Annie's Lane Shiraz 1998

By MICHELE CURTIS

You see a lot of Annie's Lane about.

Dinner party attendees must rush en route into bottle shops with the $20 price tag in mind, frantically looking for a sophisticated wine, or rather a wine that's not going to let the side down over dinner.

If you don't want to make a social fluff, the Annie's Lane Shiraz will fit the bill perfectly.

Not too expensive and show-offy, but more middle-of-the-road with a touch of style.

But the reason many dinner party guests fall for this wine is because of the design of the label that appeals to the unconfident wine buyer: the understated design reeks of finesse.

For your $20 you get a deep crimson drop with a plummy aroma. On the palate is sharp fruit, more plums with pepper and a touch of vanilla. In fact pretty much a classic shiraz with a hefty dose of alcohol.

There's a nice story about where the name Annie's Lane came from, all of which is revealed on the bottle's back label. If conversation should happen to dry up over dinner you've got somewhere to go.

And if you're lucky enough that your dinner party host/ess has cooked a nice steak, you're in for a good evening.

RRP $17.99
4 out of 5