1999 Normans Encounter Bay Shiraz

Neither of us could remember purchasing this bottle and it was the only one in the cellar. When we first started going to wine tastings, Normans wines were often available and from memory were quite "chunky" wines. Googling "Normans" elicited the information that they had gone into Receivership and were bought by Xanadu wines at a bargain basement price in 2001. No doubt our bottle was part of the fire sale.

The wine is a typical Aussie shiraz. No pretension of finesse, but still showing good berry fruit flavours for having been in the bottle for around 9 years. Encounter Bay is in the McLaren Vale area, so perhaps the fruit came from there or maybe the marketers' were looking for something tenuous to tempt the wine buyer. The label is no help as to what is in the bottle, I'd say that the oak would have been American, but has faded to be indistinguishable. Not a bad drop though which was enjoyed with the lamb roast. If you have any in the cellar, don't hang on to it, it's getting past its best.