Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro

...like, I do like, and Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro is one of them.


RED WINE

Now outsells white as the most popular wine both here in the UK and throughout the world. Made from red grapes, red wines gain their colour from the tannins ( a sort of pigment ) contained within the grapes skin.

The ideal colour for a red wine is somewhere between a deep red and mahogany. Anything too purple may indicate ...
...WINERY

The Banrock Station winery is now owned by Australia's second largest wine producer BRL Hardy Wine Company. They are responsible for many well known brands of Australian wine such as Hardy's, Hardy's VR, Nottage Hill and of course Banrock Station. As well as taking over 25% of the Australian market they also export to over 60 countries worldwide.

The winery is located in the Riverlands area of the Lower Murray ... more

For once I'm writing a wine review whilst not actually drinking it - shock horror ! Rest assured though it has been tried and tested within the last 24 hours. Whilst I am not a big fan of red wines, however, those I do like, I do like, and Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro is one of them.

RED WINE

Now outsells white as the most popular wine both here in the UK and throughout the world. Made from red grapes, red wines gain their colour from the tannins ( a sort of pigment ) contained within the grapes skin.

The ideal colour for a red wine is somewhere between a deep red and mahogany. Anything too purple may indicate the wine is too young, and anything bordering on a brown colour may indicate the wine is too old or possibly even turned to vinegar - yuck! As a general rule of thumb, the darker a red wine the younger it is, the lighter it is, the older it is.

THE WINERY

The Banrock Station winery is now owned by Australia's second largest wine producer BRL Hardy Wine Company. They are responsible for many well known brands of Australian wine such as Hardy's, Hardy's VR, Nottage Hill and of course Banrock Station. As well as taking over 25% of the Australian market they also export to over 60 countries worldwide.

The winery is located in the Riverlands area of the Lower Murray Valley in South Australia some 150 miles east of Adelaide. The estate has some 600 acres of vineyards set amongst a an overall area covering 4,200 acres of wetlands and bushlands.

The areas climate makes it ideal for vine growing and many of the worlds leading grape varieties are cultivated here, and some less well known ones.

THE GRAPES

Shiraz - The most widely planted grape variety in Australia. It was thought to have originated in the Middle East, but is probably best known as the classic red grape of the northern Rhone Valley in France ( where it's known as Syrah ). Records show it as having been grown in France since Roman times. It's a relative newcomer to Australia, where it's thought to have arrived some time during the 1830's.

Mataro - A relatively little used wine grape with the exception of Spain (where it's known as Monastrell ) and in Australia. In Australia, Mataro is quite an important variety. However, on its own it would produce quite an abrasive wine, so it's often blended with either Shiraz ( as is the case with this wine ) or Grenache. It's grown mainly in the Barossa Valley and Riverland areas of South Australia.

Shiraz makes up 60% of this wine and Mataro the other 40%.

WHERE FROM AND HOW MUCH ?

Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro is a very widely available wine. Asda, Co-op, Kwik Save, Morrisons, Safeway, Sainsburys, Somerfield and Tesco all stock it. It's commonly available in off licences too.

Two sizes are available; a 75 cl bottle sells for around £4.49 and is available in all the aforementioned places. It also comes in a 3 litre wine box ( now that's some potential hangover ) which sells for around £15.99, and represents excellent value when you consider that it contains 4 bottles, which would cost almost £18 if bought separately. I have only seen the 3 litre box in Safeway and Tesco, but it can be doubtless found elsewhere.

On the net it's available from;

www.staffservices.co.uk £23.00 / 6 bottles
www.lastorders.com £26.99 / 6 bottles

WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE ?

The 75cl bottle is of a standard shape, green in colour, with a real cork closure and has a 'brown paper coloured' brown label with a thin maroon border around it. It simply tells you the name of the wine and also includes Banrock Station's motto "Good Earth, Fine Wine" (more of which later). Crucially the label also informs you that this wine is 14% abv (alcohol by volume ).

The 3 litre box looks to all extents and purposes, like a box wrapped in brown paper. It's quite slim by wine box standards and has a black plastic carrying handle. The front of the box contains the same information as the bottle label.

EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH (OR THE TASTE IN ENGLISH !)

Once poured into the glass it has very deep red almost plum coloured appearance which is quite pleasing to the eye.

It has a peppery aroma, not a strong one, more like the smell of pepper that catches your nostrils when someone puts a little bit too much on their dinner, and the excess wafts in your direction. There's a slight smoky smell too, but pepper is the overriding aroma.

The initial taste sensation is of blackberries yet there is no real tartiness, maybe sweetened blackberries would be a better description.

What hits you next is not the flavour, but the texture of the wine, its a bit like the syrup you often find in tinned fruit. This is in no way a slur on this wines character, just how it feels in the mouth.

The next installment of taste is of blackcurrants and plums, probably more blackcurrant, with a little bit of a smokiness being evident, as it was with the wine's aroma.

Swallowing the wine gives the throat a slight tingling sensation without burning, and lingers on in the mouth for some time for quite a mellow finish.

All in all the flavour is well balanced and is a good reflection of the blend of grapes used in its making.

On the red wine classification scale of A to E where A is a light wine and E a full bodied wine,
Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro is a C. Making it a wine which should appeal to experienced and novice red wine drinkers alike.

Part of the appeal of this wine is that's it's ideal for sharing with others as it appeals to a wide spectrum of wine palates. If you want to put 'number one' first though, or be selfish and not share, it's just as good.

BEST SERVED

It's usually recommended that red wine is served at room temperature and that's definitely the case with this wine. I find it best to open the wine and leave it uncorked for about half an hour prior to drinking. However, if you haven't got the patience ( and it is hard at times) it can be drunk straight away.

STORAGE

The bottled version of this wine should keep for several years, although it has to be said that mayflies have a longer life expectancy than a bottle of wine in this house. It's best to keep the wine lying flat, in a rack, to keep the cork moist.

The boxed wine will keep for several weeks even after opening because the wine is in a foil bag within the box. Unopened, the boxed wine should be ok for about two years, but they don't store as well as bottles.

WHAT'S IT GO WITH ?

Anything you want really. Reds usually go well with red meats, cheese, or Italian food. I personally like this wine with spaghetti bolognese. My wife prefers it with barbecued foods, but enjoys it best on its own. So its quite a versatile wine. The choice is yours.

RED AND GREEN

In addition to its vineyards the Banrock Station estate comprises important Australian wetlands. In collaboration with conservation groups they are helping to rejuvinate these areas.

They also make contributions to conservation projects in countries where their wine is sold.
For example, here in the UK The Wildfowl & Wetlands trust receives 5p for every 9 litres of Banrock Station wine sold. So far this has raised over £150,000.

Hence, the phrase on the wine's label "Good Earth, Fine Wine" certainly does apply to Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro.

LETS FINISH WITH A PUN

There's no delays with this Banrock Station and it doesn't 'Mataro' how or what you drink it with.

Sorry for that one, I couldn't resist.
 

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