It’s usually about this time of year when my craving for deeply luscious wines kicks in. And my soft spot for gutsy, plush reds from the Barossa Valley in Australia cannot be denied. They are usually a meal in themselves, not requiring food. They are usually quite big, chewy, and often high in alcohol, this one is 14.5%. Often generalized as jammy fruit bombs, these wines still hold a dear place in my heart, especially when all that jammy fruit is partnered with a bit of structure, a touch of acid, and a wink of tannin. The Shiraz from Silverwing has all that.

The wine is a bit smoky on the nose with earthy dark fruit rising out of the glass. The flavors are ripe black raspberry with flecks of spice and violets and that touch of acidity is a superb supporting actor. The palate is medium in weight and round and juicy.

Though this Shiraz doesn’t require food, if you partner it with BBQ beef ribs and some mac-n-cheese, you won’t regret it.