Old Plains 2006 Raw Power Shiraz

Old Plains 2006 Raw Power Shiraz
Adelaide Plains, South Australia, Australia

I've been scouring the wine world, seeking out that perfectly rich, deep and intense red with the “value” price tag to go with it. Our search came to a screeching halt last week when one of our distributors presented us with this week’s email selection.

We all know that Aussie wines have been on the rise in the US for the last 10+ years. Many of us have found our favorites but continue to explore the other amazing wineries, varietals and regions that Australia has to offer. I realize the importance of providing you with not just great wine, but new wines as well. That’s why once we were able to taste, evaluate and enjoy this beautiful red, we knew that we’d found our next offering.

My selection this week comes from the United States’ hottest importer of Australian and New Zealand wines, Vine Street Imports. In the last two years, some of you may have become familiar with Vine Street Imports and know that they’ve continually brought astounding wine to your palat. From Australia to New Zealand, I've always said that they “over deliver” when it comes to their imports. Incredible quality, small production and their unique marketing flare has appealed to our customers since day one of our Vine Street ventures.

Old Plains 2006 Raw Power Shiraz from the Adelaide Plains, South Australia is fresh off of the ship and brand new to the US. Grown in an area which is essentially a suburb of Adelaide, this powerful red offers a unique experience to wine lovers. It is loaded with chocolate undertones, dark berry fruits, minerality and a gorgeous tannic structure that is lacking in many reds at this price point. No synthetic flavors here! Just a big, bold red which is summed up in its name; RAW POWER!

The Adelaide Plains have been directly affected by the urban sprawl of Adelaide and many of the vineyards have disappeared. This is a great source for wonderful old vine stock of Shiraz and Grenache but in many instances, the growth of the city and the need for more lucrative agricultural crops took precedence over maintaining these viticultural dinosaurs.

Tim Freeland and Dominic Torzi have made it their mission to not let these vineyards vanish. Raw Power is their latest addition to a line of Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet that basically sells out worldwide upon release. Even though this is “large production” in terms of Old Plains Winery, they only made a minuscule 4,000 cases of Raw Power.