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Price: $15.99 @ Vinnin Square Liquors (Swampscott, MA)
Recommended by: Wine Spectator gave this a 91
Comments: We do not usually buy a Shiraz that's over, say, $12, but this one was worth the extra couple of dollars. It is very smooth, with flavors of black cherry, plum, vanilla, and chocolate. It is a tad high in alcohol (15%), but you couldn't tell in the flavor. If you want to move past your basic Shiraz, this is a great one to consider. We think it's the best one we've had (perhaps even better than Wolf Blass Gold Label).
Rating: 8/10
Price: $10.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: #64 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2006
Comments: Blah, blah, blah, 91 points by Wine Spectator. Blah, blah, blah, best value, blah, blah HOLY SHIT! This is a frickin' good wine!!! Damn! Big, round, smooth and delicious, the 2003 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz is one of the best buys we've had. Be careful. The year on this one matters. We tried the 2004 and it was good, but not spectacular. But then, recently, we found a bottle of 2003 hiding amongst the rest at Trader Joe's and brought it home, and wow! Big flavors of cherry and vanilla with pepper linger with a much longer finish than you'd expect for a wine this inexpensive. We're going back tomorrow to see if there are any more hidden bottles of this stuff because it is so damn good!
Rating: 8.5/10
Price: $9.99 @ Derby Street Wine & Spirits, Hingham, MA
Recommended by: We love the Paringa Sparkling Shiraz, so we wanted to give this one a try.
Comments: For once we agree with Wine Spectator! This 87-rated wine was a nice surprise. For the price, it's smooth, complex, and delicious. It's not as fruit-forward as many other Australian Shirazes; instead it has an enjoyable earthiness and balance. Additionally, the wine's long finish is unexpected for a Shiraz in this price range. We look forward to enjoying this one again soon!
Rating: 7.75/10
Price: $10.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: we can't remember
Comments: Australia is the source of many of the Shiraz wines we've enjoyed. This one stands out among the rest for the quality and price. It's flavors are dominated by bold blackberry and some cherry, chocolate, and mocha, with a healthy dose of pepper spice as well. The wine has a fairly long taste, but not so much as the Wolf Blass Gold Label (but this is also much less expensive). We should note, however, that we like it more than the Wolf Blass Yellow Label (which costs a few dollars less).
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $10.99 @ Wine Gallery
Recommended by: Wine merchant at Blanchard's (JP)
Comments: So it's just like you'd hope it would be. A rich, flavorful, Australian Shiraz, but with bubbles. Lots of little, happy bubbles. And these bubbles accentuate the fruity Shiraz flavor (raspberry and blueberry), which is anything but subtle to begin with. It rocks. And what could make it better? It's a wicked pairing with dark chocolate. This may not be an everyday wine, but when we're in the mood for this distinctive wine, it is fantastic.
Rating: 7.25/10
Price: $7.99
Recommended by: nice lady in Portland, Maine, who has had several bottles.
Comments: Well, we just got back from Portland with 6 new bottles in tow. We're not going to bother reviewing the mediocre merlot we had last night (so mediocre that we don't even remember the name). However, this Spanish (La Mancha) red is muy bueno! It's got a great, happy, fruity flavor -- with raspberry dominating -- and nice hints of pepper. It also has a nice, smooth finish, which we think distinguishes it from Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz (Australia).
Rating: 7/10
Price: $7.99
Recommended by: staff at wine store in Hingham
Tasting notes: This wine makes us smile. Bright with flavors of cherry, blueberry, and plum, it is very light but rich in flavor. Its price and yumminess guarantee that we will be getting it again soon.
Rating: 7.25/10
Price: $8.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: The wine jukebox at The Wine Gallery
Tasting notes: This is a very full-bodied Shiraz. It's surprisingly smooth with bursts of fruit flavor. We will definitely be enjoying this South African wine again.
Rating: 6.5/10
Price: $7.99
Tasting notes: Admittedly attracted to the cute label and the ubiquitous ads that made us thirsty, this syrah has a very nice fruit smell and good taste, but it's a bit acidic. We didn’t like it as much as Wolf Blass, which is only $1 more.
Rating: 6/10
Price: $8.99 at Trader Joe's
Recommended by: Sunset magazineTasting notes: An explosive burst of berry flavor; very nice, but didn’t finish quite as well as it started. This wine, along with Bogle Petit Sirah, can always be found on our wine rack! (We have also tried the Gold Label, but it costs around $35.)
Rating: 7/10
Price: $15.99 @ Vinnin Square Liquors (Swampscott, MA)
