review: rolf binder hales 2006 shiraz

Oenophiles, detain your disappointment as I proudly admit that I carry a consuming crush on full-bodied, fruit-bomb wines. The types that are so chock-full of complexity that the smell of these ball-busters consolidate my senses solely to the nose immediately after opening. This might have something to do with how I often times substitute dessert for wine & may subconsciously be yearning for a similarity in taste. You see, as much as I love gorgeous pastries & other such sweets, (see: sidebar links – David Lebovitz), I have a ridiculously slow metabolism & am forced to maintain some type of balance, (sometimes). It’s torturous. I have, however, been recently laying the palate-killer grapes to rest & diversifying my selection. Just, not so much with this bottle. Tomorrow, I promise.

Naturally, what I was initially looking for was a fruit-bomb but what I really got was an Australian Shiraz variety that lingered slightly off that path with the addition of Mouvedre & Grenache. That certainly does not exclude it from being tasty & thoroughly enjoyed. It’s quite floral & bodes cayenne-like spice with a citrus edge. What hit me the most above all were jammy, dark & delicious blueberries. Lovely. Finish was long but slightly acidic. Not the best balance for me but the structure may have shifted with an hour or two in the decanter. Something I don’t use often because I’m the most Impatient Person in the World.

It’s not a legendary value-wine, but for $22 CDN at the local LDB store, it’s certainly worth a go.