Whodda thunk it!
a couple of weeks ago, I went to The Jug Shop’s annual Sparkling Shiraz Extravaganza. While there, I tasted through 11 examples of sparkling shiraz, a very interesting red quaffer that I’d only tasted once before. In Australia. When I was drunk.
Even though I went in with preconceived notions, I was pleasantly surprised at the variety and flavor these sparking reds provided. They are a great accompaniment for meat dishes, and I think I may even serve one at Thanksgiving!
Here are my results, which you can compare with The Jug Shop’s official notes here. I have used a 5 star scale, to test it out but I have a lot of middle of the road notes so bear with me as I expand my palate here.
- 2004 Paringa Sparkeling Shiraz – Blood red color. Musty pomegranate & berry flavors. Lots of cherry & berry, very fruity and refreshing. 3 Stars
- Hardy’s Sparkeling Shiraz NV – dark and brooding, with earthy cherry cider and a bit of couch syrup. 3 Stars
- Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz NV – funky. Acidic and vinegar. Strange! Did not rate.
- Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz ‘The Red Brute’ NV – Sweet red fruit and ripe berries. Meaty and sweet red fruit, oak on finihs. Tannic end. Juicy. 3.25 Stars
- 2005 Majella Sparkeling Shiraz – Cool climate with minimal oak, no cork! Dry, oaky nose. Very dry, best served with rich meats. Lots of cherry. Tasted a lot like a classic champagne, with pepper, smoke, and earth. Very good. 3.75 Stars
- Trevor Jones Sparkeling Shiraz NV – A lot of wood and funk. Very dry, excellent food pairings. Underripe cherries and juicy pomegranate & cranberry. 3 Stars
- Charles Melton Sparkling Shiraz NV – Dark red with brick hues. Earthy nose, with a lot of oak. Lighter body than the others. Refined pepper & spice, with a brandy finish. 3 Stars
- Wild Duck Creek Sparkling Shiraz NV – Very rare example of sparkling shiraz. Dry savory meat flavored with cranberry jice and pomedrantie. Earthy with finish that dissipates quickly. 3.5 Stars
- 2002 Barossa Valley Estates Sparkling Shiraz – Smells like a classic Barossa shiraz, huge, rich, coffee notes with molasses and plum flavors. 3.5 Stars
I did not review the last two wines, so I apologize!
The official results are:
Best To Worst… Please Rank—1 = Best, 10 = Worst
Barossa Valley Estate “E&E Black Pepper” 2002 = 2.17
Elderton “Ashmead Family Reserve” NV = 3.83
Wild Duck Creek #3 NV = 4.33
Majella 2005 = 4.33
Charles Melton NV = 4.92
Trevor Jones NV = 5.17
Bleasdale “Red Brute” NV = 5.58
Hardy’s NV = 7.83
Paringa 2004 = 8.0
Black Chook NV = 8.75
Best Value… Choose One
2nd Paringa 2004—$9.99
3rd Hardy’s NV—$19.99
4th Black Chook NV—$19.99
1st by landslide Bleasdale “Red Brute” NV—$19.99
If I Were Stuck On A Desert Island… Choose One
Rank Wine
Paringa 2004—$9.99
Hardy’s NV—$19.99
Black Chook NV—$19.99
Bleasdale “Red Brute” NV—$19.99
tie for 3rd Majella 2005—$29.99
2nd Trevor Jones NV—$39.99
Charles Melton NV—$39.99
tie for 3rd Wild Duck Creek #3 NV—$59.99
1st by landslide Barossa Valley Estate “E&E Black Pepper”
tie for 3rd Elderton “Ashmead Family Reserve” NV
I would reccomend these wines as an alternative to a classic sparkler, particularly if you are sreving them with a meal. The less fruity varietals are best with meaty dishees, while the fruiter less expensive examples are great on their own as well as affordable!
