Line ’em up, these two full bodied reds pack in an awful lot of flavour for $30 or less. Strictly speaking these aren’t quite what I’d go for on a Friday night (probably a beer on a 31C day in Sydney), but well worth your dollars.
Pirathon Silver Shiraz 2017
Density is what Pirathon does best, with this Barossan winery delivering reds that are the epitome of luscious. Adam from Pirathon emailed me during the week to remind me to look at this Shiraz and glad it got pulled to the top of the (overly large) sample pile. An awful lot of dense, very ripe and chocolate raspberry mud cake flavour. Barossa flavour concentrated. Matured in 20% new oak, though you’d guess higher than that. It’s so chocolatey and dense, which is super appealing. Maybe too warm, but that flavour per glass ratio is very high. Well worth it. Best drinking: mid term drinking, now to eight years plus. 17.7/20, 92/100. 15%, $25. Would I buy it? I’d go a glass for a Barossan big red fix no probs.
Rockbare McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018
Rockbare is backed by the Joval group; one of the largest premium wine distributors in the country. I’ve been dismissive before about the brand, expecting soulless wines as is the mode for ‘own brand’ products. But after trying a few of the range recently, I can see that I’ve been mischaracterising the brand. This red shows the way – it’s modern McLaren Vale Shiraz in full splendour. Bold and black fruited, it sings with a licoricey, chunky, mid-palate driven style, the flavours chunky, the palate seductive. I almost picked this as having some Viognier in the mix, such is the silkiness and sly perfume (and there could well be a little v weed in the mix). The late warmth is unavoidable (if a distraction), but it doesn’t hurt the appeal. I gave half the bottle to my brother in law who doesn’t always drink Shiraz and he loved it too. I can see why. Best drinking: I like it now. Sure it will settle a bit but it’s ready now. 17.7/20, 92/100. 14.5%, $28. Would I buy it? A glass or two.
Comment
Ah the Rockbare with the new label. Personally only had a couple of Shirazes from two vintages but my last in June last year was one of about 5 enjoyed. It was the white labelled 2014, which I probably bought in 2017. Absolutely loved it as a five year old wine which is pretty young so i think this 2018 still has plenty of time. The 2014 had a lovely cherry taste too thrown into a well integrated wine. Twas about $17 from memory so if this is the same vino with a new label, the mongrels in marketing are trying to make a nice quid. Well, they better lookout if they recently read what happened to treasury wine estates. $28 for this, and based on your notes and score which was less than my experience, I think around $22 would be fairer. But based on your score, it is still a few bucks too dear.
Going back a bit, I had a lot of fun with your tasting notes in November at Bendigos’ Balgownie Estate. The manager who was the cellar door operator at the time couldn’t work out why i had tasted in a particular order. When I told him i brought my research notes he loved it. Good wines, and even better food and accomodation.