Weekly Wine Review - Australian Red - 2010 Rubus Shiraz-Viognier Low Yield

I love browsing the aisles of a good wine shop looking for a new gem to try. Part of this activity is naturally deciphering the wine labels to figure out what may await me in the bottle. This particular bottle attracted me partly because the wine label is more informative than most. The front label alone tells me 1) the vines are low yield which means more concentrated flavor 2) the grape varieties and exact percentages (a touch of viognier is sometimes added to add floral aromas and can impart a silkier taste to the wine), and 3) the region - Barossa in Australia.  Sounds good to me... let's try it!

Wine: 2010 Rubus Shiraz-Viognier Low Yield

Region: Barossa, Australia
Grape Varieties: Shiraz and a tiny touch of Viognier

Obtained from: Purchased at Total Wine & More

Price: $17

Wino4Life Category: Everyday Wine

Aeration before tasting: Just a swirl or two, no special aeration.

Cork Condition: Natural cork - no defects or issues.

Appearance: Clear, dark purple center with a pinkish rim.

Aroma: Black cherries, raspberries, licorice and pepper, and something floral. 

Taste: Big fruit, well balanced, a nice long finish.  Enough tannins to age for severe more years.

The Grade: I give this one an A.  Many great Australian Shiraz wines can set you back some serious coin, but this one for less than $20 is really outstanding.  More than just a good label - I'm going to buy more of this one for sure.