In the age of $3 gasoline, $200/sq. ft. houses and $300 electric bills, it's comforting to spot a downward price trend now and then. Such a trend is obvious in the Australian blended wines, which seem to get cheaper and better every month. The Aussies have outdone themselves this time with the 2004 Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon. I picked up a bottle today at WalMart for $3.97. You read that right -- that's Three Ninety Seven. I don't even see how they can ship this stuff for that. It even comes with a real cork, not the screw caps that 100mph prefers for his "motel" nights.
Banrock Station is located in Southeastern Australia, on the banks of the River Murray. Once barren due to overgrazing and the rabbit plague, this property has been carefully restored and converted into a 4,200 acre vineyard that now produces some of the best bargains in the wine world. Its rich, deep river bottom soils have proven to be ideal for Shiraz as well as Cabernet Sauvignon cultivation.
The Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon is a young wine, and its youthful exuberance shows through and through. The nose is delightfully earthy and spicy although I have to admit the clarity is somewhat lacking. It's only when you stop smelling it, stop looking at it, and actually start drinking it that you know for damn sure you've got an authentic, classy Aussie blend on your hands. This blend is somewhat different from other Australian blended reds, though, since Banrock Station uses 80% Shiraz and only 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Usually they’re about 50-50.
The flavors that you notice right off are reminiscent of wild cherry, oak, and vanilla with a hint of mild pepper at the finish. The alcohol content, 13.5%, is perfectly balanced with the wine's fine characteristics. This wine is moderately toothy, so it might do well in the cellar for 2-3 years. Banrock Station, however, prefers that you consume their wines right away, which ain't really a problem for me.
The 2004 Banrock Station, $3.97 at WalMart. Wine is life. Life is wine.
10 comments:
btw, if you don't like this little bottle, there's no hope for your sorry ass. Jis' sayin'.....
I'm drinking a wine tonight I just picked up in my trip to a Trader Joe's in Virginia.
Did you ever hear of Charles Shaw wines, otherwise known as "Three Buck Chuck"
The cabernet savignon tastes like it could be a $20 bottle. The price per bottle... $3.29 with a cork and everything. It's a California wine.
I just bought a case tonight with 4 different kind of Charles Shaw wines. 12 bottles.... case total was just under 40 bucks.
I'm loving it!
hey Rev:
I really liked the Charles Shaw Merlot, but didn't care for the Cab. That's kinda' strange, since I generally frown on Merlots. It coulda' been the vintage, so I'll try them again next time I'm in Santa Fe. I have to say I really do appreciate the concept of a $3 Napa.
The larger point is that you can get some very good wine for less than $4 bucks a bottle these days if you're willing to look for it. My own quest for chaep wine started when I got burned on a $40 bottle of Far Niente that tasted like warmed over shit.
100mph, desert wino.
I'm gonna try summadat stuff so'z I can develop sum class like you guys got...
...and...then...
Why, I'll jus' sit down after a bottle or two and hammer outta good "Cornhole" post...
A flawless review. Delicate in its intricacies. Y'know, n'stuff..The depth of the appreciation of wine by those in the wine community is quite intense.
Rabbit plaque? Is this like a locust plague?
los -- when Australia was settled by the Brits, there were no rabbits in the country. The limeys got homesick and imported some rabbits to remind them of jolly ol' England. The rabbits, having no natural enemies, multiplied rapidly until they pretty much ate every blade of grass in half the country. Hence, the great Australian rabbit plague. Just another example of what happens when man fucks around with mother nature.
100...
The Chuck Shaw merlot will be my next tasting. I have three bottles of it waiting at home.
knowledge is power
100mph
you have power
GAH!! stop talking about wine!! You're killin' me here. I want a glass of wine so bad I'm salivating.
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