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Shiraz/Cabernet

Shiraz/Cabernet Wine Details
Price: $16.00 per bottle

Description: The 2003 vintage truly showcases the harmonious effect these two varieties can achieve. The nose has intense, bright fruit flowing with ripe boysenberry, tart cranberry and a wonderful intermingling of Ranier cherry and black currant characters. Add to this a hint of vanilla spice, and it’s hard to tell where the Syrah starts and where the Cabernet finishes. And if the aromas are a perfect union, the palate has an equally wonderful blast of fruit up front letting you know this wine is no slouch. High-tone cherry fruit form the foundation of the palate, with young, rustic tannins providing the support. The same thread of vanilla oak from the nose marries the characters even more, ushering the senses to that last lingering note of smokiness, just a small stamp of Syrah individuality. Enjoy this wine with any grilled meat dish or make the commitment and age it out a bit. In any case, this is one relationship worth investing in.

Varietal Definition
Shiraz:
Alternate name for the french Syrah clone grape grown in Australia and responsible for very big red wines that are not quite as intense in flavor as the french Rhone versions.
Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted and significant among the five dominant varieties in France’s Bordeaux region, as well as the most successful red wine produced in California. Though it was thought to be an ancient variety, recent genetic studies at U.C. Davis have determined that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the hybrid offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon berries are small with black, thick and very tough skin. This toughness makes the grapes fairly resistant to disease and spoilage and able to withstand some autumn rains with little or no damage. It is a mid to late season ripener. These growth characteristics, along with its flavor appeal have made Cabernet Sauvignon one of the most popular red wine varieties worldwide.
Syrah:
Syrah is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhone grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with - healthy, early ripening, resistant to mildew and rot; suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. The wines from Syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell of dark blue fruit like blackberries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. Syrah is famous for its part in the French blends, such as Côtes du Rhone and Châteauneuf du Pape.


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