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Wine Review - Razor's Edge, McLaren Vale, Shiraz 2004

http://nomerlot.com/reviews/media/ra...hiraz-2004.jpgProducer: Joshua Imports, L.L.C.
Wine: Razor’s Edge
Vintage: 2004
Country: Australia
Appellation: McLaren Vale
Wine Type: Red
Varietal: Shiraz
Grade: B
Designation: Good and Cheap
Price: $8
“The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.” —Katha-Upanishad
That’s the epigraph from Somerset Maugham’s, “Razor’s Edge,” a novel about post WWI in which an American roams Europe and India in search of higher self-awareness, enlightenment, and a path to a non-conventional life. Good novel but as usual, Hollywood managed to squeeze not one, but two mediocre movies out of it. Fortunately, this Razor’s Edge takes after the novel rather than the movies. The wine is imported from the McLaren Vale, one of the older wine appellations in Australia that is particularly known for its Shiraz, a good endorsement for the wine. When I unscrewed the cap (corkless bottle), there was a momentary blast of phenols that was disconcerting, but I let the wine rest for a bit and that chemical note vaporized and disappeared. After that I could detect healthy notes of plums, blackberries, spice, and some chocolate. This a fairly full-bodied wine with suppleness and juicy dark fruit coupled with spicy pepper. Tannins are well-versed and unassuming, and the finish brings on some dark chocolate that is appealing. There is some complexity here, more than can be expected for the price. The structure would allow some cellaring but the improvements probably won’t be that noticeable and why wait. Consume now and then seek salvation elsewhere. And as far as Larry Darrell goes, times have changed and people use electric razors, fewer nicks, less blood.

One to look for. And BTW, I heartily endorse the corkless closures ... especially with the more expensive bottles!! Imagine paying $100+ for a nice bottle of claret, storig it in the cellar for a decade or two, opening it for a special dinner, only to find ... it's corked ... ruined from the get-go. :eek: :cry: :rant: :gth

Hey that's 45 mins down the road from me, I shall have to see if I can get some.

If there is no cork, how is one supposed to cork ones blade these days?...........ah the times they are a changing!

Cheers
John

I know I'm generalizing but I have never had a good wine come from a screw top bottle, I always get that chemical/metallic taste and smell.

I do tend to like Australian Shiraz though.

About 10% of the corks are bad. The cost of good corks has also become significant in the bottling process. The plastic corks are good but they will break some of the fancy openners like the Roget. As DOC4 stated, the screw tops are better and are coming into use.

Rick