Tasting - Shiraz

 

Name: Winking Owl Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz/Syrah

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $5

Description: Subtle flavors of black cherry, blackberry and a hint of spice. Pairs well with pasta, roast beef and steak.

Online Reviews: "Suprisingly decent with blackberry, cherries, vanilla and a touch of spice. Certainly not complex, but a nice bottle for a cheap price."

"Not that bad. Spicy and has some tannin structure. Lots of sweet fruit that lingers a bit on the finish. A little smoky. For the price point a decent wine."

Wine Folly: On page 173, the primary tasting notes are boysenberry, blackberries, jam, plum, cherry, dried cranberry, star anise, black pepper, and licorice. Some of the secondary and tertiary notes are graphite, leather, tobacco, and vanilla. 

My Review: I was surprised to read the reviews and see very few mentions how smoky this wine was. It was an overwhelming flavor that I could not get past. It did not have a lot of fruity flavors. I got a little bit of blackberry and cherry at best. Many reviews said it was sweet but I did not find any sweetness in this wine. The taste was pretty muted which I did see in a lot of reviews. I am not a fan of earthy, peppery, and smoky flavors so I did not enjoy this wine at all. I will defintely not be drinking it again.

Here's me with the bottle!