McPherson Wines 'Don't Tell Gary' Shiraz

'Don't Tell Gary' is a Shiraz from McPherson Wines in Victoria, Australia, featuring a unique and witty backstory. When winemaker Jo Nash wanted to use premium French oak barrels, the accountant, Gary, objected due to budget constraints. Jo secretly purchased the barrels, hid them in the corner of the winery, and told the team, "Don't tell Gary." Despite the playful name, the wine's quality is astonishingly serious. Unlike the hot, jammy fruit bombs typical of South Australia, this wine utilizes grapes from the cooler Grampians region in Victoria, showcasing a much more elegant and delicate texture. Upon uncorking, alongside the fresh fruit aromas of dark cherry and plum, luxurious tertiary notes of vanilla bean, cedar, and dark chocolate derived from the French oak rise gracefully. On the palate, without any rough tannins, a silk-smooth, round texture coats the tongue. It is an elegant Australian Shiraz perfectly balanced by spicy nuances of black pepper.

1. Herb-Marinated Oven-Roasted Rack of Lamb or Peppercorn Striploin Steak: The perfect meat marriage that fully brings out the 'spicy flavor' and 'elegant acidity' unique to Victoria Shiraz. The black pepper flavor inherent in the Shiraz grape interlocks flawlessly with the wild, gamey flavor of lamb. In particular, the vanilla and cedar nuances from the French oak aging combine at a molecular level with the salty umami of a crispy seared striploin steak, delivering explosive gastronomic synergy. 2. Rich Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake or Aged Cheddar Cheese: A pairing that allows you to enjoy the smooth tannins of this wine with light snacks in an everyday setting. The chocolate and mocha flavors derived from the oak barrels trigger a perfect mirroring effect with a bittersweet dark chocolate cake, making the palate ecstatic. If a full meal is too heavy, pair it with a salty, deeply flavored aged Cheddar cheese to experience how the wine's round tannins smoothly melt the cheese.