So this particular saturday night I ended up with a bottle of the 2006 70% Shiraz, 30% Merlot red wine blend from Black Swan Vineyards, southeastern Australia.
My rating? 4.5 stars out of 5.
It is excellent at a slightly elevated, Virginia summer room temperature. An incredibly velvety smooth berry and grape texture, followed by just the hint of a pointed tart and a molasses laced finish note and a subtle enough smoky bouquet that you can ignore it if you like. After all, the smoked barrel lost its edge about 20 years ago. (-0.2 stars).
The major down side? Nothing amazing (-0.3 stars), but it’s perfect for this night.
Cecily says it goes well with Fudge Stripe cookies.