McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Shiraz- You Say Shiraz, I Say Syrah

Shiraz from South Eastern Australia.

SRP of $12 and available for as low as $8. Sample received courtesy E. & J. Gallo for review purposes.

From the bottle:

“The McWilliam family has been at the forefront of Australian winemaking since 1877. Drawing on six generations of winemaking experience, McWilliam’s has created this complex Shiraz using premium grapes from some of South Eastern Australia’s most renowned wine regions. This wine is vibrant crimson in color, with layers of plum and raspberry fruit flavors. The use of American and French oak deliver subtle vanilla overtones with a hint of spice on the finish. The perfect accompaniment to roasted lamb, grilled steaks or barbecued ribs.

13.5% Alcohol”

Syrah, or Shiraz as it is known in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, is one of my favorite grapes. Probably most famous in the Rhone region of France, this grape is grown all over the world and we’ve sampled delicious Syrah based wines from places such as California, Oregon, Argentina,France, Australia, and South Africa. Today we go back to Australia to taste another good one.

The 2009 McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Shiraz begins with strong aromas of raspberry, blackberry, plum and a little spice and vanilla. The wine tastes pretty much the exact same as the bouquet with the addition of a little sour cherry. The finish features a little spice, lingering fruit, and a few mocha notes. While good on day 1, the wine was much better on day 2 after it had plenty of time to breathe. You might want to run it through a Vinturi if you plan to pop and pour. Overall a very nice and tasty wine for under 10 bucks!

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