Last Week's Tasting Notes (8.24.18)

​Beelgara Estate Shiraz ($9.99)
New South Wales, Australia
From the producer:
"The Beelgara Winery and name has a history that dates back over 80 years. Originally situated in the village of Beelbangera, the place name is derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning 'native companion.'

The Brolga, also known as the Aboriginal 'native companion,' is now depicted on our new label, to remind us of our Beelbangera origins and proud Australian heritage.
Shiraz is crushed and fermented on skins for 4-5 days then drained and pressed onto a mixture of French and American oak for maturation.

Plum and blackberry fruit with some vanillin oak aromas. Rich soft style with blackberry fruit and vanilin oak with elegant soft tannins on the finish.

CELLAR: Up to 5 years

SERVE WITH: Enjoy with richer foods such as roast beef or mushroom risotto"

From me:
This wine is from New South Wales (southeast Australia), and although it shares some flavor characteristics with more ubiquitous wines from McClaren Vale in Australia (plum and cracked pepper), it is a little lighter in body like Shiraz from Victoria. This is a great introduction to the grape as vinified in Australia, and it's a very good go-to wine for the price.

Corvidae Lenore Syrah ($14.99)
Columbia Valley, Washington
From the Producer:
"Sourced from several vineyards throughout the Yakima Valley and the Horse Heaven Hills, Lenore Syrah shows the more opulent and balanced vintage with its fruit forward attack and rounded, rich mid-palate texture. Aging in predominately neutral French oak maintains the bright berry and savory aromatics of this wild, gamey varietal.

Pair this crowd pleasing wine with barbecued babyback ribs, a hearty lamb stew or your favorite burger."

From me:
This wine is super approachable and reminds me a bit of the riper Shiraz wines from Australia, though without much of the peppery note. Super smooth and fuller bodied.