Ripe Australian Shiraz (14+% alcohol) has really distinct blueberry, it was a style heavily favoured by Robert Parker and really common in the early 2000s, but

Ripe Australian Shiraz (14+% alcohol) has really distinct blueberry, it was a style heavily favoured by Robert Parker and really common in the early 2000s, but it's tapering off now. Syrah, the same grape, from northern Rhone is cooler climate, lower alcohol and has more of a pepper profile. Grenache - I tyically drink Spanish Garnacha - has a crunchy berry profile in a young early drinking wine, but can get more interesting in pricier examples from Priorat etc. Grenache + Syrah (aka Shiraz) + Mourvèdre (GSM) is the southern Rhone blend, and is typically very high alcohol and quite opulent. I'm not much of a fan though. Mourvedre is fantastic stuff when done well. Mourvedre reminds me of Carignan, both make savoury / meaty wines. Domaine Tempier Bandol is a Mourvèdre-dominant blend and is absolutely delicious, my favourite example of it. Oak is a big part of really good wine. American oak, French oak and unoaked all produce very different wines. Typical Rioja has heavy American oak flavours, while e.g. red Burgundy typically has pronounced French oak.