shiraz
08/072008 /
Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2006
The blend: 100 Shiraz
Why you should buy it: As my wine connoisseur friend Sherie put it, “I like big fucking reds like this one that touch every nerve in my palate.”
What it tastes like: Cherry, chocolate, blueberries, pepper
What to serve it with: Beef tartare
Say this and sound smart: The Barossa Valley in Southern Australia takes its name from the Barossa Ranges, which were named by Colonel William Light in 1837. Light chose the name in memory of the British victory over the French in the Battle of Barossa, in which he fought in 1811.
The price: $29
Imbiber rating: 91
The Bohan-Dillon Pinot Noir 2006
The blend: all pinot noir
Where it’s from: It’s from Hirsch Vineyards on the Sonoma Coast, known for their premium pinot noir
What it tastes like: Two hot women on a leather couch; plums; Seville oranges; exhibits pleasant acidity; firm tannins
What to serve it with: Sharp cheddar cheese, rosemary, thyme, salad, bacon cheeseburger
The price: $30
Imbiber rating: 89
The blend: 100 Shiraz
Why you should buy it: As my wine connoisseur friend Sherie put it, “I like big fucking reds like this one that touch every nerve in my palate.”
What it tastes like: Cherry, chocolate, blueberries, pepper
What to serve it with: Beef tartare
Say this and sound smart: The Barossa Valley in Southern Australia takes its name from the Barossa Ranges, which were named by Colonel William Light in 1837. Light chose the name in memory of the British victory over the French in the Battle of Barossa, in which he fought in 1811.
The price: $29
Imbiber rating: 91
The Bohan-Dillon Pinot Noir 2006
The blend: all pinot noir
Where it’s from: It’s from Hirsch Vineyards on the Sonoma Coast, known for their premium pinot noir
What it tastes like: Two hot women on a leather couch; plums; Seville oranges; exhibits pleasant acidity; firm tannins
What to serve it with: Sharp cheddar cheese, rosemary, thyme, salad, bacon cheeseburger
The price: $30
Imbiber rating: 89
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McWilliams Shiraz
09/202006 /
Of
all the Shiraz enjoyed by the glass at eating and
drinking establishments across the United States,
none is poured more frequently than the wine bottled
at McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate in the Riverina region
of South Eastern Australia. It’s only been a few
years since this respected Aussie winery made its
wares available to American consumers, but they’ve
achieved remarkable sales results by employing a
simple business plan: Offer a quality product at an
affordable price and make it widely available. It’s a
sound strategy similar to the one that’s served Napa
Valley producer Robert Mondavi so well.
McWilliam’s 2003 vintage Shiraz is indeed a quality product, as the Imbiber discovered at a recent tasting in Los Angeles held during a weeklong celebration of all things Down Under. Okay, so the McWilliam’s Shiraz wasn’t quite as sublime as the regal ’98 Penfold’s Grange I was fortunate enough to sample, but at $11 a bottle, the former certainly proved itself a fantastic value … hell, I doubt you could even sniff the cork of the ’98 Penfold’s Grange for less than an Andy Jackson.
The McWilliam’s Shiraz, which is called Syrah in France – yet another example of that country’s pathological need to distance itself from the rest of us – is a fruity red that’s meant to be tasted young. Made with a combination of grapes harvested from Coonawarra to the Hunter Valley, the palate exhibits a range of flavors including berries, licorice and plums. Like most hearty wines of this variety, it’s best when paired with red meat or pork. If you’re in the market for something to accompany fish, for the same price McWilliam’s offers a lively chardonnay.
McWilliam’s 2003 vintage Shiraz is indeed a quality product, as the Imbiber discovered at a recent tasting in Los Angeles held during a weeklong celebration of all things Down Under. Okay, so the McWilliam’s Shiraz wasn’t quite as sublime as the regal ’98 Penfold’s Grange I was fortunate enough to sample, but at $11 a bottle, the former certainly proved itself a fantastic value … hell, I doubt you could even sniff the cork of the ’98 Penfold’s Grange for less than an Andy Jackson.
The McWilliam’s Shiraz, which is called Syrah in France – yet another example of that country’s pathological need to distance itself from the rest of us – is a fruity red that’s meant to be tasted young. Made with a combination of grapes harvested from Coonawarra to the Hunter Valley, the palate exhibits a range of flavors including berries, licorice and plums. Like most hearty wines of this variety, it’s best when paired with red meat or pork. If you’re in the market for something to accompany fish, for the same price McWilliam’s offers a lively chardonnay.
