Shiraz

Purple, ruby at the rim.  There is a bit of barnyard funk here.  Also some black raspberry fruit.  On the palate, there are firm tannins in this young wine, but there is also a nice silkiness to the texture.  Black cherry fruit.    Good balance.  This will work with bigger foods.  This retails for $20 and is an excellent value.  A little air will help at this point or some short term cellaring (3 years).  

Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black raspberries and black olives.  On the palate, there is some complexity here.  Juicy acidity.  Tart black cherry fruit.  Some heat.  Medium bodied.  This retails for $19 which is a very nice value.  This would work for BBQ or other bigger foods.  

Excellent wine.  This has really developed and while showing some signs of age at 15, there is plenty of life left.  Purple in color, some browning at the edges.  The nose has black raspberries and black pepper.  nice and not overblown.  On the palate, there is some layering of black raspberry fruit with char and slight pepper.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This will work with larger or spicy foods quite well.  Good finish.  Right now, this is a very pretty wine and one that all Syrah lovers could find some enjoyment from.

Inky purple in color.  The nose has sweet black raspberries, slightly dusty.  On the palate, this is jammy black raspberries.  Medium tannins.  Thsi makes very easy drinking and while not over the top, this is more about instant enjoyment than depth and complexity.  Will need big, strong food to pair with but will drink well on its own.  Sure to be a crowd favorite.  Drink in the next five years.  $30 retail.  

Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, saw dust and clay.  On the palate, this has tart acidity.  Black cherry notes.  Slight tannins and a sour, but long finish.  This did improve with air, so it likely will improve with a bit of bottle age.  Needs bold food to pair with.  $30 retail.  The sum is better than the parts here.  

This was a very popular wine among friends.  Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs, slight roasted meats and black pepper.  On the palate, juicy black raspberry fruit.  Slightly jammy.  A bit sweet.  "Old school" Australian Shiraz but within reason.  Not over blown for the style.  This will need big and/or spicy food.  It also works very nice as a cocktail wine.  Available at Nakedwines.com.

First these were super popular and then you couldn't give them away.  The fact is, there are some excellent Australian Shiraz and many of the cellar just fine.  If you liked them young, you will probably like them with some age.  At age 16, this one is humming along and drinking great.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries.

Salmon pink in color.  The nose is very nice with watermelon, slight celery note and with air, a bit or rhubarb.  Not under ripe though.  On the palate, there are some slight cherry notes on the attack.  Watermelon on the mid-palate and finishing with some strawberry notes.  Not a ton of acidity but some.  Works fine with lighter foods but make a great refreshing drink on the patio.  There is some complexity here as well.  This is an equal blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Shiraz and Mourvedre.  It is dry.  Retails for under $20 making this well priced.  Probably should be drunk by 2020.  

This is a classic big Australian export wine.  Its a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet and really goes well on a cold winter's day.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has some black cherry cough syrup, black raspberries and black pepper.  On the palate, this is ripe with black cherry and black raspberry fruit.  It is warming but not hot.  Nice texture.  Tons of fruit.  Its about pleasure not contemplation.  Long finish.  Certainly not for every one, but I like it at the right time.  

This was opened at a blind tasting and I think the entire table guessed correctly what it was.  Certainly a distinctive wine.  Purple in color.  The nose has black olives, green olives and black cherries.  Nice enough.  On the palate, this is sweet and almost cloying.  Black raspberry fruit.  I had not had it in about 4 years and it hasn't held up that well (or it is in a bad spot right now).  It is certainly drinkable but given the price...  Some liked it more than I.