Dawson Times

Since we are always looking for good value in wine, I have found that we often come across good value wines from Australia. One of my favorites has always been Australian Shiraz. The Shiraz grape is really the varietal Syrah from the Rhone area of France. Somewhere along the line, the grape became known as Shiraz in Australia, and up until a few decades ago was sometimes referred to as Hermitage. It is a dark skinned grape which likes warmer climates and flourishes in many parts of the world, but is well known for its big fruit taste as Shiraz from Australia. The same varieties of grapes often take on a slightly different personality depending on the soil and climate where they are grown, and the Australian Shiraz is as distinctive as the country itself.

The 2005 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz is a perfect example of an excellent wine for a decent value price. As one wine writer said of the wine, "If I had plunked down fifteen dollars for a bottle, I would have walked away a happy camper!" The scores for this wine among the wine press have ranged from 88 to 91. My score would be an 89. I like this wine a lot and have enjoyed numerous vintages over the years, with this being one of the better ones!

The wine is a dark ruby, almost purple color with the aroma of plums and blackberries. It has intense flavors of cherry and blackberry and is characteristic of the big fruit flavors usually associated with Australian Shiraz. The finish has noticeable tannins without harshness, and lingers on the palate with the berry flavors hanging on until the next sip! This, of course, is a good choice to pair with almost any grilled meat, but for a special treat, try it after dinner with some good Havarti cheese and a few red skinned grapes.

As a special treat, we are featuring this wine at a reduced price for a limited time. This wine will cellar well for five to seven years, so stock up now.

World Beverage
6190 Highway 400
Cumming, GA 30040
(678) 513-6284