I stand corrected! I actually found an Australian Shiraz I love…
Name: 2012 Eight Songs Shiraz
Vintage: 2012
Producer: Peter Lehmann Wines
Region/Country: Barossa Valley, Australia
Grape Varietal(s): Shiraz
Consumed: At a tasting with the Chief Winemaker, Ian Hongell, at Sidedoor Restaurant in Ottawa
Recommended By: The Chief Winemaker himself
Cost: $39.95 at Vintages (LCBO) and $40.99 in British Columbia
Bottle Presentation: Nice, classic, distinctive label
Appearance: Dark ruby
Nose: Leather, dark berries, charcoal, grilled meat, dark chocolate
Taste: Charcoal, dark chocolate, plums, black licorice, with a hint of sweetness
Finish: A long finish with some tannins, charcoal, but still round and “warm.” A nice, soft back end.
Overall impression: Wow! I stand corrected. I thought Australian Shiraz was big, fruit forward and all about the black pepper. This is a layered, complex wine, with a hint of sweetness that reflects the terroir. I had it with spicy beef, which made the wine spicy as well. It’s on the pricier side, but well worth the money.
Rating: 94/100
Value: 4/5
Additional Tasting Note (pardon the pun): I enjoyed this wine as part of a wine tasting evening, orchestrated by Natalie MacLean. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, so thank you Natalie, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and hearing Ian Hongell, the Chief Winemaker, speak about the winery, his winemaking philosophy, the community of grape growers, and the history of the Barossa region. I can’t wait to meet up with him in Adelaide in the not too distant future. You can see this and the other Peter Lehmann wines I reviewed as part of this evening on Natalie MacLean’s website.