2018 Hewitson Shiraz Le Secateur, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, clay and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, lush texture with lots of black raspberry fruit.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to twelve years.  This is nice on its own and would work well with BBQ Ribs.  

2020 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity, Australia, Barossa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first, then shows some black olives.  With air, black raspberries, char and black pepper, too.  Full bodied.  Lovely lush texture.  On the palate, jammy black raspberries.  Some heat.  Long finish.  This is a big wine and could use about five years of cellaring.  It is nice now, but will improve by 2 to 3 points.  Hold for five and drink for fifteen after that.  Nice on its own, this will hold up to spicy food such as Indian, very nicely.  

2010 Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Ron Thorn, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is the top wine from this producer and in a recent blind tasting of Barossa Shiraz it was a virtual unanimous wine of the night.  Inky purple in color, op0aque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight black olive, and a hint of clay.  On the palate, this is bright, not jammy, and delicious.  Notes of black raspberries, with some coffee grounds and a hint of spice.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  At age 13, this seems younger, and should go another twenty years.  Great on its own, this should work well with Cassoulet.  

2018 Elderton Shiraz, Australia, Barossa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

Purple in color with ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, clay and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries and slight alcohol note.  14.5% abv.  Drinking well now and should continue for another five to eight years.  Good on its own, this will work with bigger foods or even Meatloaf.  

2020 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, Australia, Barossa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, spice and slight cedar.  With air, a slight cocoa note emerges.  On the palate, this is jammy black raspberries.  Very tasty.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work with grilled meats.  A burger would be nice.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2011 Clarendon Hills Astralis, Australia, McLaren Vale, Wine review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$190.00USD

Sadly, Shiraz from Australia has gone a bit out of style, but there are still some damn good ones.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this seems just a bit shy of maturity.  Lots of black raspberry fruit, some coffee and black pepper.  Long finish.  While this is a big wine, it is not an ooze monster at all.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  This is great on its own and will work well with Lamb Stew.

2001 Elderton Shiraz Single Vineyard Command, Australi, Barossa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Nice to get a chance to revisit this with some serious age on it.  The last time I tried it in 2014, it was great but young.  Purple in color, ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, leather and black pepper.  Velvety texture.  This seems fully mature.  Complex.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has black raspberries, some char, a bit of earthy funk and black pepper.  A bit sweet on the finish.  This is everything one wants in a mature Syrah.  Great on its own, this will work better with food.  It would work well with Lamb Curry.  

2001 Marquis Philips Shiraz Integrity, Australia, McLaren Vale, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

When Marquis Phillips wines burst onto the scene around the beginning of the century, this was the flagship and quite the divisive wine.  It was a poster child for the big, perhaps overblown style of Aussie Shiraz that was so popular at the time.  Most loved them but many disliked the style.  It was interesting to check in on this 21 years later.  If you loved it then, you will still and vice-versa.  Purple in color with ruby hues.  Mostly clear and bright.  It seems the color has faded a tad in the intervening 21 years.  On the nose, this is fresh and big with black raspberries, black oliv

2015 Enate Somontano Syrah-Shiraz, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a very nice Syrah from northeast Spain (the D.O. of Somontano).  It is a unique take that is well worth exploring especially for the price.  Deep garnet in color with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, with slight dried floral notes and a hint of char/graphite.  Medium bodied.  15%abv.  On the palate, the black cherries dominate with underlying minerality.  Very tasty.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  If pressed, this has some similarities to a St.

2013 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate, Australia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is 100% Shiraz from Adelaide in Australia.  It is a single vineyard wine and it is stunning.  There was a time this was an affordable bottle and less expensive alternative to Grange, but both have seen steep escalation of their pricing.  Still, once in a while, this is doable.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, chocolate, black olives, leather and nutmeg.  Full bodied.  Great vibrant texture.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and also delicious.  Black raspberry fruit with layers of fruit, earth and char.  Long finish.  Thi

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