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"A Great Grilling Red"
In the last week I've grilled three times and tomorrow I will fire up that old Weber once again. Now that the weather is nice it's great to get outside, breathe the fresh air and bring the cooking outdoors. Grilling food adds an extra dimension to the flavor and gives it nice smoky notes. Nothing beats a fat juicy burger off the Barbie. One of my favorite wines to drink with a myriad of food off the grill is the Syrah/Shiraz. This grape variety gives us the blackberry, black cherry, blueberry(dark fruits), spice and pepper. Sometimes you can even get smoke and grilled meat notes from the grape. With these aromas and flavors this grape pairs incredibly well with these foods. If you're doing BBQ chicken pick a lighter style of the Syrah. If its steak grab a more robust, bold bottling. Nowadays there are great Syrahs coming from all around the globe, so try a new country or region out this summer. Here is a list of some of my favorites that should be explored. Hope you enjoy these gems from around the world!
1) Callia Alta Shiraz 2008, Argentina - Here's a great value wine from South America that delivers the goods. This Shiraz has dark ruby color with a nose of spice and blueberry. Juicy on the palate with more dark fruits and nice structure. Excellent for the price!
2) Thorn Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2008, Australia - This all estate wine is a real mind blower to say the least. Here is another wine that tastes like a bottle triple its price. Deep opaque color with aromas of blackberry and spice. Big and chewy in the mouth with serious structure, pepper, black cherry and more blackberry on the palate. 100% Barossa fruit and 1 litre bottle. Incredible for the money!
3) Landskroon Shiraz 2008, South Africa - The family has been making wines for six generations and it shows in the wine. This is the most serious Shiraz from South Africa I've put to my lips in a long time. Dark red color with intense aromas of red berries, spice and vanilla. Flavors of cherry, raspberry, smoke and a touch of oak coat the palate with incredible finesse. An almost perfect harmony with fruit and tannins. Very low production, so grab a bottle now.
4) Novelty Hill Syrah 2004, Washington State - Some of the tastiest Syrahs are coming from this state. The mouthwatering acidity and juicy fruit make these Syrahs way to delicious. This winery makes small production gems at very fair prices. Mike Januik was the winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle for over a decade and brings his expertise to this winery. Dark purple color with heady aromas of spice, plums and black cherry. Flavors of blackberry and more plums coat the palate. Serious structure and extra long finish. A personnel favorite.
Happy grillin and sippin !
Jeff
Sommelier
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