Jacob’s Creek shiraz offers depth and character beyond its $10 price tag
Vintners in smaller regions often produce higher quality wines.
Many of the most confusing aspects of wine start to make more sense once you understand a few central concepts, such as the importance of the “appellation” found on a wine label. For example, if you were shopping for an affordable Australian red wine, this one might blend in with the others available around the $10 price point. But those in the know about appellations might suspect that a superior product is in this bottle by its “Limestone Coast” designation alone. A wine appellation is a regulated region of origin statement that is mandatory on all wine labels. It identifies where the grapes in any given wine were grown, which is by far the most important indicator of quality potential on any wine label. Don’t worry, you don’t need to memorize the maps of wine regions to benefit; just remember that the smallest appellations are, by definition, the most prestigious and almost always make superior wine.
In the U.S., for instance, you can safely bet that a wine from a specific county like Sonoma will be of higher quality than one that simply names the state of California on the label. Within any larger wine region, the best vineyard zones establish their own smaller appellations to distinguish their finer wines from the pack, but there is only an incentive to do so if the subzone is indeed capable of making better wine. That’s why you don’t need to know where South Australia’s Limestone Coast is to correctly conclude that its wines are likely to exceed those of competitors from bigger appellations like South East Australia, simply because it sounds likely to be a smaller place. What you will find in the glass is a dark brambly core of blackberry jam, whiffs of peppered bacon, and far more depth and character than one can usually expect at this price.
Jacob’s Creek ‘Reserve’ Shiraz Limestone Coast, South Australia
$9.99; 14.4% alcohol
PLCB Item #8843 (Sale price through 4/25 — regularly $12.99)
Also available at: Joe Canal’s in Lawrenceville, N.J. — $10.99; lawrenceville.jcanals.com
Total Wine & More in Cherry Hill — $12.29; www.totalwine.com
Hops & Grapes in Glassboro — $12.98; www.hopsandgrapesonline.com