Thorn Clarke Shotfire Shiraz 2005

Before I had a blog, I used to spend sleepless nights pondering statements like:

the self which I am depends on the self I am not yet to the exact extent that the self I am not yet does not depend on the self which I am.

Thankfully, I can now spend my nights of insomnia thinking about which Shiraz to write about for Wine Blogging Wednesday #30. Which importantly, is being hosted this month by Tim from WineCast. The reason I even quote Sartre is the torment I have had since the theme was announced. I have been weighing up old vs new, expensive vs affordable, iconic vs unheralded, warm vs cool climate, 16% alcohol vs sensible, Robert Parker vs Oz and on and on as only a wine tragic can go on and on and on. . .

In the end, I picked new, affordable and Barossa.

James Halliday wrote recently about the competition faced by Australian shiraz from other new world rivals. The most convincing competition at present is from New Zealand. In the face of this, the one clear advantage is history. No where new world besides the Barossa, Mclaren Vale, Eden, Clare and Hunter Valleys is there 100 year old Shiraz vines and a tradition to match.

Barossa Valley, South Austalia. 14% alcohol. Screwcap. Approx $A20.

Deep, dark and glass staining. Typical Barossa nose - dark chocolate, rich mulberry and intoxicating alcohol. Very primary and generous in the mouth, again saturated with dark berries, rich chocolate and mocha. There is a pleasing pulse of acidity to give brightness, pace and shape. Lovely midpalate spice, and granularity which gives way to fine, slightly adhesive tannins. The end is warmth and bitter chocolate.

Very good.
17/20 (90/100).
Drink now - 2015.

technorati tags: wine, australian wine, shiraz, wine blogging wednesday