According to an educational YouTube video, there are seven easy ways to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. First-hand experience proved to us that two of them don’t work: the nail and the screw hook.
After overcoming this immediate hurdle and shoving the cork into the bottle, we poured our first wine for this column into two hastily rinsed mason jars.
Charles Shaw, affectionately known as “Two-Buck Chuck,” sells multiple varieties of “extreme bargain wine,” perfect for the college connoisseur looking to whet their whistle without breaking the bank.
Shiraz, or syrah, is a red wine originating from the Rhône region of France.
It is now grown internationally and is extremely popular in most wine-producing regions of the world. We selected a 2012 from the Napa and Sonoma regions in California.
There are multiple theories as to the origin of the name “shiraz.” Some believe that it is named after the city in Iran where the type of grape used for the wine supposedly originated.
One myth says the grapes were transported to Rhône by a crusader named Gaspard de Stérimberg. Others believe it was a “hermit of the mountains.”
We like to think it was named after a small woodland animal or a magician.
Syrah wines are generally full-bodied, though the actual nose and flavor of the wine will vary drastically depending on local soil and climate conditions.
A younger shiraz may have notes of darker berries, pepper and espresso, though these may be supplemented as the wine ages with earthier overtones.
A shiraz will not be easily overshadowed by a meal, and pairs well with grilled meats and vegetables, or in our case, flavor-blasted Goldfish.
Old Chuck’s nose was a little sharp; we described it as:
“Elderberry?”
“Pepper.”
“Alcohol.”
The body was not as robust as we would have expected. It was smooth and light, with a slightly watery mouthfeel.
Was our wine replaced with water? Or were we just drinking cheap wine?
We may never know.
The first note of the Shaw Shiraz is definitely sugar. It is a relatively sweet wine with a distinct acidity. The middle gives a hint of berry accompanied by a mouthful of diluted alcohol.
As the wine finishes, the tannins finally kick in, but are never present enough to distinguish it.
In the end, “Two-Buck Chuck” did not give an impressive performance.
The flavors present were shallow and lackluster and did little to mask a boring, weak body.
Charles Shaw tries to live up to its more popular and higher-caliber relatives from Napa, but ultimately ends up embarrassing itself while attempting to impress its audience, like a younger cousin at a Thanksgiving dinner. Definitely not a conversation wine, but wine nonetheless.
Additional notes:
Ryan: I think I have cork in my teeth.
Dan: After further inspection, this wine really came into its own on the fourth glass.
The previous glasses, which were largely composed of a watery taste and vapid character, now have a certain zest of flavor and a make my stomach warm. Letting the wine breathe has worked in its favor. The wine struggles in its nascent stage but makes great gains after half a bottle.
Nose: 2.5/5
Body: 2/5
Mouthfeel: 1/5
Taste: 1/5
Serve with Moulton Union’s Bust-a-Wrap Extravaganza. $2.99 at Trader Joe’s.