wine shiraz and blends - drinks trade of 170 samples between shiraz and shiraz dominant blends, for...
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Wine list
Out of all the varieties, shiraz is arguably Australia’s wine powerhouse. With a total just shy of 170 samples between shiraz and shiraz dominant blends, for the first time the panel was split over two days. The first panel tasted wines from South Australia (which accounted for roughly half of the total submissions) while panel number two tasted wines from all other regions. Rob Geddes MW led the discussion. Report by Maurizio Corda.
Shiraz and blends
What the panel were looking forComplexity of aromatics and well-balanced wines with a medium to full structure, medium-firm finish and a little bit of fruit refreshment. More expensive price points will require structure, line, length and tannin. What might impress the consumer is that some $20 to $40 wines have a cellaring potential that can embarrass wines from the higher price categories ($60+). Other delectable characteristics are natural fruit, brightness and freshness. Less oak can make the wine prettier and with better acidity.
Comments from the panelOverall, the panel was very pleased with the quality and range of wines submitted. The first South Australia bracket contained good commercial wines that didn’t show “huge amounts of faults,” according to Scott. “The wines were simple and fruity, although some of them need more complex flavours,” he added. Lisa outlined the lack of regional variation in the lower price points: “Some stood out, but in general they were pretty much generic shiraz varietal. However, some were really approachable drinkable wines,” she said. Clive noticed a “lack of food friendly wines, but many crowd pleasers; the majority of the market will love them.” Everyone agreed that 2010 was a very good vintage. “Winemakers had very good fruit to play with,” said David. Another interesting find was that no brand tried to emulate the European style at this price point. In summary, Rob noted: “Positives: much better fruit definition with a great 2010 vintage. Negatives: the wines can be a bit generic but are overall pleasant.”
For the higher price points, regionality became increasingly important. Wines from the second bracket were “easier on the mouth than the first bracket,” and a lot of praise went to the 2008s. While
the Limestone Coast and Coonawarra showed their typical minty and leafy characteristics, the Clare Valley surprised the panel with its lift and balance. “The Clare Valley wines weren’t as jammy as expected, there was more lift,” said Lisa. Scott added: “Clare wines had a lovely balanced palate.” Australia’s shiraz powerhouse the Barossa Valley was described by Clive as producing “lovely consumer driven wines.” “David added: “To me, the problem with shiraz is that Barossa is almost too big,” he said. “I found McLaren Vale’s sweet spice very attractive. I’ve also noticed some regionality coming from Langhorne Creek,” added Clive, concluding our first tasting day.
Much of the discussion on day two was around regionality. The panel noticed a lack of big Victorian wines. “In terms of regionality, people aren’t getting the difference,” said Danielle. “There’s a slow memorability,” added Aaron. “If people get a ripe Orange shiraz they want to remember it. It’s all about getting people back to the cellar door. It’s a great platform for the winery to tell the stories behind the brand and the wine. Anything that communicates that sort of message is positive; it gives a sense of place.” Rob agreed, stating that “when someone visits a region, they’ve already made the decision. Good winemakers come and go, the region stays the same.”
Michael was very pleased with the middle-priced categories. “The middle-priced categories were excellent value for money. Most affordable $20 wines were exceptional, with complexity and balance,” he said. “The best wines had purity of fruit, with a measured handling of oak, firm but not dominant tannins, mid-weight palate, not overt or jammy,” said Aaron. “There was great quality in the Hunter Valley from 2007 to 2010 which was very impressive. Great acidity, bright fruit and pure drinkability,” he added.
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Zeppelin Single Vineyard Shiraz 2010RRP: $19
Region: Barossa Valley
Distributed by: Echelon Wine Partners
Notes: Notes of banana, caramel, pepper and black
cherry on the nose; intense, complex and
fruit driven; earthy and luscious with thick
soft tannins and a good, warming length.
Hardys HRBD646 Shiraz 2008RRP: $25.99
Region: McLaren Vale
Distributed by: Accolade Wines
Notes:Deep ink in colour, it shows dry berries with
big oak and christmas cake notes on the nose,
followed by a medium bodied palate of sweet
fruit, cedar oak, leather, sweet vanilla; has depth
of fruit, rich structure, good balance, medium
intensity and medium length; supple and fresh.
