On Mar 6, 10:18*am, Joseph Coulter > wrote:
> they were closing out some Grateful Palate wines a few months back so
> I picked up in addition to ones, I knew like Boarding Pass and First
> Class, 2 bottles of Chris Ringland Shiraz 2008 Barossa.
>
> talk about big and jammy with a lot of backbone, but hidden behind all
> that wine (about as jammy as I can handle) was a whopping 16.5%
> alcohol. This one would overpower a lamb meal as well. I was thinking
> atfirst a great steak wine, but on second thought it was sort of one
> of those drink it with strong cheddar and crackers and hope you don't
> have to drive for about a week.

That kind of alcohol content (which legally could even be higher by a
%) is port without the port benefits. I think that is poor wine making
and a symptom of Australian wine making today. I don't enjoy that type
of wine.