Milton Park Shiraz 2008

Wine: Milton Park Shiraz 2008.

Grape: Shiraz (100 percent)

Region: Southeastern Australia

Vintage: 2008

Price: $ 9.99 per bottle.

In the glass: This Milton Park Shiraz is a deep blackish-red color with a completely opaque core going out into a firm violet-red rim definition with medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: The wine shows wonderfully concentrated crushed black fruit up front with loads of sweet spice-laden, ripe boysenberry, concord grape juice, cherries jubilee and heated blueberry pie. It has none of the overt licorice action usually associated with this type of wine, and it appears highly nuanced.

On the palate: In the mouth, the wine is concentrated without being overwhelming. It gushes black fruit with dominance by blueberries, cherries and marionberry jam. Layers of fruit makes it appear complex and it has a wonderful and balanced mouth-feel through the mid-palate, still kicking in more sweetish dark fruit, into a finish that is rich and supple with soft tannins and a lingering after-taste.

Odds and ends: Coming through highly regarded wine importer Kysela Pere & Fils, this Australian shiraz is from the well-known producers Thorne-Clark. The wine is blended from a variety of vineyard sources, all located in Southeastern Australia. It is also a great representative of the value that can be found in the popular under $10 category. This wine was aged for 12 months in American oak barrels. The vintage comes from a very warm year with the harvest being completed in a very short period, which may explain the lack of overly roasted flavor characteristics. Drink it with a flatiron steak accompanied by roasted potatoes. It should be good through 2013.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89016-0749 or e-mail him at gail@winevegas.com.