as I think it is peaking now.  For $30 it gets 5 stars from me.  Drill till 2026 with some hearty meat dishes or Moussaka.  Salut….

Tomfoolery Son Of A Gun Cabernet Sauvignon – Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, Australia

23 Saturday Apr 2022

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Every so often I shop the bin-ends at my local wine shop, some are hits whilst others are a waste of time and money.  This blend of Cab Sav and Shiraz ran me $20.  It is showing a bit of age- medium garnet in color.  The nose is still fresh however with primal aromas of blackberry, mint, black pepper, ripe blueberry jam, cloves, cedar and vanilla.  The palate is dry with resolved and silky tannins, high acidity, medium to full body and flavors of black and blue fruit, menthol, spicy black pepper and oak by way of vanilla and cedar.  The finish is medium in length and leans on the mint/menthol as well as the blackberry fruit.  It’s a tasty drop that is at peak now and will need to be drunk by 2024 if you have some.  Pairing tonight with grilled steaks and salad.  90 points from me make this a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Two Hands Wines Lily’s Garden Shiraz 2017, McLaren Vale, Australia

12 Saturday Feb 2022

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I’m grilling Picanha steaks tonight and needed a rich red wine, Aussie Shiraz fits the bill.  This one is deep ruby, nearly dark purple.  Very brooding and mysterious.  The nose has got gobs of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant cassis, oak, purple licorice, and black plum.  The aromas are so pronounced I have to take a breather- super concentrated.  The palate is dry with an immediate back palate astringency that I don’t think I like.  I’m going to walk away and let it breathe.

It’s still there unfortunately.  Anyways- I get black fruit compote, rich cassis and oak cloaked in medium level tannins and medium (+) acidity.  I find the wine a touch thin on the mid palate making it medium bodied- not what I was hoping for tonight.  The finish, once I get past the astringent portion is actually quite nice and makes up for the thin mid.  Juicy, a touch dry from the lingering tannins and laced with licorice and black fruit.  Overall this wine disappoints me as I have had stunning bottles from this producer, perhaps this one is off.  At $50 this wine is a 2 star effort as I am going with 87 points- far below the pros who tagged it with 91,92 and even 96 points.  Must be a bad bottle.  Shame.  Salut….

Nugan Estate Parish Vineyard Shiraz 2018, McLaren Vale, Australia

25 Tuesday Jan 2022

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A deep purple color with thick legs in the glass.  On the nose I get pronounced aromas of blackcurrant, ripe black plum, jammy blueberry, anise, chocolate and a dusting of white pepper.  The palate is technically dry but the ripeness of the fruit makes it seem sweet- like jam.  Spicy yet it really shows off the sun-drenched fruit.  Black and blue berries with licorice, pepper, and a slight oak influence with mocha/chocolate.  This wine is max throttle.  Full bodied, silky smooth tannins, medium (-) acidity and a long finish.  Amazing stuff if you like a brash Shiraz.  For $20 I’m glad I loaded up on this 93 pointer that will drink beautifully till 2028 and pair with most grilled meats or hearty stews.  5 stars.  Salut….

Jim Barry The McRae Wood Shiraz 2014, Clare Valley, Australia

01 Wednesday Dec 2021

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Ahh you little beauty.  Back in the day I used to drink gallons of this stuff and wrote about the 2015 McRae Wood I recently tasted.  This one, being a year older is still opaque ruby in the glass.  The nose is quite pronounced with gorgeous aromas of sweet blackberry, black plum, vanilla laced blueberry pie, baking spice, red licorice and orange peel.  The palate is as hoped for- dry with great acidity, smooth tannins, full body and a long finish.  Pronounced flavors of the above mentioned primary fruit, secondary nuance from oak and perhaps a dash of tertiary influence from leather notes.  I feel like I am missing out on the traditional jammyness usually found in Aussie Shiraz but I don’t miss it.  This wine is chock full of complex flavors and I am enjoying the melding of said flavors with the structural components.  93 points from me for this $45 wine will get it 5 stars.  Drink till 2030 with steaks, lamb chops or a hearty stew like short ribs.  Salut….

Two Hands Wines Max’s Garden Heathcote Shiraz 2014, Victoria, Australia

16 Saturday Oct 2021

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I have had a few of the Two Hands wines and enjoyed them so when I came across this slightly aged bottle I had to try.  It’s Lamb Chops tonight so an Aussie Shiraz is appropriate.  This one is deep ruby, ie nearly fully opaque.  The nose is of medium intensity and has aromas of plums, blackberry, rich baking spice, cedar and eucalyptus but no telltale pepper note.  The palate is dry with really juicy acidity, medium (+) tannins and medium (+) body.  There is some heat from the high alcohol that caught me off-guard.  The flavors are medium (+) intense and consist of black plums, blackberry, cedar, eucalyptus and a jammy component.  The finish is quite long, the wine is nicely balanced and complex.  It has good mouthfeel even though there is a slight, lingering burn on the back end.  I like it and think it will drink well for some time- till 2029.  Pairing it with meat is obvious.  92 points from me and for $35 it’s a steal worthy of 5 stars.  Salut….