Rosemount Estate, Shiraz (Diamond Label), 2003

From the bottle, the diamond label Shiraz is sourced from grapes harvested in South Eastern Australia. This shiraz is 14.0 percent alcohol by volume.

Where did I find it: Purchased at Fry’s

What did I pair it with: Fried Chicken

Appearance: Purplish cranberry red, with decent legs

Smell: Slightly caustic cherries and peppery prunes

Taste: A bit overblown, which makes the palate confusing. I get some sour cherries and peppery notes, but they are mostly masked by the burn of alcohol.

Price: $7.20
Quality rating: 80/100
Value rating: 46.94/60

Takeaway: Another in the non-bottom-label Australian Shiraz series…this one was disappointing though. The heavy alcohol smell/taste might have matched up better with stronger foods, but I don’t think I’d care to pair this wine with much of anything. For a few more dollars, you’ll get much better quality on the Wolf Blass.