Metala Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2008RRP: $27
Region: Langhorne Creek
Distributed by: Treasury Wine Estates
Notes:The nose displays minty notes, jammy cherry,
and dried herbs; a dry, medium-bodied wine that
is lip-licking and warm; lifted jam, liquorice and
black fruit flavours; well-developed spicy, earthy
and cedary characters; displays a well-balanced,
savoury profile; elegant with massive length.
The panel selection was as follows:
Class 1: South Australia
Kangarilla Road Charlie’s Blend Red 2010RRP: $15
Region: McLaren Vale
Distributed by: Bacchus Wine Merchants,
NSW/ACT/QLD; Muster Wine Co,
SA; Wine Profile, TAS; Nelson Wine
Company, VIC; Terra Wines, WA
Notes:Nose of sweet, rich dark cherries with
a green olive edge; mid-length palate of
dark fruits with slight bitterness; some
aged oaky notes with soft tannins; a good,
modern, dry style; a crowd pleaser.
Chateau Tanunda Barossa Tower Shiraz 2010RRP: $18
Region: Barossa Valley
Distributed by: Chateau Tanunda Estate Wines
Notes:An exotic nose with some ripe plum and
minerality; a generous and complex palate;
firm but with some juicy shiraz fruit; a long
and balanced finish with some lovely tannins
and dry oak; a rich, traditional style.
Taylors Estate Shiraz 2010RRP: $18.95
Region: Clare Valley
Distributed by: Taylors Wines
Notes:A minty, herbal nose with lifted pretty floral
notes; a well-integrated smooth palate
with juicy sweet fruits and blackberry jam;
nicely exotic and ripe with a mineral edge;
good tannins and nice oak flavour.
Lisa Johnston, Wine educator, writer and wine business consultant
Clive Hartley, course director and senior wine teacher, Sydney Wine Academy.
Scott McWilliam, winemaker, McWilliam’s Wines.
Rob Geddes, Master of Wine, wine writer, author of Australian Wine Vintages.
The Panel
David Madew, fine wine manager, Dan Murphy’s.
Aaron Brasher, regional director - Australia and emerging markets, Wine Australia
Michael Hatcher, general manager – winemaker, Hungerford Hill Wines.
Ashley Pini, Editor – drinks trade.
Danielle Kennedy, Sales and marketing manager - Camperdown Cellars.
Denis Gastin, wine writer, wine educator and wine judge.
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Wine list
Wynns V&A Lane Shiraz 2010RRP: $60
Region: Coonawarra
Distributed by: Treasury Wine Estates
Notes: Lovely concentrated mint and pepper aromas;
an elegant, well balanced palate with pepper,
black cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and complex
sandalwood oak spice; a fresh and vibrant
wine that is young and clean; lovely tannins
and good length; finishes firm and dry.
Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2008RRP: $90
Region: Barossa Valley
Distributed by: Four Seasons Fine Wines
Notes: Pure blackberry fruit compote; deeply ripe with
a lovely tannin grip; notes of Christmas cake;
soft mid-palate with plenty of fruit; subtle and
delicate medium-bodied front; lavish and powerful
with a lovely tannin finish; will age gracefully.
Hardy & Sons Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2007RRP: $103.99
Region: McLaren Vale
Distributed by: Accolade Wines
Notes:A deep, savoury nose with hints of leather;
sweet with powerful and supple mid-palate
fruit; notes of minty cloves and blackberry;
sticky but fresh with great fruit weight for a
2007 vintage; rich dark berry and mocha oak;
red and black cherry, lovely dried herb edge,
lots of balanced American oak; lovely ripe black
fruit flavours on the middle palate; very fine
tannins; a lovely fresh wine for the future.
