Jacob's Creek Shiraz Reserve - 2004

The world of wine is something that can be intimidating at first when you're not real sure of what you're doing. To be quite frank, the whole world of wine can be a bit snooty. You have the pretentious types who have a bit of wine with their $150 meal then blather on endlessly about the poor service of the restaurant they were at on Friday night, but that's them. They're snobs. Sure they drink wine, but you don't have to have that attitude to enjoy wine.

That's why we looked for a wine from the Outback for a bottle of wine without all the snobbery of a Manhattan eatery. Just a good hearty glass of red and a "G'day mate" was all we wanted.

We found it in the Jacob's Creek 2004 Shiraz Reserve.

We decided the Jacobs Creek would be a good wine to try as it fit our low cost, deep red preference to a “T”. It’s a South Australian wine that made it’s way onto the shelves of our local wine shops in the last couple years since the Anti-French movement began. Something we occasionally observe. It’s not that we have anything against the French people, only the move by their leader who stole a moment in the sun by attacking America. Great way to run a developed country, bash America...

This is not a political blog, so we’ll leave that discussion for other (Why Americans boycott French Products) pundits to debate. What you should know is that we tend to avoid anything French… well … just because. Great culture, crappy attitude, and this blog is about avoiding attitude.

So tonight, the gal prepared a nice baked boneless breast of chicken dish with brown whole grain rice and Parisienne carrots dish. And you thought we avoided everything French. Well it’s just the name, the carrots are actually from Stop and Shop and they were imported by a French Canadian firm out of Quebec from Belgium. Hmm… wait a minute, that’s too much attitude there. Good food though.

After asking the Gal if she got it from our book – you know, the one whose diet we’re following (The Wine Lover’s Healthy Weight Loss Plan by Dr. Tedd Goldfinger and Lynn F. Nicholson ) – the answer was “no, but it’s European”. Well if Carolina rice, chicken from Frank Purdue, Australian wine and some Parisienne carrots means it’s a Mediterranean meal, then I’m in.

Back to the wine.

$11.99 per bottle 750 ml.

Worth it? Well sort of.

You can drink the wine pre dinner, but it’s a bit harsh on an empty pallet. I firmly believe you have to have something to eat to with a wine to know if it’s any good. That’s why you’re buying it in the first place isn’t’ it? If you just wanted to catch a buzz or get drunk, then a bottle of Absolut would be the game plan.

We’ve had a bunch of Australian wine in the past year or so, but haven’t really found one we like. They tend to be a bit harsh, or flat. They start off strong, but when you finish your glass you typically think; “Was that really any good?” Most of the time you would label these as average, or run-of-the-mill. We hoped the Shiraz would be different and it was, for the most part.

If you’re going to buy Australian wine because, it’s less than $12 per bottle almost everywhere, then that’s a reason to save money, but not to buy a wine. The Shiraz, which typically tastes like grape juice at first, slowly warms the insides as it descends down your throat into your belly. This Reserve had none of the “grape juice” quality about it. Strong from the start through the finish, it’s a bold wine you will enjoy if you like strong reds. It went particularly well with the chicken and rice as they were heavier foods that take out the taste of weaker wines. Getting back to those Parisienne carrots, they went perfectly with the wine.

Would I buy it again? Probably. At $11.99 it’s on the high side of it’s Australian counterparts which typically go for $8-$10. I can think of a lot of other reds I’d prefer for $13.00, so the Shiraz is tempting fate with it’s pricing. It’s ok though. You won’t be mad you bought it, and you can certainly serve it to friends.

More about the Wine:

South Australia

Winemaking at our place has been a tradition since 1847 when Johann Gramp planted his first vineyard on the banks of Jacobs Creek

This Premium, full-bodied wine is an outstanding example of South Australian Shiraz, displaying ripe plum flavors with pepper spice, balanced by soft tannins and leading to a lingering smooth finish.

An ideal accompaniment to most red meats, game and cheeses. A wine that will develop further with cellaring.

Cellaring? What the heck is that?

From our friends at Fosters (the beer company) Appropriately Australian:
Cellaring Wine

Jacob’s Creek Winery
Barossa Valley Way, Australia
www.jacobscreek.com