Over the past few days, I’ve had the chance to try two Australian Shirazes—both at everyday wine prices. But their elegance could easily rival a French bottle. Peppery notes, violets, blueberries, raspberries. The fruit and floral aromas are wrapped in a subtle creaminess. The tannins are refined and soft, with a delightful acidity. Paired with some nutty rice cakes, a bottle disappeared before I even noticed.
by Beginning-Ice-535
10 Comments
I spent a lot of time in Australia and a good Shiraz is one of my favorite things in the world. There are so many there. It’s hard to get the good ones in the US though. The Molly Dooker ones are pretty good and of course the high end Penfolds.
EDIT: I nabbed a Torbreck Struie at my local Total Wine last weekend but don’t see it there often.
There has been a marked shift nationwide towards that style, yes, but also those wines are from naturally cooler climates that tend to produce more elegant styles. Lots of Yarra producers actually label as Syrah.
Barossa and Mclaren Vale producers, on average, are still bigger, bolder, more full throttle styles, but most regions in Victoria will be more on the spicy, peppery side of things.
I am madly in love with Tournon’s portfolio of wines!
If you can get your hands on Hewitson, he has a lovely delicate touch with all of the Barossa concentration. Very euro inspired
This one is Delish.
You’ll notice the regions they come from aren’t Barossa or McLaren Vale etc.
Cool climate Aussie Shiraz/Syrah is more akin to Rhone, and very elegant.
I’m lucky enough to live a short drive from this vineyard, though I haven’t tried this specific one. The terroir around Coldstream, Healesville and Gruyere in particular is fantastic. Oakridge is the winery of the bunch imho, their sparkling Pinot noir/Chardonnay blend named Ovata is worth so much more than the $25 AUD (about $16 USD) I pay
If you get the opportunity try and find some Clonakilla Shiraz,
It’s a cool climate style, owing to the Canberra wine regions altitude, 500-800 metres. The flagship Shiraz Viognier, inspired by Cote Rotie, is one of the best wines in Australia.
It’s a great benefit to Australian wine buyers that when it comes to Shiraz, Americans seem only to know about Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.
I live in Australia and have purchased 300+ bottles of Shiraz over the last decade.
85% are from regions including Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, the Yarra Valley and the Grampians in Victoria, and Margaret River and the Great Southern in Western Australia.
Only 15 % have come from South Australia – mostly McLaren Vale (Marius and Yangarra), with less than 8 bottles from the Barossa.
I appreciate Americans may face a lack of choice due to a mixture of distribution, stereotypes and preferences for domestic and old world wine, but there is just so much great Shiraz in many different styles in Australia, it seems odd to be restricted to two regions.
Shouldn’t be surprising that a wine made by M Chapoutier would be more French in style!