MCGUIGAN HAND MADE SHIRAZ 2008

Reviewed March 28, 2010 by Marcos Efron

The Pitch:
God bless Australia, without which we Yanks would never know the pleasures of didgeridoos, Crocodile Dundee and Vegemite.  Pardon me, allow me to start again.  Ahem... God bless Australia, without which we Yanks would never know the pleasures of oh-so-cute Aussie girls and their accents, Heath Ledger, Mad Max and an endless number of reasons to live life to its fullest.  True, we might naively consider Fosters “Australian for beer,” but it’s in the wine department that the continent really shines.  Among the New World wine regions, Australia represents arguably the vanguard of viticultural achievement, and their star grape is the Shiraz.  Some of the best Shiraz come from the Barossa Valley in the south and one of the tastiest of these comes from McGuigan, a winery with roots dating back to 1869.  Their Hand Made Shiraz is a full-bodied, peppery powerhouse with a whiff of black cherry in the long finish.  There isn’t a ton of complexity to this offering but I am a fan of the big flavors and easy tannins.

Movie Pairing:
Fighting my urge to embrace the Holy Trinity of Australian cinema – Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, Baz Luhrmann (and by association Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman) – I find myself drawn to one of the baddest-ass movies ever made, Australian or otherwise.  Before Eric Bana was a freakish CGI Hulk or a surprisingly convincing Israeli hitman, he was Mark “Chopper” Read. I’m not implying there’s any great thematic bond between the McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz and a movie about a “bloody normal bloke who likes a bit of torture,” but Cinema Vino loves this movie and thinks you will too.

What to serve it with:
Shiraz typically pairs well with meats, cheeses and spicy dishes, and this one is no exception.  The McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz more than holds its own with these flavorful dishes.  You could also try it with some well-seasoned shrimp “on the barbie” or even a spicy étouffée.

Price: $13

Imbiber Rating: 88

Note: This blend is exclusive to Fresh & Easy stores in the US