Tasting - Yellow Tail Shiraz

Name: Yellow Tail Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Australia

Country: United States

Year: 2008

Price: $7.99

Wine Review: "Fruity but not overly sweet, balanced well by spice at the finish. Not as big and rich as a Syrah should be; poorly concealed alcohol leads to a regrettably thin mouthfeel. Not complex or well-crafted by any means, but still very tasty and approachable. This may be one of my new affordable, weekday-dinner kind of wines. An excellent bargain wine, but definitely a bargain wine."

My Review: On the nose there was blackberry, licorice, caramel, and a hint of black pepper. Despite what the review said, I thought there was plenty of flavors that had spices, herbs, black cherries, blackberry jam, and even hints of mocha. Perhaps not one of the most "voluptuous" Shirazes out there, but there was plenty to work with. A full-bodied mid-palate with an average, 5-7 second finish. There was a grainy surface texture and a decent balance of tannins. Overall, it was an inexpensive wine that should be paired with something like a lobster bisque or charbroiled beef.