A lot of commercial entry level Aussie Shiraz comes from very warm locations and the results can be very big wines (alcohol in excess of 14%) that are both jammy and confected – fruit bombs with no style or substance. This is not one of those wines!
This Shiraz has a lovely balance of fruit, tannin and acidity – thanks to being grown at altitude in the cooler Adelaide Hills in South Australia, the diurnal temperature range ensuring the retention of much needed acidity whilst still allowing full ripening.
Dry, with relatively high alcohol, ripe tannins and a long finish, on the nose and palate the wine is dominated by black fruits (cherry, plum, blackcurrant). To counterbalance this fruit there is also plenty of sweet spice (liquorice and a touch of mocha), white pepper and an evident smokiness – from the 18 months spent in oak.
In terms of food matching, we drank it with a venison cottage pie – the earthy smokiness of the dish being a perfect match for the wine, but this would work equally as well with other red meats.
Currently on offer at Marks and Spencer for £11.25 (25% off the RRP) which is decent value.
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