2006 Bishop by Ben Glaetzer Barossa Valley Shiraz

Sometimes you just get a hankering for a big, bold red, but that doesn't necessarily mean a wine that obliterates everything else on the table. Bold can also be elegant, which is exactly why I fell for the 2006 Bishop from Australia's Barossa Valley. The Shiraz fruit, from the dry-farmed Ebenezer vineyards, is gorgeous, with a deep ruby color, intense flavors of cassis and blackberries, and gentle tannins. The Bishop also has a rare elegance, despite its exuberance.

December 3, 2008