Wine of the Week (Under $10): Yalumba Shiraz-Viognier 2007

Shiraz is what the Aussies call their syrah grapes and wine. When you live down under, you can flip anything around and call it what you like.

In this case they're pretty good at it. They've made shiraz their own and they make it sing.

For those who like red wine that's not as chewy and dark and intense as cabernet sauvignon, shiraz/syrah is a nice relief.

Yalumba has blended its shiraz from the famous Barossa Valley with viognier grapes from Eden Valley and come up with a smooth red that brings raspberries and plums to the table, but cuts them with cedar. Like a zin, this shiraz has a light dusting of pepper and coffee and anise.

This 2007 Yalumba won an 89 from Wine Spectator, which was a lower rating than it received in the 04, 05, 06 and 08 versions. But it's pretty darn good, and you only pay $10 for a bottle. As regular readers of Eat Well, Eat Cheap know, we don't eat much red meat around here, but this bottle of shiraz went incredibly well with our ratatouille and a fillet of grilled salmon.