Sparkling Shiraz is quite popular in Australia.  In America, you will either love it or hate it.  It's not for everyone.  Fox Creek is one of Australia's best producers of Shiraz.  Thier Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz is sensational.  For the last few years they have been making a Sparkling Shiraz called Vixen.  It is a non-vintage sparkling wine.  The wine is 75% Shiraz, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Cabernet Franc.

The wine has a cork and basket closure identical to Champagnes.  When you pour the wine, it looks like a carbonated black cherry soda.  A dark purple, almost black wine with a foamy, bubbly head.  The head dissapates after about 30 seconds, and the wine then shows a steady stream of bubbles, just like a Champagne.  If found the wine more enjoyable drunk from a red wine glass as opposed to a Champagne flute.  The bouquet on the wine was not inherently different than any other Aussie Shiraz, and the flavor profile was also typically Shiraz-like.

This was a fun wine, and I would recommend it to any adventurous wine lover, particularly if you like red wines and a bit of bubbly.  The wine will be of greater interest to Shiraz lovers as opposed to die hard fans of traditional Champagnes.

The wine was purchased for $17.99 at the Wine Connection in Del Mar.  3.5 stars

 

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