Rolling Estate Wines Shiraz 2005

I've realized that being a wine reviewer comes with certain disadvantages. As a blogger, I am required to try new wines on a regular basis, which means that if I come across one I really enjoy, I can't savor it. I need to move on and find new wines to satisfy the insatiable appetites of the demanding ball-breakers we kindly refer to as you, our fans. The end result here being that I spend quite a bit of time sampling mediocre wines I don't want to drink instead of enjoying great ones I've already discovered. And on that note, I move on to tonight's review: Rolling Estate Wines Shiraz 2005.

Now don't get me wrong. It's not a bad Shiraz. It's fruity, with a little bit of spice, a lovely color, and a rather pleasant although not altogether memorable finish, as the wineys say. But I can tell you right now that in a grocery store stocked full of wine, I will not seek out the Rolling Estate Wines Shiraz. And in a store that only sold two wines, one of which I'd never heard of, the other being Rolling Estate Wines Shiraz, I'd purchase the other wine. But only if it's under $10.

In fact, everything about this wine is uninspiring. Rolling Estate Wines? What a boring name for a vineyard. Why not call it something exciting, like, I dunno, Tsunami Apocalyptico Wines or The Land of Big Boobs Inc. Give me 10 seconds with a pencil and I guarantee I'll come up with a more exciting moniker. And the description on the back? "Named after the beautiful rolling hills of the Central Ranges in . . . " Snooze.

Let me just say that since we started this blog Australia has not shown us anything. We've sampled several Australian wines now and not one has risen above the level of mediocre. Perhaps that will change, but so far South America is kicking Australia's ass. I almost feel like I'm watching soccer.

Anyway, I give it 5 out of 10.

Wine.com, $9.79