McCauley’s Journey Shiraz 2004
I volunteered to try out the Virgin Wines online service which is relatively new to the UK but follows Virgin’s usual business model of finding a maturing market and trying to take a new angle on it. The only trouble is that I can’t work out what the new angle actually is.
In terms of the mature market, the Wine Society has been trading for yonks. Laithwaites has been marketing wines brilliantly for decades. Berry Bros & Rudd have the posh end of the market. Where is the new angle? As far as I can tell Virgin is marketing wine to the masses. The unwashed proletariat? Well okay then, maybe just inexperienced wine buyers.
Whatever! McCauley’s Journey Western Australia Shiraz turned out to be a top wine.
There is a heady aroma of glacé cherries and vanilla but the taste is more dry autumn leaves, cinnamon, rich fruitcake. Not too jammy. Not too overpriced (at less than £10).
One of the best Oz Shiraz’s I have ever tasted (I’ve tasted some ropey ones).
Virgins 1 – 0Â Slappers.
January 4th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I’m a bit confused. I though Virgin Wines was one of the first wine e-tailers, not a johnny-come-lately as you’re implying here. Seems it was founded in 2000. The other merchants you mention were all doing business before that, but not via the web while Virgin was/is web only.
Ifyou want to find a ‘new business model’ wine seller, take a look at at http://www.vinappris.com
January 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
And it’s just been reduced to £5 a bottle.