THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE (BOTTOM LINE):
Medium to full bodied, sweet but not too sweet, medium tannins and acidity so you aren't overwhelmed by a bitter taste or mouth-drying aspect. There is currant tart followed by berry power, hints of spicy pepper and the alcohol warmth on the aftertaste. Great with a peppery steak.
For a fuller account of this wine, click "read more"
Medium to full bodied, sweet but not too sweet, medium tannins and acidity so you aren't overwhelmed by a bitter taste or mouth-drying aspect. There is currant tart followed by berry power, hints of spicy pepper and the alcohol warmth on the aftertaste. Great with a peppery steak.
For a fuller account of this wine, click "read more"
BACKGROUND:
Special occasion steak dinners need a descent red wine and I was having a birthday steak dinner with the family so decided to make a detour to the local wine store. I had ten buck and change in my possession which limits the variety of quality red wine drastically. Fortunately, experience has shown be that the best place to start with these specifics is the B.C. wine aisle, the closest thing to local and often with the best bang for your buck. I was eyeing up a bottle I knew fairly well when i was distracted by the bottle next door. It came down to the familiar or the unknown. I went for the unknown.
THE BASICS:
This Shiraz hails from Full Press Vineyards out of Oliver BC. It come to us at a more than decent price of 8.79$ from the local BC liquor, standing in at 13.0% alcohol by volume. A fine grab for that price, and alcohol content! This Shiraz is blended from fine grapes, both imported and Canadian.
THE WINERY'S WORD:
Full Press Vineyards boasts their Shiraz "a rich, bold, redolent of blackberry, blueberry and currant fruit with complementary scents of violets, cracked pepper, roasted earth and cocoa."
THE PROFESSIONAL'S PIECE:
The BC liquor store has no comment on this bottle other than 3.8 out of 5 rating, for whatever that is worth. Other reviews could not be obtained.
THE AMATEUR'S TAKE:
Appearance: the colour that comes to mind is reddish maroon. that colour from way back when I was in "level maroon" for swimming lessons. You will know what I mean if you hail that far back and took swimming lessons. The clarity seems good. Swirling the glass, the legs, as they drip, do so somewhat slow but do not have a thick and tinted colour quality to them. All of these aspects might foreshadow a wine that is medium in all its components: body, tannins, sweetness, and acidity.
Nose: The aromas boast its cherry and berry fruits along with hints to a spicy side.
Palate: The first sip reveals first and foremost the currant and plum flavours. I wasn't sure what currants really tasted like in a wine until this moment. They taste much like the tartness of a cranberry but more raisin like. The first sip also divulges a medium to full body. The second sip reveal the wine's sweetness as it takes the foreground and the tartness takes the background. Swishing this second sip, unleashed are the wines bursting blueberry, blackberry and almost cherry-like flavours. Alongside these berry qualities, especially on the swallow and finish, the subtle alcohol and spicy pepper burn with a slight almost bitter chocolate tinge. The after-taste has with it a lingering currant tartness and what could almost be a hint of roasted bell peppers.
WINE AND FOOD:
I bought this bottle specifically for a peppered steak dinner. We had pepper steak with sautéed mushrooms and onions and a side of grilled fingerling potatoes. The dinner brought out the berry flavours of the wine exceptionally and the spice of the wine accompanied the meal well. The steak marinade came out a bit salty and the wine's sweet side made good pairing with this. The grilled pepper-like hint in the after-taste also combined well with this meal.
THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE (BOTTOM LINE):
Medium to full bodied, sweet but not too sweet, medium tannins and acidity so you aren't overwhelmed by a bitter taste or mouth-drying aspect. There is currant tart followed by berry power, hints of spicy pepper and the alcohol warmth on the aftertaste. Great with a peppery steak.
Special occasion steak dinners need a descent red wine and I was having a birthday steak dinner with the family so decided to make a detour to the local wine store. I had ten buck and change in my possession which limits the variety of quality red wine drastically. Fortunately, experience has shown be that the best place to start with these specifics is the B.C. wine aisle, the closest thing to local and often with the best bang for your buck. I was eyeing up a bottle I knew fairly well when i was distracted by the bottle next door. It came down to the familiar or the unknown. I went for the unknown.
THE BASICS:
This Shiraz hails from Full Press Vineyards out of Oliver BC. It come to us at a more than decent price of 8.79$ from the local BC liquor, standing in at 13.0% alcohol by volume. A fine grab for that price, and alcohol content! This Shiraz is blended from fine grapes, both imported and Canadian.
THE WINERY'S WORD:
Full Press Vineyards boasts their Shiraz "a rich, bold, redolent of blackberry, blueberry and currant fruit with complementary scents of violets, cracked pepper, roasted earth and cocoa."
THE PROFESSIONAL'S PIECE:
The BC liquor store has no comment on this bottle other than 3.8 out of 5 rating, for whatever that is worth. Other reviews could not be obtained.
THE AMATEUR'S TAKE:
Appearance: the colour that comes to mind is reddish maroon. that colour from way back when I was in "level maroon" for swimming lessons. You will know what I mean if you hail that far back and took swimming lessons. The clarity seems good. Swirling the glass, the legs, as they drip, do so somewhat slow but do not have a thick and tinted colour quality to them. All of these aspects might foreshadow a wine that is medium in all its components: body, tannins, sweetness, and acidity.
Nose: The aromas boast its cherry and berry fruits along with hints to a spicy side.
Palate: The first sip reveals first and foremost the currant and plum flavours. I wasn't sure what currants really tasted like in a wine until this moment. They taste much like the tartness of a cranberry but more raisin like. The first sip also divulges a medium to full body. The second sip reveal the wine's sweetness as it takes the foreground and the tartness takes the background. Swishing this second sip, unleashed are the wines bursting blueberry, blackberry and almost cherry-like flavours. Alongside these berry qualities, especially on the swallow and finish, the subtle alcohol and spicy pepper burn with a slight almost bitter chocolate tinge. The after-taste has with it a lingering currant tartness and what could almost be a hint of roasted bell peppers.
WINE AND FOOD:
I bought this bottle specifically for a peppered steak dinner. We had pepper steak with sautéed mushrooms and onions and a side of grilled fingerling potatoes. The dinner brought out the berry flavours of the wine exceptionally and the spice of the wine accompanied the meal well. The steak marinade came out a bit salty and the wine's sweet side made good pairing with this. The grilled pepper-like hint in the after-taste also combined well with this meal.
THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE (BOTTOM LINE):
Medium to full bodied, sweet but not too sweet, medium tannins and acidity so you aren't overwhelmed by a bitter taste or mouth-drying aspect. There is currant tart followed by berry power, hints of spicy pepper and the alcohol warmth on the aftertaste. Great with a peppery steak.
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