Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wine of the Week: Yellow Tail Reserve Shiraz 2006
Shiraz is the king grape in Australia, accounting for about 40 percent of the country’s harvest.
Yellow Tail is a prominent purveyor of entry-level shiraz, but we were curious how a more upscale version would taste.
Winemaker John Casella hand-selects parcels for this reserve wine, combining the
warm-climate
vineyards that bring out the sweetness in shiraz with the cooler-
climate vineyards that enhance the wine’s spice.
This is a rich, round wine that pours inky dark and displays ripe berry aromas with spice fragrance. The year of French oak aging gives it full body with finely tuned tannins. This is definitely a step up from the entry-level shiraz.
Sherry: “Bold, black cherry and licorice with a light touch of chocolate.” 3 stars
Chris: “Cherry, blackberry and pepper finishes with a chocolate kiss.” 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $9.
Coming next week: Tormaresca Neprica
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