How virtual have you gone? Technology has been a huge help in staying connected to friends and family these last few weeks, and the idea of virtual parties, concerts and events helps us feel like we are not missing out. Even wine tastings have gone virtual! Critics, winemakers and even groups of friends have organized times, sourced bottles and set up webcams to enjoy wine together! So, this week, tell your wine-loving buddies to grab a bottle of Penny’s Hill Cracking Black Shiraz 2016, pick a time, and synchronize your watches so you can all pop, pour, sip and savour together. No pants needed – just make sure the camera is on your face and your wine first!
Tasting Notes: Oozing with cherry and dark berry fruits, Penny’s Hill Cracking Black Shiraz is layered with mocha, oak spice and licorice, with finely integrated oak. Showing great depth and generosity, the palate is elegant and well defined. The tannins delicately wrap the fruit and guide it along the palate, resulting in a wine of exceptional length and character.
Enjoy With: Everything off the grill! Put this bottle right next to the barbeque for lamb burgers, steak, pork chops or chicken with sticky-spicy barbeque sauce. This is a great wine for hard cheeses and is also a delicious sip on its own.
Style: A soft, rich, full-bodied red wine.
Terroir/Region: Cracking Black Shiraz hails from McLaren Vale, Australia, a region known for producing big, soft, juicy reds. The name ‘Cracking Black’ is a reference to the soils in the vineyard from which this wine is sourced. Here, the black soils dry out in the Aussie sun so much that the earth cracks, which also breaks some of the roots of the vines in the vineyard. This naturally controls the vigour of the vine and forces it to create intensely flavoured berries making for rich, structured wines.
Producer: Named Penny’s Hill Vineyard after the hill the winery sits on, the property was purchased by Tony and Susie Parkinson in 1988 and planted to vines in 1991. In 1993, they added the Malpas Road Vineyard from where this week’s wine is sourced. Still a family endeavour, Tony has brought his two sons into the family business, ensuring several more vintages of Cracking Black.
Availability: Penny’s Hill Cracking Black Shiraz 2016 will be available in the Vintages section of your local LCBO and for online ordering/pick up this weekend, but a few stores may already have it on the shelf. If you can, grab a few bottles and drop them off to your wine buddies. Your virtual tasting awaits!
Check LCBO store inventory
Price: $22.95
LCBO#: 396473
Size: 750mL
Alcohol Content: 14.5% alc./vol.
