Turkey Flat 2005 Butchers Block
I found this wine in South Carolina at a wine store while visiting family. I had heard that the Turkey Flat Shiraz was outstanding and while they didn’t carry it they did have the Butchers Block.
Turkey Flat 2005 Butchers Block GSM
Butchers Block comes from the Barossa Valley in Australia. This is a red blend of Shiraz (41%), Grenache (40%) and Mourvèdre (19%). This is an Australian take on the popular GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) blend which is a popular style in Côtes du Rhône. I’ve tried a number of GSM wines from the south of France and while there were a few that were bad, most were really good, especially for the price ($8-12 bottle).
Dark brick red color, almost muddy, but not exactly cloudy … this wine actually has some minor shades of brown. The nose is very expressive; strong scents of black olives, mushrooms and earth. The dominant smell is definitely black olives, I’m detecting no fruit on the nose at all. It has a very smooth mouth feel. I’m tasting strong vegetal tones. There is a short mid-palate where I’m not noticing any secondary flavors and then the wine just kinda drops off with a smooth finish with light tannins. All of that said, I really don’t care for this wine much. I get the sense that it was well made, but the flavor profile is not one I care for. I just tried it with some pizza and it seems it doesn’t really pair well with that either. Fail
March 13th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Most of the time I wonder what Parker is smoking. I received a bottle of this as a corporate gift. Opened it tonight, tried 1/2 glass and based on first impressions and this one objective review, poured it down the drain and moved on to something else (better). Terrible, just terrible this wine… Nothing whatsoever to offer. Demonstrates once again what is so wrong with the wine industry.
June 16th, 2010 at 2:32 am
Olives ARE fruit!
GAAAAAAAAAAH
June 16th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Got me there … how lonely is it on Mt. Olympus?