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.

The Black Chook nv South-eastern Australia Sparkling Shiraz

Dark red / purple color with a vigorous purple head.

Black cherry smell with a big whiff of oak.

Bitter splintery mouthful of oaky flavor of black cherry, plum, sweet fruit.

A fun bottle for $16.99, but suffers from aggressive unbalanced use of raw-tasting new oak, would be better with that toned down a bit.

The Black Chook 2007 South Australia Shiraz Viognier

I aerated this vigorously and let it rest for most of a day after opening.

A very trendy Rhone-like blend that's common in Australia lately.

Near-opaque red/purple color.

Smell of prunes, cherries,

Taste opens with a big mouthful of sweet prune, gets drier in the mouth, oak flavor emerges with blackberry and peach, fruit fairly balanced with acid. Alcohol warmth dominates the finish.

I have mixed feelings about this $18.50 95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier blend. This fruit-bomb with 15% alcohol wins for size and exuberance, but loses on grace and finesse.