Thirsty Thursday is the quest to drink good, cheap wine that is $10.00 and under. Want some more recommendations? Check out the past cheap wine posts on Thirsty Thursday.
After a couple of weeks talking about white wines, I decided it was time to go back to the real love of my life – the REDS.
And what better red than one of my favorite grapes – Syrah.
You might also see Syrah called Shiraz (like in New Zealand and Australia) – they are basically the same profile of wine just grown in different parts of the world.
But this wine is called a Syrah and it is the 2009 McManis Family Syrah from Northern California.
I absolutely love the nose on this wine. (Which is the smell you receive when you take a little sniff. Don’t stick your whole nose in the glass, but just allow the smell to come out and take a smell.)
I detected sweet rich berries and black cherry, mixed with a bit of leather, tobacco, and chocolate.
After the first drink you’ll notice a bit a acidity (or as I like to call – party in my mouth), but it quickly turns in to a nice creamy middle and light tannin finish. The wine is aged in new and used French and American oak and then transferred to stainless – which helps the wine to have body but not feel like there are too many “earthy” undertones.
Because it is such a well-rounded wine you can either drink and enjoy on its own or with food – a nice steak or heavy meat would be a great compliment.
So the next time your break out the grill – break out some McManis Family Syrah. Enjoy a glass while you are cooking and a enjoy a glass with dinner – cause that is what wine is about….enjoyment. And at under $10, you can enjoy a second bottle too.
Note: This wine should be available at most liquor outlets. Please be responsible when you drink wine – and never drive drunk…seriously, that is just stupid in this day in age.
What about you? Has anyone tried any of the Thristy Thursday wines? Do you feel less intimidated at the wine store? Let me know in the comments or link up!