First Drop, Half & Half Shiraz Monastrell, Barossa

even better the second day

Dark garnet in color, this wine (50% Barossa Shiraz/50% Monastrell), this wine reveals gamey meat, blackberry, tart cherry, dark spices and charcuterie on the nose. The mouth feel is fuller bodied with subtly sweet tannins, more dark fruits and game as well as vanilla, anise and blueberry elements. The finish is medium/long in length and brought the fruit from the Shiraz and the gamey elements from the Monastrell together beautifully, adding additional complexity. 14.0% abv. Purchased for a hugely discounted …

Purplish ruby in color, relatively dark but not opaque. On the nose, it’s smoky and spicy, with notes of cedar charcoal, black pepper, cinnamon, and seared meat. There’s also a lifted floral character of violets and potpourri. The fruit is dark and brambly, like blueberries and black raspberries and plum. Some oak as well, showing creme and vanilla bean. Quite nice; rich and luxurious but also layered and expressive. On the palate, it’s surprisingly light on its feet and airy, …

Very good. Fresh berries

This is absolutely killer and has a real freshness by Australian standards. It's certainly ripe, tarry, and sweet (not really, you know what I mean), but there's a tart raspberry liqueur element underneath it. Feels very spanish in profile, earthy and mushroomy (but clean) and tarry, but Australian in its plush (but fresh!) texture. I love it. There's a kind of seriousness to it, as well, though it's still not quite as awesome as their Mother's Ruin cab.