An Open Mind About Shiraz

How cool was her Leonard Nimoy impression?

Like many wine-o-philes, I subscribe to the New York Times Wine Club. (Insert stereotypical New York liberal joke here.) This month’s selection includes a 2008 Fire Block Shiraz from Clare Valley in Australia.

The catch? I’m not sure how I feel about Shiraz. Well, I appreciate it’s (ahem…) intensely rich and spicy flavor, it is however a wine that befuddles me.

So, I guess I am glad that the Wine Club included an Australian Shiraz with this month’s collection. It gives me another opportunity to evaluate its aroma and flavor. (Plus I paired it with some tangy cheese while watching Fringe. That show could make Lysol tasty.)

Clare Valley is just north of Adelaide with a climate that’s warm and dry. The Fire Block vineyard has vines that date back to 1923. According to The Times, “these ancient Shiraz vines struggle mightily here.”

So props to Bill and Noel Ireland of Fire Block for this surprisingly substantial 2008 Shiraz. Because I’m not such a connoisseur of Shiraz, some of the aromatic flavors kept me guessing. (Our Times primer notes baked plum, huckleberry and black cherry liqueur). Tasting the Shiraz I definitely felt blackberry and plum really shining through. And maybe just a hint of chocolate? And definitely heavier on the French Oak as opposed to American oak. Overall… scrumptious for a Shiraz.

And to go with such a complex show like Fringe (and that stunning Australian actress Anna Torv), definitely hit up this Shiraz.