Nugan Estate Riverina Single Vineyard Scruffy’s Shiraz 2015

Nugan’s 2015 Single Vineyard Scruffy’s Shiraz is anything but scruffy or even hard around the edges. Named for Nugan’s Shiraz Vineyard Manager, the 2015 Scruffy’s Shiraz shines from the moment it is poured. This a deep purple potion that offers spicy blackberry, cherry, and currant aromas infused with hints of violet flowers and Asian spices to woo the taster. The wine’s beautiful olfactory carries through on the palate, where it offers a mélange of succulent dark berry and fruit flavors, dried flowers, and delicate spice tones. Silky soft in the mouth but never flabby, this Shiraz exhibits just the right amount of gentle ripe tannins to seal the deal. In short, the 2015 Scruffy’s Shiraz over-delivers in every respect, offering the class and breed one normally associates with the finer Syrah-based wines from France’s Rhône Valley. Enjoy Nugan’s handcrafted small bunch single vineyard 2015 Scruffy’s Shiraz at cool room temperature (60°-64° F).

Nugan’s sustainably-made 2015 Single Vineyard Scruffy’s Shiraz cuts a fine figure with nearly any accompaniment. The wine’s soft, well-integrated tannins lend themselves to pairing with beef, lamb, poultry, pork, Pho noodle soups, Thai curries, and more. A plate of grilled chicken with a balsamic glaze, orzo, farro, zucchini, red peppers and grilled asparagus makes a first-rate companion. Beef medallions served over sour cream mashed potatoes with root vegetables will allow Nugan’s generous 2015 Scruffy’s Shiraz to shine as well. Lamb kebobs, caramelized pork spareribs, and white meat chicken curry with coconut milk, onions, and bamboo shoots cooked in Thai yellow curry make our mouths water, too. Simple vegetarian dishes and southern Italian specialties provide additional choices to serve with Nugan’s charming Scruffy’s Shiraz.

Nugan Estate is a third generation family owned and run winery. It began as a humble fruit and vegetable business in 1940 under the guidance of the estate’s founder, Alfredo Nugan, who had recently emigrated from Spain. Alfredo Nugan, however, had a clear vision for his family in Australia and quickly gained success and a reputation for outstanding quality, service, and innovation – qualities he passed along to his son Ken, Ken’s wife Michelle, and his grandchildren Mathew and Tiffany who now run the estate. With the next generation and Australia’s burgeoning wine industry, the leap from quality produce to fine wine was a natural one, which turns out to be the same path trodden by many of California’s leading wineries, many of which began their ascent with fruits and vegetables.

Today, Nugan Estate is the 18th largest vineyard holder in Australia with more than 2,500 acres of vines, and it remains entirely family owned – a rarity in Australia where large corporations dominate the wine industry. In addition to this month’s feature, the highly acclaimed 2015 Single Vineyard Scruffy’s Shiraz, Nugan fashions exceptional Dried Grape Shiraz in the style of Italy’s Amarone and an award winning Chardonnay in the estate’s Frasca Lane Chardonnay. Nugan’s vineyards are in prized areas of McLaren Vale, South Australia and Riverina, New South Wales. Each of Nugan’s estate and single vineyard wines are fermented in small batches and handcrafted.