Kilikanoon, Killerman's Run Shiraz Grenache, 2007, South Australia

The Killerman's Run has a tough manly nose of black pepper, sweet porter, cologne, barnyard, and a bit too much fiery heat.  It's medium-bodied and dominated by red brambly fruit notes from the Grenache and dark chocolate from the Shiraz.  There's some acidity and grip on the front end but I don't really like what I was holding onto.  A persistent saccharine sweetness completely throws this wine off balance and gives the middle finger to whatever the terroir is trying to say.  On day two the wine tasted the same, the heat had yet to blow off, and I wanted my 20 bucks back.  

I really fell in love with wine for the first time when touring the cooler Yarra Valley and the Grampians region of Australia.  Whenever the haters come out, I'm quick to defend the land down under as many of their best wines aren't distributed in North America.  Wines from the hotter regions in the south completely dominate the export market.  As wine consumption has increased worldwide and consumers have developed more sophisticated palates, the Australian commercial wine powerhouses haven't kept up with the times.  And for me, wines like the mid-priced Killerman's Run aren't doing anything to dig Australia out of the rut it has found itself in.