For episode 52, James Haselgrove gave us his 2011 Futures Shiraz from McLaren Vale, marketed under his son’s company, Adelaide Winemakers.
Made by James’ son, Nick Haselgrove, the Futures Shiraz 2011 struck Steve as presenting more like a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Keith Conlon agreed, commenting how enjoyable it is when a wine surprises you.
Both agreed this wine was not the old ‘sunshine in a glass’ style of days gone by, but a refined example of Shiraz with excitable tannins that introduced themselves quickly but also retreated in good time so as not to outwear their welcome, resulting in a smooth finish.
Keith also noted the wine was a little cold and that Melbourne Street Cellars owner, John Swanson, has told him not to be afraid of popping a glass of wine into the microwave for a few seconds to excite the elements and open up a wine.
Steve tried this with a second bottle after the show and was so impressed the manoeuvre will become quite common place for his wine drinking during the colder months. The picture above is of the warming apparatus.
A wine Steve recommends taking to your next blind wine tasting because you’ll bamboozle your friends’ palates.