I think it needs to be clear that most wine that comes in boxes isn't designed, or intended, to be scrutinised at length. For most people its ability to be consumed at all is most likely the mark of a sound wine. Having said that, there are degrees of quality and the first step I believe is to choose a box with a grape variety on it. If you want it to replicate wine that you may buy in bottles look for names like, Riesling or Chardonnay, or in this instance Shiraz Cabernet (I'm presuming Cabernet Sauvignon). In all honesty, and at the risk of over romanticising the wine in box, I think it is at the heart of the wine drinking culture, the vin de pays, or country wine, that has its place on the table like a bottle of water. It doesn't have to have a grape variety or vintage, but merely act as a social lubricant, and a food partner that doesn't require much focus at all.
This wine has nice bright colour, sweet fruit and it is very soft in the mouth. It is not particularly concentrated, in fact it is quite light. I would expect a little more depth from a Shiraz Cabernet in a bottle, but¦and here comes the big but, it is $13 for 2 litres, you can't be too demanding of these wines. It is hard to be particularly critical about this wine, mainly because it is pretty good. It is clean and fresh and not at all offensive. It has bright red fruits, some stewed strawberry and almost some black cherry. With no tannin to speak of it is very easy to drink on its own. It is not going to change your world, it won't be something you wake up thinking about- it isn't meant to be. Overall it is a sound product and must be taken at face value, though I must admit, if there was a way of making the particularly urinal sound of the wine pouring into the glass go away, it would be even more appealing. 

< BACK TO ARCHIVE