Attributes:

Henry's Drive

Padthaway, Australia/New Zealand

Syrah / Shiraz

750 ML

2005: WineAdvocate Rating: 93

2004: Tanzer Rating: 90

fresh, tangy

deep, supple

2004: WineAdvocate Rating: 93

soft

complex, rich

elegant

berry, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, cherry

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 90

supple

bell pepper, raspberry, red cherry

sweet

2004: WineAdvocate Rating: 93

smooth

2003: Tanzer Rating: 86

deep, rich

cinnamon, clove, dark chocolate, oak, prune, spicy, tar, vanilla

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 91

cherry, meat, pepper, spice

strong, syrupy, thick

2003: WineAdvocate Rating: 95

Food Matches:

With a cool climate, this region of South Australia produces good Pinot Noir and excellent Chardonnay.

Originally grown in France’s Northern Rhône Valley (where it is a noble variety) this grape has spread to Australia, California, Washington, Italy and Spain. In the Rhone region this grape produces deeply colored wines with full body and firm tannin, however in Australia, where it is known as Shiraz, the wines are lighter and fruitier. Aromas and flavors for these wines vary as much as their geographical breadth suggests: berries, smoked meat, bell peppers, even tar.

Australian name for the grape known as Syrah in France.

Attributes:

Cims de Porrera

Priorato, Spain

Other

750 ML

2003: Tanzer Rating: 89

berry aromas

deep

powerful

cherry, coffee, ripe cherry, smoky, tobacco

ripe, sweet

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 87

chewy

2002: Tanzer Rating: 88

tangy

herbs, jammy, plum, redcurrant, ripe cherry

sweet

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 89

fresh

black pepper, cherry, herb, licorice

juicy, sweet

fleshy

2001: WineSpectator Rating: 90

licorice, plum, spice, spicy, toast

ripe, sweet

2001: WineAdvocate Rating: 86

medium-bodied

straightforward

earthy

round, velvety

2000: WineSpectator Rating: 90

rich

cassis, chocolate, coffee, oak, plum

ripe

1999: Tanzer Rating: 87

Food Matches:

This harsh, hilly area southwest of Barcelona is gaining a lot of attention for its newly resurrected vines. Volcanic soil and severe weather result in rich, powerful red wines, made primarily from Garnacha and Carignan grapes, and they are high in tannin and alcohol. Grape yields are low, and as a result prices can be quite high.

Attributes:

Holy Cow

Washington, United States

Chardonnay

750 ML

Food Matches:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

Most of the wineries in this state are located east of the Cascade Range, where the climate is desert-like, with hot days and cool nights. The irrigated vineyards produce high yield, but the flavor is nevertheless very good. Traditionally Rieslings have been the most successful here, but currently Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are doing well. Chardonnay is successfully fermented in new oak barrels, yielding distinctively crisp and delicate flavors, like fresh apples. Washington Merlot, with its cherry flavors and aroma, tends to be more full-bodied, moderately tannic and slightly higher in alcohol than its Bordeaux cousins and higher in acidity than those from California. Acreage for the Syrah grape has increased substantially in the past few years, and in Washington it turns into big, dark, intensely concentrated wines with aromas and flavors of blackberries, black currants, roasted coffee and leather. A little-known German grape, Lemberger, does very well here. It produces a fruity but dry red wine in the Beaujolais or Dolcetto style.