Nine Stones, Barossa (South Australia, Australia) Shiraz 2007

($13, Vineyard Brands): The rich, almost chewy, full bodied wine has a softness with supple tannins which makes it easy to drink now.  Bold, but not particularly brawny, this Shiraz emphasizes straightforward plummy black fruit flavors rather than the peppery side often characteristic of that varietal.  It delivers a lot of bang for the buck for those who like the big, ripe style of Aussie Shiraz. 86 Michael Apstein Mar 3, 2009