Wynns Michael Shiraz 2009RRP: $130
Region: Coonawarra
Distributed by: Treasury Wine Estates
Notes:Exotic plum and black berry flavours and lots
of silky fine tannins; spicy dark fruits and
complex subtle oak; very long mid palate
with a lovely delicate and refined finish; full
bodied, dry and youthful; well-structured
and elegant; will age extremely well.
Killibinbin Shiraz 2008RRP: $30
Region: Langhorne Creek
Distributed by: Mezzanine Wine Distribution
Notes:Minty, cedary and blackberry notes on the
nose are followed by a mouthful of dried herbs,
berries and christmas cake; huge berry flavours
and sweetness; concentrated and smooth with
good fruit length; rich soft tannins; a herbal,
acidic and savoury expression that develops
nicely; a full-bodied offering with excellent
length of palate that is drinking extremely well.
Yalumba Hand Picked Shiraz Viognier 2009RRP: $36.95
Region: Eden Valley
Distributed by: Samuel Smith & Son
Notes:Lovely delicate sweet aromas of cloves, black
cherry and raspberry and some floral notes;
the palate is light but complex, lifted with good
black fruit; youthful, silky and delicate with
lovely tannins; well-integrated viognier provides
a lift and the typical viognier apricot finish.
Jim Barry Pb Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2006RRP: $50
Region: Clare Valley
Distributed by: Samuel Smith & Son
Notes:Elegant, balanced vanilla and floral notes on
the nose are followed by earthy, cinnamon and
blackberry flavours; excellent, complex lift and
lovely fruit; some lovely aged notes with fresh
fruits; A long and wonderful classic old style,
with big, ripe oak; smooth and intense with
a long berry fruit finish; a great food wine.
Taylors St Andrews Shiraz 2006RRP: $60
Region: Clare Valley
Distributed by: Taylors Wines
Notes: Great varietal definition; a lovely mature wine
with cedar aromas with a floral edge; the palate is
full of silky plum, chocolate, blackberry, jam and
clove flavours; some lovely complex aged notes
and an excellent sweet, long finish; a warm and
smooth wine that is gracefully holding its age.
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Class 2: South Eastern Australia
McWilliam’s Inheritance Shiraz Merlot 2010 RRP: $6.99
Region: South Eastern Australia
Distributed by: McWilliam’s Wines
Notes: A complex blend that is long and lingering;
inky, plum, with a spicy and overt oak
aroma; forward sweetness with added
tannin; notes of red berries, spice and
pepper; plummy, spicy, juicy and round with
long cherry oak; good quaffi ng wine.
[yellow tail] Reserve Shiraz 2010RRP: $14.99
Region: South Eastern Australia
Distributed by: Casella Wines
Notes:Rich and powerful, with notes of oak and dark
fruit spice and plum; rich and spicy, with long,
fi rm tannins; a solid wine; strong aromas of
vanilla and cola essence; complex for the price;
dry with good length and some bitterness.
Class 3: New South Wales
Westend Estate Cool Climate Series Shiraz 2010RRP: $15
Region: Hilltops
Distributed by: Westend Estate, NSW/ACT/
QLD/NT; WestAust Liquor Distributors, WA;
Calabria Wines, SA; Vintners Merchants,
VIC; David Johnstone & Associates, TAS
Notes:Soft, smooth and rich; a very complex wine
with nice balance; enjoyable, with lifted spice;
perfumed with elegant red/blue fruit; good acid,
fi rm tannins; bright, cool, sweet and syrupy.
Cumulus Rolling Shiraz 2010RRP: $18
Region: Central Ranges
Distributed by: Cumulus Wines
Notes: Good concentration of fruit; good cool
climate characteristics of clean fruit and
fi rm structure; subtle and elegant with rich
dark fruits; fi rm and long with good acid;
pleasant tamarillo fruit fl avour and a pretty fruit
compote; very complete, with soft tannins.
Thomas Wines Sweetwater Shiraz 2010RRP: $35
Region: Hunter Valley
Distributed by: Robert Oatley Vineyards
Notes:Complex and savoury; classy with a good soft
middle palate and generous fl avour; sustained
oak tannin fi nish; nicely balanced palate with
subtle tannins and good acidity; mid-weight
layered with a pretty perfume and long fi rm,
balanced tannins; thoughtfully constructed.
