A Tight Battle for Bronze

With seven folks drinking and choosing the battle for the third best wine of the tasting was close, but it went to the 2006 Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier from Victoria, Australia. The wine gathered three votes for third place and two for second. 

This was the wine I took to the tasting primarily because nearly everyone assumed I would bring a French wine.  Instead I took this anti-Australian wine from Australia.  The wine is a joint venture between California and French interests and is very much unlike any Australian Shiraz the tasters had ever consumed.

The wine was an equal balance between fruit and earth.  The nose had a touch of brett, one of only two wines to display this aroma.  There was a very clean barnyard smell to the wine, earth and dry leather.  The taste was in no way over extracted or over ripe.  The tannins were strong and the acid was great.  It was very close to the St. Joseph in style.  It was wonderful with the lamb and the beef and wasn't far off on any of the other food options.    Well made wine and an operation to watch.  I liked this wine a lot.