The Chook 2008 South Australia VMR

84% Viognier, 8% Marsanne, 8% Roussanne.

Pale straw color.

Aromatic melon smell, apricot, peach, with hints of summer flowers and cheap hard candy.

Dry fruity melon flavor, apple, peach/apricot, substantial oily texture, very good balance of fruit and acid. No noticeable oak.

Good medium-to-full-bodied $16.99 bottle.

The Chook nv South Eastern Australia Sparkling Shiraz

The last time I had a bottle of this it was called "The Black Chook" and it suffered from overenthusiastic use of new oak.

Dark red / purple color, raises an inviting foamy head.

Oak dominates the black cherry smell.

Bitter oaky opening flavor, then sweet dark stone fruit.

Only the name has changed, this is still a fun bottle for $16.99 that suffers from an oak-before-fruit philosophy.