Hungerford Hill Collection Shiraz 2010RRP: $45
Region: Hunter Valley
Distributed by: Domaine Wine Shippers, NSW/
VIC/WA/QLD; George Street Wines, SA/NT
Notes: Spicy, berry fruit with hints of smoke; good
earthy oak; bright and complex; beautifully
dense; ssoft, rich and balanced with long
fl avours; has a cool, savoury element with oak
spice and peppery characters; soft palate; light
to medium bodied with a clean, fi ne fi nish.
Tyrrell’s Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet 2009RRP: $91
Region: Hunter Valley, Hilltops
Distributed by:Tyrrell’s Wines
Notes:Savoury spices with a strong sense of fruit;
savoury oak with a great middle palate and good
depth of fl avour; good long tannins; complex;
very smooth and fresh, but also soft and pleasant
with layers of fl avour; mouth-watering. Rich,
round and structured; bright long and textured.;
lots of concentrated ripe berry and plum aromas
with a smoky undertone; a powerful wine.
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Class 5: Western Australia <b>
Goundrey Vineyards Homestead Shiraz 2010RRP: $16.99
Region: Western Australia
Distributed by: Accolade Wines
Notes: Lifted red fruit with a brown spice edge to the
aroma; big palate texture with clean acid; Good
complex notes from char barrels and nice fruit
tannins; slightly green, with a good backbone
and acid structure; rich and spicy showing blue
fruits; textured and well-structured; layered with
bright fruit; a very smart wine with zippy acid.
Amberley Wines Shiraz 2011RRP: $18.99
Region: Western Australia
Distributed by: Accolade Wines
Notes: Good colour and hue with red fruit aromas and
hints of liquorice; great fruit profi le of bright, red/
blue fruits and spice; perfumed and rich; textured
and mouth-fi lling; notes of strawberry jam;
bright and clean with chewy tannins. Complex,
with good colour and texture; will age well.
Voyager Estate Shiraz 2010RRP: $38
Region: Margaret River
Distributed by: Déjà Vu Wines
Notes:Glossy colour; very pretty and perfumed with
good fl oral notes; complex with good richness
and texture; a citrus/orange lifted wine that
is bright, fl eshy and juicy; mid-weight with
fi rm tannins; a rich and elegant wine.
Marchand & Burch Wines Australian Collection Shiraz 2008RRP: $65
Region: Margaret River
Distributed by: Marchand & Burch
Wines, WA/SA; Cogito Wines, NSW/
ACT/QLD; Wineorder, VIC
Notes: Good concentrated raspberry fruit; rich palate
with layers of fruit and good intensity; nice
dense plum, ripe berry fruits with spice;
perfumes of soft prunes; Lovely complex
depth and a fi rm fi nish; great length.
Class 4: Victoria
Under & Over Shiraz 2010RRP: $12.99
Region: Heathcote
Distributed by: Echelon Wine Partners
Notes:Very deep crimson hue; surprisingly rich
and concentrated for the price; big and
pleasing; juicy licorice fl avours with structured
fi rm tannins; balanced; good length.
Balgownie Estate Shiraz 2009RRP: $45
Region: Bendigo
Distributed by: Domaine Wine Shippers,
NSW/VIC/ACT/WA/SA; DWS Tasmania, TAS
Notes: Deeply complex with notes of savoury, oak,
fruit and cedar; lovely middle palate; good
line of tannins; great balance and cellaring
style; dark, dense and inky; rich and fi rm with
chewy, crumbly tannins; intense and big.
Brown Brothers Patricia Shiraz 2008 RRP: $55
Region: King Valley, Bendigo
Distributed by: Brown Brothers
Notes:A very appealing bouquet; a classical shiraz with
leafy, elegant fl avours including plum, mint and
menthol; fi rm, long and textured’ dark fruits
layer with pepper and spice; a juicy, rich texture
with fi ne oak integration; great oak with a big
middle palate; an old-fashioned cellaring wine.
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