PENFOLDS KOONUNGA HILL SHIRAZ CABERNET 2006

It has been a long while since I last posted a review. Not that I haven't drank any, it's just been in situations when I didn't have the time and/or patients to take any notes. Recently I was at a local steakhouse for my birthday and happened to order a bottle of Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet. I liked it so much I decided to buy a bottle from the liquor store and perform a proper tasting. As an aside, I really wish restaurants in Canada would not charge so much for wine. I recall paying about $35 at the steakhouse versus about $17 in the liquor store. Obscene!

I really liked the balance of this wine - the spiciness of the Shiraz against the warmth of the Cabernet. The oak was detectable yet subtle, so as not to overpower the wine. As with many Aussie reds this one had big, bold fruit, with hints of raspberry on the nose. The high alcohol level (13.5%) was also quite detectable even after breathing for several minutes. It pairs really well with beef - no wonder it's available at the steakhouse.

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FISHEYE SHIRAZ 2005

I opened a bottle of FishEye Shiraz to go with my left-over risotto - not the ideal pairing I know, but it worked. This wine has a very intriguing nose with notes of cherry and red berries. I was quite surprised by the lack of spice; I characterize Shiraz by its spiciness. Also, the tannins were unremarkable. This is a simple wine, with a fragrant nose and big, bold flavour. This would be good with a pizza.

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PAINTED TURTLE - SHIRAZ

Last night Julia and I decided to open a bottle that was given to us for Christmas (thank you Jamie and Gordana!). This was certainly a lesson in why wine needs to breathe for a while before drinking. When we first tasted the wine, it tasted very acidic. However, after about 10 minutes it mellowed out and was very pleasant.

This Shiraz has nice legs and hints of vanilla on the nose. I tasted hints of pepper (typical for a Shiraz) as well as cloves and blackberry. It went very nicely with the assortment of chocolates I had received in my Christmas stocking.

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SHIRAZ CABERNET SAUVIGNON - WOLF BLASS RED LABEL

A very festive open house at my parents house Sunday with plenty of wine. My Dad loaded up with plenty of nice selections, including a few bottles of Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. Every time I drink a Wolf Blass I understand why it is so popular. This blend was deep and rich, well balanced with just enough tannins. I accompanied it with Camembert and Blue cheeses, giving a great contrast in flavours. Luckily there were a few bottles of other labels left over, so Christmas should be fantastic!

Score: 87
SKU #311795 / UPC #00023859000229