Mr Riggs The Gaffer 2007 McLaren Vale Shiraz

"Call me Gaffer me old son"

Most wines are purchased based on their label. For this reason wineries strive to create a label that will attract the consumer's attention enough to take it off the shelf and to accompany them on their journey home or to their favourite BYO. This simple black and white label depicts a man who appears to be somewhat of a ruffian, the kind that might lend you money in the darkest corners of that pub that no-one goes to. Is this the case? Well you have to pick it up and read the back label. Research indicates that once someone has read the back label of a bottle of wine they are usually engaged enough to buy it.

This didn't happen in my case. I was feeling somewhat rough and dusty after winning this weekend's worst handyman award for making retaining walls and steps that don't meet. I was thus inclined to buy several bottles of wine in the hope that it may improve my carpentry skills or at least allow me to forget where the back yard was and therefore the monstrosit I had created. It didn't work. The wine, however, was a nice distraction.

Made by famed Mclaren Vale winemaker Ben Riggs under his own label, the wine is a tribute to his Great Great Great Grandfather John "The Gaffer" Riggs who was a medal winning wheat farmer. Not a ruufian as far as I know.

The Nose is earthy with crushed leaf and spice. There is big alcohol in this wine (15%) but there isn't that alcohol heat on the nose or palate.

There is that typical Mclaren Vale edge of sweetness, which shifts into flavours of white pepper, camphor, and nutmeg. The flavours are more spice than berry, suggesting a more sophisticated wine that is Ben's trademark. Ben looks like he played for the Wallabies and makes wines to suit. Enjoy this with pepper steak medium rare and keep a sprig of wheat and a football nearby. Forget the spirit level and hammer, they will only lead to frustration.

I paid $19.99 last week - worth the money, and Mr Ben Riggs donates money from this wine to breat cancer research. That's gentleman's work there me old gaffer.