Community Review

Tait The Ball Buster Red 2012

Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

Community Score: 4.5/5
Community Reviews: 3

Price: $24.95

Sweetness: Extra Dry
Alcohol: 15.5%

Drink: 2013-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml
Winery: Tait

Geoffrey Lindsay reviewed this wine as follows:

The colour of the ball buster starts us off, and oh is it lovely… deep dark purple red with a hint of brick. This is my 4th time having this wine, and the first time I could stop to write down my thoughts. It is a blend of mostly Shiraz with Merlot and Cabernet. This is a product of a vineyard that takes its wine making seriously but not necessarily itself. I feel like ‘burst’ is a bit of a cliché but none the less blackberries burst from the wine with mocha, chocolate, lavender, fennel fronds, warm rich earth and stewed raspberries all making appearances. Ripe berries with a hint of pepper dance on the palate with another appearance of the chocolate on the nose. The acidity is bang on with a blast of black berries on the finish. The tannins are smooth, smooth and smooth. The finish is medium long with a replay of that perfect acidity and a titch of bitter cherries. Paired on this occasion with a, from scratch, Caesar salad with lots of bacon, garlic, lemon, fresh parmesan and garlic butter sautéed shrimp. While I thought the salad itself would pair well, I wasn’t sure the shrimp would. I shouldn’t have worried, after one shrimp a sip of the wine came with an intense blast of mocha, chocolate and raspberry. We had one of those totally cool and unexpected food and wine experiences. This is full throttle Shiraz at its best.

Read Natalie's Full Review

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