Wine Review: Turkey Flat Vineyards in Barossa Valley, Australia

Have you noticed how large the wine selection at your favorite liquor or grocery store is? It is difficult enough to pick the right type of varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay), let alone a particular brand. Lucky for you, I will be the guinea pig and subject myself to drinking hundreds of different bottles of wines. In the end, I will give you the straight story on super tasty, but affordable wines.
Today, I would like to feature a wine producer from the Barossa Valley of Australia, Turkey Flat. I actually had the privilege of visiting this vineyard during my honeymoon in 2002, but was disappointed when the bottles we carried across the Pacific were all gone. Fortunately, you can now find Turkey Flat in many fine restaurants, liquor stores and online. Check out American Estates Wines for a local distributor.
Here are some tasting notes on my favorite varietals from Turkey Flat:

• Rose- Don't laugh, Rose is back in a big way. This is the perfect light bodied red wine with a slight sweetness and spritz that is so refreshing on warm days. It is a blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Dolcetto. It has tastes of red fruits, including raspberries, cherries and currants. It is great without food, but if you want some pairings, try it with a Waldorf Salad, Shellfish, Chicken or Pork Mojo, Paella, Chinese food or any other mild flavored food. Heck it goes with everything. Serve it straight from the fridge, the colder the better.
• Cabernet Sauvignon- A CabSav from Australia? Believe it. Turkey Flat's CabSav is grown on vines over 150 years old. This is a fully body and intense wine, with chalky tannins. The latter is produced by extended maceration with the skins on. Ripe red and black fruits prevail, enhanced by the oak and grape tannins. This big boy is best served with food, including grilled red meats, lamb with mustard crust, mushroom risotto with parmigiano reggiano shavings. You don't need to decant, but pop the bottle an hour before serving to let it breathe.
• Shiraz- The granddaddy red wine of Australia, Barossa Valley and Turkey Flat. These vines were planted in 1847. This version isn't super jammy, instead you can enjoy the plum, cedar and chocolate flavors. This wine is even better when served with a veal chop with a three pepper, cognac sauce or wild game (buffalo filet stuffed with gorgonzola or an elk tenderloin with a port reduction).

If you are ever in Barossa Valley, you must stop by this vineyard (and Maggie Beer's place-she is the Martha Stewart of Australia, but likable). Turkey Flat is owned and operated by Peter and Christie Schulz. I just love the idea of supporting working families instead of nameless, faceless corporations. Enjoy a glass of their fantastic wine tonight. Cheers!