Two Buck Chuck Rules Supreme!!!
I'm sure many of you have heard about two buck chuck. The (in)famous massive bottlings of wine under the label Charles Shaw that sell for $1.99 here in the USA. I must admit to having never tasted any of these wines, but I guess in the interests of the taste experience I will now have to do so. Why? Well the Charles Shaw 2002 Californian Shiraz has won double gold at the 28th Annual International Eastern Wine Competition. To be honest I've never heard of this wine show (I don't take much notice of wine shows in the US). But if you run down the list of participants you find some interesting names; 1999 Penfolds St Henri is in the shiraz costing more than $15 class. Only got silver! Guess I'd better throw all mine out and stock up on 2 buck.

The wines up against the two buck shiraz and how they faired are listed below.

SYRAH/SHIRAZ TO $15

DOUBLE GOLD
Jacob's Creek (AUS), 2001 Shiraz Reserve, South Eastern Australia, 28600 cases, $12.99, 0.2 rs
Charles Shaw Winery (CA), 2002 Shiraz, California, $1.99, 0.4 rs
Woodbridge Winery (CA), 1999 Syrah Winemakers Selection, Lodi, 0 cases, $14.00, 0.08 rs

GOLD
Barefoot Cellars (CA), Syrah, 2000 cases, $5.99, 0.3 rs
Black Swan (AUS), 2002 Shiraz, Southeastern Australia, $8.00, 0.47 rs
Cedar Creek Winery (WI), 2002 Syrah, American, 770 cases, $15.00, 0 rs
Coastal Ridge Winery (CA), 2001 Shiraz, $6.99, 0.35 rs

SILVER
Forest Glen Winery (CA), 2001 Shiraz Oak Barrel Selection, $9.99, 0.4 rs
Hahn Estates (CA), 2002 Syrah, Central Coast, 7800 cases, $12.00, 0 rs
Ironstone Vineyards (CA), 2001 Leaping Horse Shiraz, Lodi, 10000 cases, $6.00, 0.37 rs
Jacob's Creek (AUS), 2002 Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, 156000 cases, $8.99, 0.1 rs
Kangaroo Ridge (AUS), 2002 Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, $7.00, 0.73 rs
Lindemans (AUS), 2002 Reserve Shiraz, South Australia, $15.00, 0 rs
Marquee (AUS), 2002 Classic Shiraz, South East Australia, 1500 cases, $11.95, 0.02 rs
McWilliam's Wines (AUS), 2002 McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Shiraz, Southeastern Australia, $11.00, 0.55 rs
Pacific Peak (CA), 2001 Shiraz, 5527 cases, $5.00, 0.29 rs
Post Familie Vineyard (AR), 2003 Syrah, Amer., 277 cases, $15.00, 0.5 rs
Rosemount Estates, Inc. (AUS), 2002 Diamond Shiraz, Diamond, $12.00, 0 rs
Round Hill Winery (CA), 2002 Shiraz, 8925 cases, $8.99, 0.12 rs
Six Hands Winery (CA), 2002 Syrah, Clarksburg Estate, 100 cases, $11.50, 0.02 rs
St. George Coastal (CA), 2001 Shiraz, California, 10000 cases, $7.99, 0.2 rs
WineHaven Winery & Vineyard (MN), 2001 Syrah, 220 cases, $14.00, 0.1 rs
Wyndham Estat (AUS), 2002 Bin 555 Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, 10000 cases, $9.99, 0.65 rs

BRONZE
Abarbanel Wine Co., LLC (FR), 2002 Syrah, Vins De Pays, DeL'aude, $16.50, 0 rs
Canyon Road (CA), 2002 Shiraz
Cellars Crest (CA), 2002 Syrah, Napa County, 2147 cases, $12.00, 0.12 rs
Chateau Diana Winery (CA), 2001 Shiraz, 353 cases, $4.99, 0.09 rs
Clos du Lac Cellars (CA), 2001 Syrah, Sierra Foothills, Amador County, 600 cases, $12.00, 0.25 rs
Gordon Brothers Cellars (WA), 2001 Syrah, Columbia Valley, 2700 cases, $14.99, 0 rs
J. Lohr Winery (CA), 2001 Estates South Ridge Syrah, Paso Robles, 12000 cases, $15.00, 0.22 rs
JW Dover Inc. Heartland Vineyards (OH), 2002 Syrah, 70 cases, $7.99, 0 rs
Kendall-Jackson Winery (CA), 2001 Vintner's Reserve Syrah, 200 cases, $12.00, 0.14 rs
Lindemans (AUS), 2003 Shiraz, Eastern Australia, $8.00, 0 rs
Madison (CA), 2002 Shiraz, 800 cases, $8.99, 0 rs
Redwood Creek (CA), 2002 Syrah, $7.99, 0.85 rs
Sterling Vineyards (CA), 2002 Vintner's Collection Shiraz, Central Coast, 25000 cases, $12.00, 0 rs
Summerfield (CA), 2001 Syrah
Turning Leaf (CA), 2002 Syrah/Shiraz, $8.00, 0.6 rs
Woodbridge Winery (CA), 2001 Syrah, 0 cases, $8.25, 0.01 rs


Don't worry about not being able to get any two buck. I hear there's enough for a couple of dozen for everyone. But it might cost you - like $2.20 or $2.50 per bottle. Why not $1.99? Well its going to be popular after this, isn't it! Its even featured on the eRobertParker.com forum.

What does the rs mean? percentage residual sugar.