One of the first stage races of the road racing calendar is the Tour Down Under. This year's edition provided plenty of action. Especially in the final stage when a Kangaroo attempted to take down the race leader with a surprise attack similar to a luchador leaping off the top rope!
The race winner, Jay Vine, had this to say about the incident "Everyone asks me what's the most dangerous thing in Australia and I always tell them it’s kangaroos,” Vine told ABC Australia. “They wait and they hide in the bushes until you can’t stop and they jump out in front of you. Point proven today."
This Lucha Vino matchup features an Australian Shiraz leaping from the bushes in an attempt to take down a Washington Syrah.
2022 Vibe Cellars Stillwater Creek Syrah v. 2020 Knappstein Clare Valley The Mayor's Vineyard Shiraz
Tale of the Tape
100% Syrah from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard located in the Royal Slope AVA.
Aged in a mix of new and used French Oak Barrels for 18 months.
Available at the winery for $39.
100% Shiraz from 54 year old vines in the Mayor's Vineyard located in the Clare Valley.
Available at Total Wine for $44.99
Round 1. First Opening
This looks like it is going to be a battle of brute force vs. wiry agility.
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The Australian challenger from Knappstein is an imposing presence featuring a dark and savory nose of cured meats, olive tapenade and orange peel. The palate brings on a complimentary attack with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, white pepper and bacon fat with a peppery finish.
Vibe Cellars circles the larger Australian looking for any opening to strike. The nose shows much more fruit character with creamy raspberry, blueberry and hints of cedar. The palate doubles down with raspberry, blueberry, cracked pepper and a blueberry compote finish.
The Knappstein luchador from Australia takes round 1 through sheer brute force.
Round 2. One Hour After Opening
The grappler from Vibe Cellars is looking to take advantage of its speed and agility leaping into the ring off the top rope. The nose is building power with logan berry, blueberry and creamy white pepper with a touch of flint. The palate leads off with blueberry, blackberry and cracked pepper followed by a finish of blueberry compote and biscuits.
Knappstein is looming large, yet relatively stationary. The nose is big and bold featuring bacon fat, olive tapenade, blueberry and orange peel. The palate is equally bold leading with blueberry and blackberry followed by bacon fat and cracked pepper with a peppery tannin driven finish.
Vibe Cellars was a flurry of activity in this round. Never the less, the hulking luchador from Knappstein withstood the tenacious attack and hangs on to win round 2; taking a resounding 2-0 lead in the match.
Round 3. One Day After Opening
The Australian behemoth has built a massive 2-0 lead. Vibe Cellars only hope is a third round knock out. Let's see how this unfolds...
Vibe Cellars slides into the ring looking for any type of advantage it can gain to topple the Knappstein beast from Australia! The nose is evolving to show raspberry, tart cherry, cedar bark and light tobacco notes. The palate continues to feature blueberry and raspberry along with tobacco and cracked pepper wrapped up with a blueberry pie crust finish.
Oh no! It looks like the Knappstein brawler has run out of steam. The nose is more subdued with fruit character taking over the charge with notes of blue and blackberry supported by traces of olive tapenade and salty cured meats. The palate has also transitioned to more primary fruit flavors of blueberry and blackberry with cracked pepper and olive oil followed by a dry pencil lead tannin finish.
I don't think anybody saw this coming! Vibe Cellars has toppled the hulking Knappstein luchador and wins the match by pinning the giant to the mat.
Wrap Up and Overall Observations
Both wines are top level representations of the Syrah/Shiraz grape grown at similar elevations of 1400-1500 feet above sea level. It is interesting how much more savory character the Shiraz from the Clare Valley in the Southern Hemisphere shows compared to the Northern Hemisphere Washington Syrah from Stillwater Creek vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA.
Both the Vibe Cellars Syrah and the Knappstein Mayor's vineyard Shiraz are worth seeking out.
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