2018 Grant Burge Miamba Barossa Shiraz, 14.5 %
Deep dark impenetrable red black colour, intense nose of pepper spice, plum and chocolate.
Palate as above, ripe plums, chocolate, liquorice and slightly grainy but soft tannins become more integrated after the wine is aerated.
It’s full bodied, bold and rich in texture with the persistent tannins giving it some grip. It has some acid backbone too which saves it from the risk of appearing fat. This is quintessential Barossa Shiraz.
It’s still waiting for all the elements to meld into one, but I’d suggest that in a couple of years the stars may well align and this could be really good. It’s pricing in Australia makes it a must-buy if you are there.
2018 Teusner Avatar, 14.5 %
55% Grenache, 25% Mataro, 20% Syrah
Kim Teusner has no vineyards, but has access to some of the oldest and best Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro (Mourvèdre) vines in the Barossa.
In 2002 he made his first GSM but without any oak, and called it Joshua. It’s sibling, Avatar, came later and is matured in seasoned oak.
Deep red with purple rim, spicy on the nose with plum, chocolate and cherries.
The palate displays Teusner’s signature ability to make red wines with power, elegance, restraint and complexity.
Palate shows plums with bright red cherry and some chocolate. The super silky tannins help to make it feel only medium to full bodied. Generous and satisfying in the mouth, it’s a wine you keep coming back for.
We had both these wines with a leg of slow cooked Greek lamb accompanied by roast potatoes and rocket, spinach and parmesan salad. All worked just fine together, but these wines would go with any hearty red meat dish, as well as many cheeses.
Both of these wines are available in Penang at The Wine Shop in Pulau Tikus.
