Wendouree Shiraz Mataro 2005

Made by Wendouree in Australia (region: Clare Valley) .

A dry, still, red wine with 13.7% alchohol tasted on 21st Dec 2007.

Grape: Shiraz Mataro

Quality: Outstanding

Value: A Little Excessive

Cost: Usually between $39.99 - $125.99.

Looks: Quite dark and full bodied

Smells: Complex - a mix of dried spice and ripe red currants

Feels: Full bodied, but with a lovely lean line and length through the mouth

Tastes: I drank this wine in the company of some fairly decent red wines. Nothing brilliant, but fair 'Good' rated wines. This just blew me away - round an full fruit - complex red currant, red berry, black berry and some plums, with a dry spicey finish and firm coating tannins that lead to a dry meaty finish. So glad I ended the night on this - it really is a beautiful wine, and contrary to popular Wendouree belief, quite pleasant to drink as a young wine. The range in price reflects getting it on the cellar door list (difficult to get on as it is) and what you would pay if you stumbled on it in a retail outlet - another rare event.

Possible retailers: Cellar Door, Winestar.