Review: 2007 Robert Oatley Shiraz South Australia
This line of wines, founded by 80-year-old Robert Oatley, who originated the Rosemount Estate brand, marks a return to U.S. soil from the Australian impresario.
A selection of varietals — Chardonnay, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, a Cabernet-Merlot blend, and a Sangiovese Rose — are being made available, all with an avowed “modern” approach to winemaking.
Oatley’s Shiraz is very simple and easy-drinking, a fine choice for a weeknight pizza dinner or another simple meal. The wine is very dry, features a solid amount of black pepper wrapped around a dark yet mild plum core. It goes down easy but lacks much in the way of complexity, which makes it a real crowd-pleaser but not much of a memorable one. At $17, this actually feels a bit overpriced vs. the Aussie competition of late.
B+ / $17
I think that Jacob’s Creek Shiraz for the money is a good value!
You can get three bottle of Banrock Station Shiraz which is just as good for the same price as one bottle of Robert Oatley.