With the name Red Rock Underarm you might think this is a pinot noir, but it is in fact a syrah or as it is known in Australia - shiraz. The name Underarm has nothing to do with sweaty armpits and is actually a reference to an infamous incident in the sporting history between New Zealand and Australia.
In a limited overs cricket game between the two nations on February 1st 1981, with one remaining ball to be bowled, and New Zealand needing 6 runs to tie the game, the Australian Captain Greg Chappell ordered the bowler (who happened to be his younger brother Trevor), to bowl an underarm ball thereby denying the New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie the opportunity to hit a six. In a recent interview Greg Chappell stated if he could change one decision in his life it would be ordering that underarm delivery.
As written on the label of the bottle "The Underarm is a friendly reminder to Australians of previous endeavours, and that Syrah now has a home across the ditch".
Shiraz is the mostly widely planted grape in Australia and considered the finest red wine grown there. The well known Penfolds Grange is made from shiraz grapes grown in the Barossa Valley and Southern Vales of South Australia.
Red Rock Underarm is made by Capricorn Estate a subsiduary of Craggy Range in the Hawkes Bay New Zealand. Craggy Range have created a fabulous winery complex in the Tukituki Valley where they produce single estate prestige wines. This stunning setting is also the home of their Terrior restaurant. If you are fortunate enough to dine there ask for a table by the window to experience the wonderful vistas. Capricorn produce the Red Rock and White Rock range which are marketed as quality premium wines at an affordable price ready for drinking now.
I served the Underarm 2003 vintage with a leg of lamb to which I added garlic, rosemary and lemon, drizzled it with lots of olive oil and sprinkled flakey Maldon salt over, and slow roasted in a 160C oven for a couple of hours.
The wine poured a deep rich ruby red from the bottle, had good legs and clung well to the side of the glass. The smell was spicy with liquorice, plum and lots of black pepper and just a hint of oak. My tastebuds are slightly affected from my chemotherapy treatments so I relied on Bryan for a tasting verdict. He being a Merlot lover, thought it would benefit from 12 months in the cellar. I thought it was everything a syrah should be and it was fine for drinking today.
Interestingly, he did comment it reminded him of the Te Awa Merlot. Maybe because they are both from the Gimblett Gravels region of Hawkes Bay he was tasting the earth it was grown in.
At NZ$23 from First Glass in Takapuna, I would happily buy this wine again. Next time I would buy several bottles, invite a couple of friends over, lay out some pepperoni pizzas, put Van Morrison on the stereo and sit back and enjoy the night. As we opened the third bottle we would move from Van to something a little more laid back - maybe Keb Mo. Then after everyone had gone home and while Bryan was doing the dishes, and because I had hidden all his Diane Krall CD's for the night, I would pour the last bit of wine into my glass, put Keb back in his cover and play a few tracks of Songs From The Front Porch by Michael Franti.
Capricorn Estate also produce exclusive label wines for selected clients internationally. In the UK and Australia they are available as the One Tree brand.
