Berton Vineyard The Black Shiraz - Co-op

A Big Aussie Shiraz from The Co-op

Australia is not so much a country as a continent; it made its name as a producer of Big Ripe wines and you can still find examples in this style - if that's what you want.

Baked fruits, spice and lots of alcohol are the hallmarks of warm-climate Australian wines; easy to drink and easy to understand, they are expressive and make a statement.

The Co-op's website says: the Black Shiraz is an extreme example of a New World Shiraz with deep colour and aromas of blackberry and plum over toast, vanilla and spice. Full flavoured and intense for those who like a full throttle wine.

Another way of putting it is as big, muscular and unashamedly old school as a ute; an enjoyable blue-collar hero.

Berton Vineyard The Black Shiraz, 2020 (£8.25, Co-op)

dark fruits, cocoa, spice and menthol; ripe black and red pastille fruits, toasty-oak, sweet vanilla and mouth-watering acidity with firm grippy tannins; generously extracted, long and savoury

Thoroughly enjoyable - in a rough-and-tumble sort-of way.

Expressive, fruited and exuberant on first opening; becomes a little more savoury with aeration

No shrinking violet, this will stand up to strongly-flavoured party foods; think smoky, char-grilled meats with plenty of barbecue relish or curry house lava, such as a rogan josh.