A bottle we bought at the bar for some crazy price, it should cost about $14.  Dark purple is always a good thing in Shiraz, this wine was spot on.  Plums and oak on the nose translated straight to the palate.  Adding some coffee and spiced pepper made this wine quite complex and the subtly oaky finish was very smooth.  I think this is my style of everyday Aussie Shiraz, flavorful yet not jammy and over da top… 88 points and 4 stars from me.  I would drink this again with some BBQ or a bold pasta dish.  Salut….

I disliked the 2009 Footbolt, thinking it was an off vintage.  I was correct.  The 2010 version is far more approachable, delicious and true to form.  Reddish purple in the glass, it offered up black fruits and a hint of cedar on the nose.  Upon tasting, the blackcurrants mingled with licorice and even some mocha came through.  Medium tannins and good acidity balanced the whole thing out.  The wine is very reasonable at $13 and gives some depth without resorting to jammyness.  I would drink it with grilled Lamb and some olive tapenade.  The bang for the buck factor is amazing though and I give it 89 points and 4 stars.  If you have not tried any d’Arenberg wines, you really should, they are easy to spot as they all have the signature red sash on the label.  Salut….

A Barossa Valley Shiraz that I loved.  Dark purple in the glass and offering up a generous bouquet of plums, blackberry and a touch of wood.  The mouthfeel is super smooth and allows the plums and black fruit to meld with oak and star anise.  The wine is drinking beautifully now and from the very gentle tannins I would reckon it to be at peak for the next two years.  This is my style of Aussie Shiraz, supple, smooth and offering a certain level of finesse.  This is a good wine with dimension and appeal. For $22 this is a 4 star wine with 90 points in my books.  Salut….