2017 Durif Shiraz Dark Corner Vineyards

A Dark Corner wine seemed suspect. When I unscrewed the cap, “boot black” crept through my mind. Then, there’s this Australian re-naming grape varietals: Syrah becomes Shiraz, while Petite Sirah becomes Durif. Then came the pleasant surprise. Blending Durif with Shiraz turned out really good. Served chilled, this red mix is easy to drink, very enjoyable. The nose has a subtle herbal aroma. First taste is plum, followed by blackberry. Digging deeper, the wine opens into cocoa, pepper and sweet cherry. It kept a long finish of smokey tannin. Here was surprise of quality at such a low cost. This one is buy-it-now and drink it now, or put a few bottles on the shelf. For fun, try taking a bottle to a gathering. It would pair well with smoked beef, lamb, and baked wild turkey.