Wine of the Week
by Brenda Maitland
A prime example of a high-quality, good-value Australian Shiraz, this wine is indicative of why U.S. imports of Aussie wines have quadrupled over the past five years. Estate-grown grapes for this wine were sourced from Bendigo, a district in the Victoria region just northwest of Melbourne. Well balanced, full-bodied and fruit forward, the wine exudes aromas of plum and hints of mint and spice. On the palate, luscious, dark fruit — blackberries, plum, more spicy notes, and some toasty vanilla from the wine's year-long American oak aging lead up to a lingering finish. Enjoy now but it will age gracefully over the next two to six years. Enjoy with beef, pork, game and aged cheeses. Where to buy it: Dorignac's, Martin Wine Cellar in Metairie and Hugh's Wine Cellar on the Northshore. (Listings current at press time.)
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