Banrock Station Shiraz 2003

Price: $6
Maker: Banrock Station
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Australian winemakers seem to be very good at producing inexpensive but flavorful Shirazes, and Banrock Station Shiraz 2003 fits the bill. It’s definitely inexpensive – we see it for $6 – 7 frequently. It has a nice, fruity aroma with a bit of spice. Its flavor is fruity, with cherry, blackberry, and a bit of strawberry. There’s pepper and oak, too. It has a nice, dry finish. This is a fine shiraz for cookouts, spicy pasta dishes, and the like.

Vicki’s Corner blog said, “Very nicely well rounded, with a bit of herbaceous flavours and spiciness all in one. Curious, yet intense. It`s a bit hard to describe, but I liked it.”

Banrock Station is apparently a large property, with 600 acres of the total 3600 acres being devoted to vineyards. You can even see what’s going on at Banrock Station with a live webcam that even has directional and zooming controls. (When we looked, nobody was stomping grapes.)