Fowles Are You Game Shiraz 2013 (about $17)

About the Wine:  Everything about this label puts the wine firmly into "I immediately regret this decision," territory when purchasing it.  Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your view, Aussie winemakers tend to give stupid labels to some really good wine.  I suppose if I wanted a classy label I should have bought a Rhone.

About THIS Wine:  Very dark, almost opaque purple in the glass with a violet rim.  The nose is tight.  This could have done with a little more age.  It does give up some nice dark berry fruit and some interesting notes of spice and forest floor.  The palate is big and plush.  It has a drier finish than I would have expected.  I suspect that this wine will drink best young, not just because it isn't meant to age, but also because its tannin structure keeps it from being overly sweet.

Drinking This Wine:  This isn't really a food wine.  More like something to sip on a cold night.

Overall Impression:  The wine is not bad, but it doesn't taste like seventeen dollars.  This wine is fine but it is overpriced.

Three Rings Shiraz 2013 (about $17)

About the Wine:  This is a Shiraz from Barossa, a region of Australia that, in my experience, often produces wines of great depth and concentration.  The best wines from this region have the richness and mineral notes that one might associate with something from the Northern Rhone.


About THIS Wine:  It is opaque in the glass with a dark red rim.  The nose is not overly generous, and I would not expect it to be from such a young red.  Smoke and red fruit notes do come through with time.  A strange and not entirely pleasant green note is strong on the palate.  It is not a flaw per se but it does not reflect the rich fruit experience that I look for in members of the Syrah family.  The fruit does come through on the finish, as does a fair amount of tannin and alcohol.  I didn't check the label before tasting.  This beast hits a 15.4% alcohol.


Drinking This Wine:  It's hard to pair something that alcoholic with food.  It might help clear up a sinus infection, though.


Overall Impression:  This is very bombastic wine with too much alcohol and too little fruit.  It's not a question of price.  It would be hard to recommend it at any price,

Red Silk Shiraz 2013 (about $17 per botte)

About the Wine:  Yesterday, I reviewed a Shiraz from Barossa, Australia and today, for comparison, I am reviewing one from McLaren Vale.  This is one is a relatively light wine at 15% alcohol.  That is insanely high for most traditional winemaking, but in a well made big wine can incorporate high alcohol.


About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is dark to the point of being muddy.  Almost reminiscent of a Ruby Port.  The nose is tight, even after some time in the glass.  It does give up a curious onion note.  There is vegetable quality on the palate but it is not nearly as pronounced as the Barossa that I tasted for the last review.  It may just be a function of the vintage, though in this case I would say that either the region was less affected or the winemaker tamed it better.  The finish is quite tannic.  It's an odd thing to say about a $17 screw cap, but this might benefit from a little more age.


Drinking This Wine:  It'll take a steak with heavy sauce to tame this beast.  Shepherd's pie could also work.


Overall Impression:  This is an example of a massive New World wine done right and as such it is good for the price.

Wild Oats Shiraz 2012 (about $12)

About the Wine:  The wines have Australia have never really captured my imagination.  That said, the Wine Spectator #2 of the top one hundred last year was a Shiraz from this same vintage.  It was at a very different price point, but it still gives me hope of finding something I've missed.

About THIS Wine:  It is almost opaque in the glass with a clear, dark red rim,  Dark fruit is heavy on the nose.  The palate is full and satisfying.  The tannin structure is solid but not gripping.  There is nice acidity and the finish stays with you.

Drinking This Wine:  This could be a sipper but it really wants to go with grilled meats.  Not a bad BBQ red.

Overall Impression:  I get lucky sometimes.  This is a really nice bottle for this price.  This wine is a good value.

The Lucky Country Shiraz 2011 (about $14)

About the Wine:  This inexpensive Shiraz started as a side project from the same wine maker that brought us Two Hands, a Shiraz best defined by I have no idea what because it's way out of my price range.  This is either going to be a great bargain or something that wine maker crapped out over a weekend.

About THIS Wine:  It is dark red in the glass with a violet rim.  The nose is very jammy with a lot of dark fruit and some forest floor notes.  The fruit delivers on the palate with just a hint of black licorice.  The finish is smooth and does not linger.

Drinking This Wine:  This is fine for a sipping wine or something to go with a hamburger.

Overall Impression:  This is a decent Tuesday night wine and it is priced as such.  It is fair for the price.

Lights Out Grenache 2009 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Grenache is one of the grapes that goes into red Cotes Du Rhone blends.  This effort comes from Australia, which is known for Shiraz, a close relative of Syrah, the other varietal that is crucial to Cotes Du Rhone. It will be interesting to see if this Rhone grape transfers as well.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is deep red with a light pink rim.  The nose has a vegetable quality with strong mineral and graphite notes.  The palate is heavy and tannic with a dry, sour cherry finish.

Drinking this Wine:  This wine is not big or bold enough to stand up to steak but beef and rice or beef and noodle dishes are a good match.  It is definitely not a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  The wine is nice and the price is right.  This one is good for the price.

Innocent Bystander Moscato 2011 (about $14)

About the Wine:  Australia is best known for Shiraz but something like a hundred and fifty varietals grow there, including Moscato.

About THIS Wine:  It is a pinkish peach color and is slightly effervescent.  Sweet and sour fruit defines the nose.  Tart watermelon is prominent on the palate which ends in a finish reminiscent of a watermelon Jolly Roger.

Drinking This Wine:  Sipping wine all the way.

Overall Impression:  Not bad, but a little expensive for what it is.  This wine is good but overpriced.