Wine Pick: Heartland Spice Trader Shiraz Cabernet 2013

Partner this rich red with a casual burger or retro meatloaf—meat, basically

Partner this rich red with a casual burger or retro meatloaf—meat, basically

Two dynamic NFL matchups (Go Seahawks) and the Australian Open make a juicy sports weekend ahead. To celebrate the Down-Under tourney, consider laying in a few bottles of this bold and Aussie-brash red blend, made by winemaker Ben Glaetzer.  It’s perfect for a casual weekend meal of deluxe smoky bacon-wrapped meatloaf, or Moroccan roast chicken.Flat, sunny and windy, South Australia’s Langhorne Creek is a red grape specialty area.  First planted to grapes over 150 years ago, full-flavoured varieties like shiraz and cabernet ripen here to generous suppleness, with juicy freshness courtesy of daily cooling southern breezes.  Ben Glaetzer has woven even amounts of shiraz and cab together and then casked the wine in French and American oak for a gloss of vanilla and toasty flavours.  Deep crimson in the glass, glorious dark fruit aromas flecked with cracked pepper and menthol give way to a lush palate of plums, currants, and mocha.Heartland Spice Trader Shiraz Cabernet 2013 | Australia, $17.99 | +685735