Montara Chalambar Road Shiraz 2018

I love the name, it could be the bad guy in a poorly shot western movie but instead it's yet another recipe from yours truly that the Heart Foundation has tried to censor.

A hearty plate for a hearty red. Put the fire on and be ready to put your feet up afterwards!

Soft, buttery stew in a bath of Shiraz. Sure to chase the deepest winter chill out the door.

Shiraz (which is essentially Syrah) is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines.

Wines made from Syrah are often powerfully flavoured and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with a wide range of flavor notes, depending on the climate and soils where it is grown, as well as other viticultural practices chosen. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries (usually dark as opposed to red), chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called "typical" though blackberry and pepper are often noticed. With time in the bottle these "primary" notes are moderated and then supplemented with earthy or savory "tertiary" notes such as leather and truffle.

"Secondary" flavor and aroma notes are those associated with several things, generally winemakers' practices (such as oak barrel and yeast regimes).

History

It is called Syrah in its country of origin, France, as well as in the rest of Europe,