Wine of the week: A lusty red Rambo

2008 Magpie Estate, The Sack Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia (£14.65, Noel Young Wines of Trumpington, 01223-566744).

I first met Noel Young around the time he started his company, some 20 years ago. We happened to be at a rather grim awards dinner and his black tie was already looking battle-worn midway through dinner. As it turned out, he picked up an important gong that evening and, by that stage, he looked like Rambo as he punched the air and gurned at the crowd. A star was born.

This independent merchant has racked up many of these awards for one reason only Noel has great taste. Noel and his brother Daniel are highly talented modern wine merchants, with a massive list. Noel also happens to make wine, too.

Start your trial of MoneyWeek today

Get unparalleled financial insight, analysis and expert opinion you can profit from.

Start your trial

Sign up for MoneyWeek’s free twice-daily newsletter.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Sign up

His Magpie Estate has a superb range of great value, precise wines, all loaded with flair and excitement. The Sack Shiraz is a lusty, brooding, damson-soaked, cinnamon-spiked red with immense appeal and a price tag that should be double.

Other stars are the 2008 Fakir Grenache, 2009 The Call Bag Mourvdre/Grenache, 2010 The Mixed Thing (an incredible and exotic red blend which is the leader in its field) and the flamboyant, top cuvee, 2009 The Election Shiraz. I would urge you to buy a mixed case of these star wines.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year (www.matthewjukes.com).