The 2007 Route 45 Shiraz is an “end of the bin” find, all bottles $4.99 and when they are gone, they are gone for good. There is not much information available, Wine Spectator and Enthusiast both reviewed the wine in the past year, the Winery seems to have gone under and the Importer does not bother to list it on their website. So here is all I know about the Rte 45, it is from South Africa and is sourced from grapes grown in the Coastal Region which comprise such sub regions as Paarl and Stellenbosch. A 2007 vintage is a little old for a $4.99 wine, so maybe the Rte 45 was held up in a bankruptcy proceeding. The alcohol content is 14.5%.
The color is a dark and jammy combination of scarlet and purple. The nose is slightly green and medicinal, along with dark berries and a touch of oaky wood. It has Shiraz on the label, but so far this NOT made in the Australian style. This is a dry wine, the oak and tannins are not toned down, a combination of black and blueberries upfront with an under current of chocolate ganache followed by a shock of curry spice. The mid-palate brings some strawberry and the little bite from the tannins (it’s a 2007 you would think the tannins would have calmed down by now). The finish is ok but nothing special.
The Route 45 Shiraz is a wine that throws you a curve, it is just not what you expected. I am not sure if I love it or hate it, but at $4.99 I am glad I bought, the Rte 45 has a style all its own, it is definitely not a variation on a theme.
