I’ve decided to start sharing my weekly wine picks on my blog.

You see, I usually do a special little thing on Wednesdays - otherwise known as “Wine Wednesdays” - and that is that I go to the liquor store and randomly pick a bottle from the shelves to try and tell others about.

There is a method behind my madness. For many years, I’ve read about wines or seen posts on social media and thought “that sounds amazing - I want to try that!” And yet, when I’ve gone to try to find the wine, I’ve been unable to do so. It’s probably a symptom of living in Ontario, Canada, where the wine market is extremely restricted and controlled by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (“LCBO”), an Ontario government enterprise. It’s the one of the only places we can buy wine, and doing so is usually based on what the LCBO is releasing and/or happens to have available at a given point in time. This is not to say that there are not other ways to acquire a bottle of interest - for example, there are options through importers, online shops, bottle shops and restaurants - but it can still be dang difficult to buy a single bottle of something.

And from this reality, grew my passion to buy and share wines that are actually readily available! Well, at least once a week. At other points in the week, I drink what tickles my fancy :)

A few important points to know:

1. There is no plan when I go to the liquor store for Wine Wednesday. I actually wander the aisles and randomly pick something I haven’t tried but looks interesting for some reason. At best, I may have a region or varietal in mind depending on my mood that day but to be honest, there is usually no plan!

2. I pick wines across a wide range of price points. Generally the wines on Wine Wednesdays are between $20 - $65 Canadian dollars.

3. I always try to walk back and forth to the liquor store on Wine Wednesdays. It’s kind of like a meditation for me. I listen to a podcast, walk, think and get into the mood to taste and experience something new. It doesn’t always happen because life gets busy and/or the weather can sometimes be dreadful….but I do try. Total round trip = approx 7kms, so it’s a great way to get some exercise too!

I usually post these selections of mine on my Instagram account (@wineitupanotch, if you aren’t following already) every Wed night/Thurs morning but the real estate there is limited and sometimes I’ve got more to say than I care to say on IG. And besides, blogging about my wine adventures gives me a more permanent record of what I’ve tried, when and where, and what I thought. Like a virtual tasting diary of sorts. Just the sort of thing I can leave in my treasure chest of family heirlooms to be passed on to future generations ;-)

And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!

2018 Colab and Bloom McLaren Vale Shiraz

Hailing from the acclaimed McLaren Vale region of South Australia, this is a 100% Shiraz that is a knock-your-socks off example of what a heady, aromatic wine can be. As soon as I opened the bottle, I could smell strong aromas of blueberries, florals and jam. This is a lovely wine, no doubt. Here’s what you need to/want to know:

What does this wine cost?

$20/bottle. That’s a pretty exceptional value for the quality you get, in my view.

Where does this wine come from?

The McLaren Vale wine region is located about 45 minutes south of Adelaide in South Australia, and was officially designated a Geographic Indication (GI) in 1997, though it’s wine-making history goes much farther back than this. Located near the ocean, it is known for producing excellent examples of Shiraz, as well as premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache.

Who makes this wine?

Made by a group of Australian wine industry veterans who wanted to create an easy going and accessible style of wine. The brand describes itself as “a collaboration of like-minded friends creating expressive and drinkable wines with abundant flavours”. My understanding is that this group has some notable Australian successes under its belt, under other notable wine labels. The Colab and Bloom portfolio includes a range of varietals and styles of wine, all packaged in its signature bold and brightly labelled bottles. To learn more about Colab and Bloom wines, click here.

My tasting notes:

Medium to full bodied and very intensely perfumed, this wine screams “smell me!” as soon as you open the (screw capped) bottle. The wine is a beautiful deep red, almost maroon in the glass that evokes memories of warm blankets on a cold night. On the nose, the wine smells like violets and vanilla, earth and spice, blackberries and blueberries. There is a sweetness on the nose that is very enticing. On the palate, this wine is glossy and smooth, passing easily from the front of your mouth to your throat. Along the way, you get notes of ripe blueberries, blackberries, black tea, vanilla and spice. I didn’t find the tannins to be too harsh and would describe the acidity as lively and nicely balanced against the tannins.

Aging potential:

I think it can be held for 2-3 years easily. I wouldn’t be rushing to drink it right away however if you felt so inclined, decant it for about an hour and enjoy!

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Pair this wine with braised beef, hamburgers or steak with pepper sauce. Aged cheddar would also pair nicely with this wine.

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 89 points

Overall, an affordable and interesting Shiraz with a very distinctive and intense flavour profile. I only wish that the finish had been a bit longer at the time I tried it (this may very well improve with further bottle aging). The perfect wine for a mid-week pick me up!

If you are located in Ontario and wish to purchase this wine, you can find it at the LCBO under Product #16043

FINAL VERDICT:

This is a great Shiraz at an affordable price point, offering a rich bouquet and deep flavour profile. I would absolutely recommend it to others to try! Cheers!