Flinders Bay Shiraz
The Flinders Bay Shiraz has surprised me!
My favourite wine for the past couple of years has been a shiraz from the McLaren Vale region, vintage 2008 if possible, from just about any brand. Coming close on the heels to this one would be the Barossa Valley Shiraz of the same vintage (though 2011 is starting to taste great!)
So, I was a bit unsure about trying a shiraz from the other side of Australia. However, the cute blue kujira (whale) on the label and the interesting and rare blue lid won me over.
Flinders Bay produces award winning wines and, while a fairly new winery (1999) it is located in a cooler climate, which is ideal for creating wines of quality and distinction.
The 2012 Flinders Bay Margaret River shiraz surprised me in that, while not possessing the syrupy texture of a McLaren Vale shiraz, it made up for it with its delicious, silky finish. The aroma is also attractive with nuances of white pepper and spice.
I also enjoy wine that has been stored in burnt barrels and the touch of toasty oak to this one brought out some more subtle and interesting characteristics. This is a big, bold shiraz from the other side of the country and I definitely enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.
And, how could you go past a bottle of wine with a cute blue whale on it?!
You can check out my short video review below.
