When I got the email from the public relations representative asking if I wanted to try AC/DC wine, my reaction was instant. Yes! Absolutely! But that’s not because I expected it to be stellar wine, it just sounded like a fun thing to try. In fact, I didn’t have high expectations for the wine itself. I wanted it to rock. Seriously. I wanted to be able to come to this site and tell you that AC/DC wines kick ass. But, unfortunately, that’s not what happened.
The wine is OK. It’s not awesome. It’s not great. But it’s not horrible. It’s just OK. But, I guess, that’s OK. Because that’s not why you buy AC/DC wine. You don’t buy a bottle of AC/DC Back in Black shiraz to serve with your filet mignon, thinking it’s going to be the best red wine you’ve ever tasted. No… you buy it because it’s fun. You buy it because it’s cool. And that’s fine, because part of enjoying a bottle of wine is the total experience. Sure, you want the juice inside the bottle to be tasty, but if seeing Angus Young on a bottle of wine makes you happy and adds to the overall experience for you, then great!
There are actually a number of rock bands with their own wine brands now. Iron Maiden, Ratt, Motorhead and KISS all have wines bearing their band names. And celebrity association with wines is even more widespread. Some just license their name to a wine, some are investors in vineyards and some, like Maynard James Keenan from Tool, get really hands on with the winemaking process. As far as I can tell, the boys in AC/DC didn’t really get involved in the making of this wine as it was made by Warburn Estate.
AC/DC Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc
My favorite thing about this wine is the back label, which reads, “When Australia’s number one white wine — Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, get’s together with a rock powerhouse…” OK, wait a minute. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is Australia’s number one white wine? But Marlborough is in New Zealand, a totally different country. Who did the fact checking for this label? Regardless of the poor world geography skills, I still wanted this wine to rock.
The nose of this wine is on the subtle side for a sauvignon blanc, although it does show some lime, celery, light tropical fruit and mineral aromatics. On the palate it tastes like a watered down sauvignon blanc, with the right flavors but a lack of concentration. It offers mostly green apple and citrus flavors. The aciditiy is good, giving it a nice pucker. The finish is rather quick. It’s not a bad wine, it’s just not a great one.
Wine: AC/DC Hells Bells
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 12%
Rating: 84
Price: $17.99
Find AC/DC Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth
AC/DC Back in Black Shiraz
The first thing I noticed about this wine is that the color isn’t as dense as I would expect from a shiraz, it’s a little bit light. The nose is pleasant and offers plum, cherry and chocolate aromas. The palate is slightly tart and slightly sweet, with fresh, ripe fruit flavors like plum and cherry. It’s a little bitter on the finish. Overall, it’s a simple wine that’s drinkable, but nothing special.
Wine: AC/DC Back in Black
Variety: Shiraz
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 83
Price: $17.99
Find AC/DC Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
Dear Tim,
I am thinkin’ that when someone writes “Australia’s number one white wine..” most Aussie readers would infer that to mean it is the top selling white wine in Australia, irrespective of origin. Marlborough sav-blanc might well wear the Guernsey on that!!
Anyway, I ended up on your site lookin’ for the AC/DC 2012 Shiraz. I was just given one as a gift and, like you, thought, “Oh, a bit of fun!” The 2010 cops bad reviews online, you are calling so-so on the 2011, so was wondering about the 2012?
Anyway, hang in there son!
Waz Wallaby