average retail price: $14
The previously reviewed Mad Dogs & Englishmen really threw me for a loop … I thought for sure it was an Aussie Shiraz. So I figured that if importer Peter Click could find a top-rate Australian Shiraz in Spain, imagine what a legitimate bottle from “down under” might taste like? That led me to try this wine: 2-Up Shiraz, from vineyards in McLaren Vale and Southern Fleurieu, Australia. Get it? Two vineyards = Two Up.
By the way, this bottle has a twist cap, which I love, for so many reasons. First, they�re easy to open. Second, they�re easy to close for storing for the next evening. Third, they�re virtually guaranteed from suffering cork taint. But I digress …
This twist-off Australian Shiraz has many more positives in addition to its closure. Right off the bat, your nose is smacked with wide open aromas of grape jelly, jam, ripe mulberry, blueberry, and raspberry, with hints of black pepper and earth. On the palate it is equally fruit-forward and jammy, as you would expect an Aussie Shiraz to be. Robust flavors of ripe and overripe red raspberry, black raspberry, blueberry. Later on, hints of earth, spice, vanilla, and sweet licorice add to the complexity. This is a fairly big wine, with ample acidity and raw tannins, but does not finish hot with alcohol like many similarly wide-open fruit bombs. Instead, it finishes with good balance and proper length, and in a pleasing style. A yummy, delectable wine by itself, it has plenty of structure to match up against foods. It�s great with stews, burgers, steaks � all things beef � and equally enjoyable with fine cheeses. A kickass, mouthfilling fruit bomb for people who like this sort of wine.
a-8 t-9 b-8 fc-7 v-8 ~ 90 Points
Imported by the Click Wine Group
