2003 Majella Sparkling Shiraz (WIML80,NOWA,NOWS)

Tasted October 16, 2005 at a retail tasting so brief comments. Opened and served immediate in Riedel restaurant line Syrah glasses. Dark plum color in the glass, slightly opaque. Nose of briar patch, black cherries and plum. Flavors of Bing cherries, bitters and an almost dirty taste. Excessively “fizzy” in my opinion. Running a little hot as well. Drink over the short term is my guess. Pass, not recommended.

Hated this sparkler.

Reminded me of Pop Rocks in Cool Aid. Yeah, I'm that old.

I didn't make comment on this as I didn't wasn't Joe to think I was picking on him, but as Tom has thrown his hat into the ring I can pick on him instead.

let me ask you guys a question? Have you tasted many Sparkling Shiraz?

The reason I ask is that it is very different to normal Shiraz, and is an acquired taste; so if you haven't tasted many and don't know what to expect; or indeed developed a taste for the stuff, its not unusual for people to dislike excellent examples of this wine style.

Also, what temperature was the wine served at? And if it was served in a Shiraz glass, the server should be shot. It should be in a Champagne glass.

Ric:

Is there any food that this will pair with? I have a bottle in the cellar.

Pete

Thanks for the picking.

I have never had a Sparkling Shiraz before. That is not to say I will not try one again, but I found this a taste that might be hard for me to ever acquire. Perhaps the wine was just not a good example, maybe I just don't like that wine. If I get the opportunity, I will try again....all in the name of proper research technique.

I do not recall the wine being overly chilled. It was not smoking, but I think it was only mildly cool. I may be wrong.

It was served in a regular glass, and not a Champagne flute. We'll have the pourer quartered when we see him.

I enjoyed the sparkling shiraz . It was like drinking a light style shiraz with some fizz. In fact, I wish there were more bubbles.I enjoyed the cedar on the nose.
I remembered the bottle was kept chilled in an ice bath during the Grateful Palate event, but we all drank out of bordeaux glasses.

Pete,

The best match in the world with Sparkling Shiraz is Turkey with all the trimmings.

The idea serving temperature is about 10-12 degrees Celsius. That's about 50F.

The Majella is a mid range wine in terms of both price and quality; it is a very respectable wine and one that I am happy to buy in good vintages. I have had the 2003 and whilst it is not a great example, I would happily have it in my cellar (but it was sold out by the time I tried it.)

It’s also great as an aperitive in summer.

Please don’t get hooked on the stuff guys, its one of the few drops that has not been subject to price escalation due to Septic demand.

I had the Majella 03 a month or so back and it was my first time with a sparkling shiraz. I loved this stuff and just picked up four more bottles from Vintage Wines in San Diego just today.

If this is the mid-range, please recommend something at the top of the chain or better.

Love your site,
thanx

Hi Ron,

Top the pile (with prices) in Oz are as follows (in no particular order as they are all good wines)

Primo Estate Joseph NV (disgorged every second year)
Rockford Black NV (disgorged every year)
Leasingham Classic Clare 1995
Barossa Valley Estate Black Pepper (not sure of the current vintage but avoid 1999 and 2000)
Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling 1994
Buller NV (blend of 3 vintages 72/91/92)
Peter Lehmann Black Queen 1996
St Hallett Black N/V

Happy hunting!

Torb:

The Fox Creek Vixen is available in the states. Is it worthy of purchase?

I've culled a few notes from out Trip to the Barossa last December. I hadn't had any of the "new" crop of Aussie red sparklers since the old days of Sparkling Burgundy. The new breed are a world away from the old days.

At Seppelts we started with their 2002 Original Sparking Shiraz. I was interested to try this wine as we have not seen very much of this wine style at all in the USA. The wine was cherry red with a dominant blackberry aroma. Slightly sweet in the mouth it became somewhat tarry on the finish. A reasonable shiraz with bubbles. (17.5/20, 88/100). The next wine, the 1994 Show Sparkling Shiraz, which is 10 years old on release, was a complete contrast. Deeper in color, it had developed characters of earth and barnyard and was soft and elegant in the mouth finishing with firm tannins. Surprisingly good! (18.6/20, 93/100 ).

The Barossa Valley Estate 1999 E&E Sparkling Shiraz was consumed with lunch. What a treat! Dense cherry red, almost purple it gave off mountains of blueberry/blackberry and pepper notes. A truly mouth-filling wine, that carried its fruit flavors through onto the palate well. Very well balanced, with a lengthy finish. The only drawback was that the bubbles just did not last in the glass. (18.7/20, 94/100, 14.5% alcohol).

Another sparkling Shiraz had over dinner was the Willows Vineyard The Doctor Sparkling Red. Deep cherry red in color it was almost liqueur-like with a pronounced blueberry aroma. Medium bodied and refreshing across the palate with the flavors persisting. A slightly hard alcoholic finish. (17.4/20, 87/100, 13.5% alcohol).

From memory none of the wines were served in a champagne flute and so that really does not do them justice (as Ric has noted) as you can't really assess the fineness of the bubbles or their staying power.

I'm thinking of chasing down one or two others for Thanksgiving!

Mike

Can you beleavee some nucklehaed pick up the rest of the 03 before I got back to Vintage Wine.

If you run down any of your pix please let me know.

The you for your service.

I drank the Fox Creek 'Vixen' a few years ago and got the fright of my life. I was having a splendid evening enjoying fine wines and then a friend of mine produced a bottle of this stuff. Initially I was quite excited as I had never had a Sparkling Shiraz before but on tasting it was a horrific experience. It tasted like drinking a glass of mud. It totally overwhelmed everyones pallate with ruthless dark mucky flavours.

I've never been tempted to taste another bottle of sparkling Shiraz since.

I imagine that most people reaction to any wine the first time is "yuk" and when they have thier first raw oyster it's "double yuk." The first time I had a short black expresso it was similar, but to write off something after one experience is selling the thing short.

If Sparkling Shiraz was such abonination, why is it so sort after in Oz? Is it that none of the people who drink it have any taste? Nope; I don't think so, just a lot more experience with it.

Sparkling Shiraz is definitely unique. The more you try it, the more you will like it.... I agree with your earlier post as well that it goes great with turkey and dressing w/cranberry sauce. The Vixen is more dense than just about any other Sparking Shiraz I have had and is not one of my favorites. The finish is a little too bitter for my palate. However, I am a big fan of the Majella which is made Methode Champenoise and is a great value for the $$. The acidity on the finish is clean,fresh with a nice layer fruit lingering on the palate. I also like the Trevor Jones Boots Sparkling but it comes off a touch more acidic than the Majella.

Hey, Winebee, that reminds me ... do you have any sparkling shiraz in stock? I've got this turkey dinner coming up this week, and this would be just the thing to complete the meal.

If you've got some in stock, let me know. I know how to find your shop.

Yes, I do have some of the Trevor Jones Boots in stock and I would love to see you. The Majella is coming I do believe but I am not sure when. The Boots will be great with your turkey!

My first bottle of Sparkling Shriaz was a Henry's Drive about 5 years ago. I didn't think much of it at the time but the second/thrid bottle, I was hooked. I love it now. The Fox Creek is good and I also think its not a bad idea to give a bottle of Sparkling Shriaz some bottle time like a year or maybe two before drinking.