The Shiraz challenge is over (for now) leaving us with seven picks that won’t break the bank.  We ended up trying wines from several different regions for this showdown, including France, Chile, Australia and the US.  Shiraz is actually a challenging variety to find one that is both inexpensive and exceptional, but we did find a number that are pretty good.

The top pick goes to the Marquis Philips Shiraz from South Eastern Australia.  This is a very tasty Shiraz, and it’s their entry-level version (Marquis Philips has a few pricier lines of Shiraz available too). In addition to having sumptuous fruit, this Shiraz also had a very nice chocolate characteristic in both the nose and palate.

The St. Hallet Faith, from the Barossa region in Australia, and the McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate, from South Eastern Australia, both tied for the second best pick.  This gives the top three picks to Australia, although Chile isn’t far behind with the Tamaya Syrah.

Here is the full line-up of scores.