Tait The Ball Buster Shiraz Red Blend
2018, Barossa Valley, Australia
The 2018 Tait The Ball Buster Proprietary Red is a blend of 77% Shiraz, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. Mint and baking spices lead the way, backed by a big mouthful of blackberries and black cherries. Full-bodied yet supple, it’s spicy and rich, with lingering notes of mixed berries and spice on the finish. Despite weighing in at 15.9% alcohol on the label, it doesn’t seem hot or overripe—an achievement in itself, but past vertical tastings suggest that this wine can develop nicely for a decade or more.
$19.99 / BOTTLE
$7.50 / GLASS
“Opaque ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, pungent flowers and vanilla, along with a hint of white pepper that adds spicy lift. Concentrated, expansive cherry liqueur, blackberry and fruitcake flavors become more energetic as the wine opens up. Round, well-knit tannins frame the appealingly sweet finish, which hangs on with impressive, dark fruit-dominated persistence.”