Today’s delicious Brothers In Arms 2012 No. 6 Shiraz hails from an estate whose first vines were planted back in 1891. Shiraz yields were tiny back then as compared to the total annual yield of about 700 tons today. The winery makes a wide range of wines, but Agent Red went straight for the one that delivered the best bang for the buck.

This is one dark, juicy, rich and flavor-packed wine. It packs a punch, to be sure, but this is no over-the-top Aussie beast that punches you in the mouth. Rather, this is a friendly, approachable wine that is as up to the task as a great cocktail wine as it is with a great meal. Yes, this is a food-friendly Shiraz. Enjoy it with some well-spiced carne asada tacos, a grilled steak with your favorite rub, or an herb roasted chicken.

Earthy, ripe and meaty on the nose, with Boysenberry, black cherry, cured meats, dry forest floor, bramble bush, pipe tobacco, spice and cedar.

On the palate, this wine is plush and full, delivering blackberry and plum preserve atop black European licorice, toasty oak, braised black fig, cured meat, toasted anise seed, baking chocolate, vanilla and soft spice.

Highly recommended and a great value.