A Zelig of Shiraz’s. First, peppery, spice cabinet, the whiff of basketry as you walk into a Pier 1 Imports. Vanilla, cassis, smooth like velvet. That was just before dinner. With food—a peppercorn NY Steak, BBQd to medium rare with brandied mushrooms and a simple salad—it became a different wine, heartier, stronger, more assertive, cabernet-ish, a musky herbaceousness that trumped the meat. Traditional wine superlatives fail here because you will perceive this as just another Aussie red; but it is so much more. Gentle and aggressive, remarkable on so many levels.
Although this comes in at a disappointing 14.5% alcohol, and while not the red of my dreams, it is dreamlike and I would make any excuse to order more red meat simply to pair up this brilliant bottle. Please don’t hate me Mark Bittman!
A lovely US value, not so much in BC. Pete’s in Seattle (one day I will blog on the wine-heaven which is Pete’s) offered this at $13.67 a bottle, regularly $15.88. Everything Wine in Vancouver offered it at $48.99 a bottle. You do the math.
Price: See above.
Market Liquidity: USA, USA, USA.
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