A sexy drop of Mojo
Mojo.
The name just oozes seduction.
This is one of the best Shiraz’s I’ve had in a while. I discovered it at my local Vintage Cellar, after half an hour of indecisive roaming around the spirits, then the beer, and finally onto the wine section of the store. Just one of those days where my stomach was craving something cheeky to drink, but couldn’t decide specifically what it wanted.
Never fear! When faced with the uber challenging task of selecting but one bottle from many, I always end up falling back on this short, but fool-proof checklist:
#1: When in doubt, stick with Red- preferably Shiraz, or a Red Blend. (White is just too risky- it’s either too dry, too sweet, or it brings up bad recollections of the days where you opted for quantity, over quality. )
#2: If it comes from the Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale it’s probably a goer.
#3: A couple of gold star awards on the label never hurt.
#4: If the choice comes down to 2 bottles, pick the older one (e.g. 2008 over a 2011)
#5: If the manager is a legend and they recommend a particular bottle, trust their advice.
#6: Trust your eye. Wine label designs generally aim to capture the spirit and flavour of the bottle. Whether it be a funky label, or a simple one, if it appeals to you just roll with it.
If the wine you’re holding nails 4 or 5 of these points, it will probably be a winner.
That’s how I ended up purchasing Mojo by Rockbare. Grown in the beautiful Barossa, this oak-matured Shiraz packs a delicious, delicate punch. It’s flavour is quite complex; sweet and full-bodied, but very smooth on the tongue. It’s colour is a very dark, sexy purple, and the spirit runs nicely down the side of the glass, as all good wines should do.
I love the label as well – it’s quite clean on the front, but swivel the bottle a little and you’ll see some cool photography & drinkers’ feedback scribbled down in an artful way.
I’d recommend drinking this bottle with a dinner involving red meat, or a dessert that combines cherries and chocolate.
Little Tit-Bits:
Mojo is part of the Rockbare family, which also includes the Barossa Babe, and Rockbare itself. Check out their neat little website, which has a dedicated section on each. You can also access tasting notes, information about about their Cellar Door, learn about the interesting people who run their wineries, and order bottles online.
Something to try: the ‘Mojo Meal‘- the idea being that you can order a signature dish at various participating restaurants, that is specifically matched with either the Shiraz or the Sauvignon Blanc.
This wine is for the soul, and so you’ll need some soulful music to listen to. Winter Birds is a beautiful track by Ray LaMontagne, and it evokes poignant images of romance and in the country – the perfect setting to drink this wine in. ; )
