Blackberry, cherry and chocolate aromas soar from the glass, highlighted by notes of toasted vanilla, bay leaf and licorice. The palate displays an alluring meaty quality reminiscent of juices running from a freshly grilled steak.
Raspberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, licorice and leather.
Wirra Wirra's history is one of wild ideas, sophomoric pranks and outstanding wines. In 1894, Robert Strangways Wriggly founded the winery and ran the business successfully for almost 30 years. But after his death in 1925, his heirs sold off most of the 240-acre estate and the winery was eventually abandoned. Enter fun-loving visionary and "second founder" Greg Trott, whose philosophy was "achieving excellence through hard work accompanied by copious fun." Greg Trott's had a dream: to construct a medieval catapult with which to "bomb" adjacent wineries with his finest wines, in the hope that they might return the favor. Sadly, Trott died before realizing this vision. But those he left behind--determined to honor him--"hurled" Viognier (5%) and Shiraz together and launched the Catapult brand, thus propelling Wirra Wirra's far-flung reputation to new heights. From 1969 until his death in 2005, Trott oversaw the resurrection and expansion of this gem of McLaren Vale.
While surprisingly versatile, Syrah-based wines prefer to dine high up the food chain, seeming most comfortable where fat and protein meet. And Wirra Wirra's Catapult is no exception. Its gamy, earthy character provides many delightful pairing opportunities with robust braised foods and a vast array of grilled meats. But for the non-carnivorous, Syrah also enjoys the company of ingredients like mushrooms, eggplant, roasted fennel, sun-dried tomatoes and polenta, as well as most hard cheeses. With all those rich fruit and dark chocolate nuances in the wine, my recipe for Brined Short Ribs with 5 Onion Cavalo Nero will make for an excellent pairing. This is pure comfort food at its finest and perfect at this time of the year when family and friends are all gathering. The braised short ribs are even better when made the day ahead. Serve with a side of my Soft Polenta and I can guarantee all of your guests will be swooning with delight.
South Australia's McLaren Vale is a narrow strip of land wedged amidst the heights of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges and the temperate waters of the Gulf of Saint Vincent. Its Mediterranean climate, undulating topography and diverse soil types allow the region's ambitious winemakers to produce a remarkable array of wines ranging from crisp, dry Riesling to monolithic Shiraz, and everything in between.
