WCOW'14: Match 1

Match 1: Friday, June 13th
Countries: Chile VS. Australia
Theme: Syrah/Shiraz

Australia - 3
Chile - 2


The Wines

Chile: Viña Errázuriz 2011 Max Reserva Syrah
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 14%
Icon Score

Australia: Layer Cake Wines 2011 Shiraz
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
Icon Score


The Results

Complexity:    Layer Cake Shiraz
Food Friendliness:    Layer Cake Shiraz
Typicity:    Layer Cake Shiraz
Concentration:    Max Reserva Syrah
Expression of Terroir:    Neither
Value:    Max Reserva Syrah

Recap

Though the World Cup soccer game was a little one-sided in favour of Chile's impressive squad, the wine match was far more competitive with the Australia Shiraz squeaking out a victory thanks to it's edge in complexity and typicity - you certainly know you're drinking an Aussie (sourced) Shiraz. Neither wine, however, expressed a sense of specific terroir as reflected by their sub-90pt scores. Both Syrah/Shiraz are well-made for mass-produced wines but lack that unique, identifying qualify that one hopes to find. The Layer Cake entry received the food-friendly nod thanks to its vein of peppercorn spice on the palate that screams 'Steak!", but really, you can't go wrong with either wine.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca