Yalumba Shiraz-Viognier

Name: Yalumba
Color: Red
Varietal: Shiraz (w/ Viognier)
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Australia
Region: South Australia
Price: $10
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

This was first Shiraz we've had in a long time, even though we both love a good Shiraz from Australia...The Yalumba was mixed with a touch of Viognier, similar to the d'Arenberg Laughing Magpie that we love.

This wine was good, though not as great at the Magpie. It was fruity, but with a good tannic structure. It featured dark red and black fruit and had some good spice to it. The finish was medium in length and the wine was nice with and without food.

Stump Jump Shiraz

Name: Stump Jump Shiraz
Color: Red
Varietal: Shiraz
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Australia
Region: McLaren Valley
Price: $10
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)

The Stump Jump Shiraz was recently featured in the St. Petersburg Times as the Wine of the Week. When I saw a bottle on sale for $10, I picked one up. Krista and I have always enjoyed the big fruity, jammy taste of a good Shiraz from Australia, so we took it with us for our day after Christmas meal at her parents' house. This wine also placed in the Top 100 of Wine Spectator's best wines of 2009.

Unfortunately for us, the tasting of this wine was tainted by some poor glassware at the in-laws house. The first two glasses we tried were plagued by a soapy smell that over-powered the wine. After rinsing the glasses, we were able to salvage one, but I ended up drinking mine out of a green plastic disposable picnic cup. Still, the wine itself was as we expected, full of blackberry and raspberry flavors with a nice mouthfeel and a decent finish. We will definitely have to try it again with better glasses.

Lindeman's Shiraz

Name: Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz
Color: Red
Varietal: Shiraz
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Australia
Region: SE Australia
Price: $6
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

This was a very inexpensive wine that I picked up based on its reputation as being a quality, budget-friendly wine...It definitely didn't disappoint. It didn't blow me away, but it was really enjoyable on its own and with food. I drank this bottle myself over two days, once with dinner (pizza) and the next night after dinner. It was a simple but typical Australian Shiraz -- fruit forward, red berries and blackberries, juicy, smooth, and easy-drinking. For the price, you can't go wrong.