Right folks, help is at hand if you’re struggling to fill your pantry because of the hoarders, or as I like to call them, idiots! Let’s face it, claret isn’t a natural pair for baked beans and vintage port is definitely going to overpower Dairy Lee Triangles but after many punishing hours of tasting, I found the perfect wine for these isolating times.
Australian Shiraz is definitely my wine of the moment with lashings of soft, spicy fruits, plenty of thought numbing alcohol and a remarkable ability to make a packet of crisps taste like a Michelin dish. Shiraz or Syrah as it’s also known is one of the classic grapes of the Rhone valley but it’s also one of the original varieties that were taken to Australia in the 19th Century. As a result of the phylloxera outbreak in Europe in the latter half of the 19th century, most of the original vines in Europe were destroyed so Australia now has some of the largest plantings of pre-phylloxera vines in the world.
Shiraz took to Australia like a duck to water and the warm climate transformed our understanding of the grape. In France, it was largely blended in wines such as Chateauneuf du Pape or Gigondas and the occasional single varietals in the South were ugly ducklings, to say the least. The Aussies turned Shiraz into sexy, fruity supermodels with the naughtiest ones being produced in the Barossa Valley. The style varies from soft, silky berry dominated wines to big ripe cassis dominated wines with furry tannins.
Some of them should say ‘dilute to taste’ on the label to be honest but mark my words, these wines should be in everyone’s self-isolation goody box.
The Society’s Australian Shiraz
This is simply divine with juicy ripe blackberries a hint of spice and a really fresh finish. The Wine Society has done themselves proud with this one.
The Wine Society £7.50 per bottle or £90 a dozen
Berry Bros & Rudd Australian Shiraz
I couldn’t agree more with the chaps at Berry’s; this really is a quintessential example of Barossa Shiraz with dark Brambly fruits on the nose, ripe soft tannins and hints of vanilla and chocolate on the finish. Lush!
Berry Bros. & Rudd £12.95
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