Do you like a little white in your red? Wait, what? You make red wine from red grapes and white wine from white (well, green) grapes, don’t you? Believe it or not, co-fermenting (making wine with 2 kinds of grapes in the same tank) red and white grapes has spectacular results! One famous style started in France’s Rhone Valley using Syrah (a red grape) and Viognier (a white grape), and the final wine was so good, it has been copied all over the world. Australia has a deep love of Syrah (Shiraz in Aussie terms) and uses it in blends, so wines like The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier are a tribute to the Rhone as much they are a part of the Australian wine identity.
Tasting Notes: The Black Chook 2017 is a co-fermented (there’s that word again) blend of Shiraz (96%) and Viognier (4%). What does a little Viognier do? It lifts the aromas of the wine to new heights, making it pungent, perfumed and lightly floral, while the palate boasts plenty of blackberry, plum and red cherry fruit supported by sweet spices and fine, supple tannins.
Enjoy With: Lamb burgers, roasted red meats or duck, beef fajitas, or just on its own!
Style: A smooth, full-bodied, red wine.
Terroir/Region: The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier is a marriage of two Australian regions, the McLaren Vale, known for big, fruity, smooth reds, and Padthaway, a young region, but already known for growing top quality grapes due to its underground water systems and diverse soil types. The result is a balanced, well-structured wine which delivers some of the best Australia has to offer!
Producer: The Galvanized Wine Group (the winery making The Black Chook) took a new direction in 2014, the first vintage their new winemaker, Alexia Roberts, was in full control. Since that time Alexia has become involved in every aspect of the business – from vineyard, to office, to winemaker’s dinners – and the results could not be better!
Availability: The Black Chook Shiraz Viognier 2017 will be available for online ordering and in the Vintages section of your local LCBO on June 8, but some stores may have it on the shelf already. Pick up a bottle to taste Alexia’s latest work and see the difference a little white in your red makes!
Check LCBO store inventory
Price: $18.95
LCBO#: #66738
Size: 750mL
Alcohol Content: 14.5% alc./vol.
