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The Aldi Specially Selected Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021 is a $9.99 Aldi exclusive and is a line of 10 wines sourced from different growing regions worldwide. This looks like Aldi’s answer to Trader Joe’s Reserve line of wines.
Artificial Intelligence says: The Barossa Valley, located in South Australia, has a rich and storied wine history. It is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, with European settlers planting the first vineyards in the mid-19th century. The region’s unique climate and soil conditions have made it renowned for producing high-quality wines, particularly Shiraz. Today, the Barossa Valley continues to be a prominent wine destination, attracting visitors worldwide to experience its rich wine heritage and taste its exceptional wines.
Aldi does not offer production notes for the Aldi Specially Selected Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021. Australian Shiraz was one of the hottest wines on the planet in the 2000s and the worldwide economic downturn of 2008 put an end to their run of sales success. The quality of the wines stayed high, but value-priced wine drinkers moved on to Malbec from Argentina.
Barossa Valley is near one of the many bys that dot the coast of South Australia, and a region that is too far from the coast will be too hot to cultivate grapes. Barossa Valley is arguably the premier Shiraz region in the world. Shiraz is a different name for Syrah, they are the same grape. The Aldi Specially Selected Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021 has an alcohol content of 14.5% which is a departure from the Shiraz wines of the 2000s when alcohol could reach 15% or 16%.
The Aldi Specially Selected Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is a dark raspberry jam red with black highlights. The nose is ripe, juicy red berries, spice, vanilla, brewing coffee, and plums. The Aldi Specially Selected Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021 is smooth on the palate with rich flavors and interesting spices.
This Shiraz tastes like blueberries and black cherry, a slap of rough-edged spice, bitter dark chocolate, and ripe plum. The mid-palate adds raspberry, orange zest, a slight pull from the tannins, and tart cranberry.
This is a well-balanced Shiraz that sips well and can be paired with steaks, stews, and all sorts of comfort foods. The acidity allows the flavors to unfold and gives this Shiraz good length.
The Summary
- The Aldi Specially Selected Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021 is a tasty well-made wine selling for a bargain price of $9.99.
- I was a fan of the large and bold Australian Shiraz of the 2000s, so these balanced and focused Shiraz wines of 2023 are excellent wines, but not as much fun.
- Just the same, this is a solid well-made Shiraz that is well worth drinking.
