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Shiraz
A Taste of Australian Wine
'Shiraz'
by Gavin Trott
This is Australia’s highest profile wine style, and
arguably its best red wine. The grape is believed to have come to Australia
first from its home, Hermitage in the Rhone area of France many years ago. Some
believe, again arguably, that due to extensive re-planting in France due to
Phylloxera, our older vineyards are more like Hermitage used to be, than that
region is today. Some vineyards of Chateau Tahbilk for instance date back over
100 years unchanged (and small amounts of wine are still made from these old
grapes.)
What is not in doubt however is that Shiraz is the best and best
known red wine of Australia. It is the most widely grown red grape variety,
grown in almost all regions, and makes the most recognised Australian wines in
the world market such as Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace amongst others. In
addition it is used in blends with many other grapes, as well as being used
extensively in the Fortified wines of Australia, most notably our Vintage Port
styles.
Through all of this and in almost every climate, Shiraz makes
quality wine. It rarely needs or receives the same volume of new oak as
Cabernet, it can be delicious and fruity when young, but can mellow with up to
20 or 30 years in the cellar into magnificent wine showing earthy, velvety,
almost sweet fruit characters.
The aromas and flavours of Shiraz vary
with wine style and region, but are usually blackberry, plums, and pepper in
varying degrees dependent on growing conditions. In addition, even more
regionally based, we can find liquorice, tar even, and bitter chocolate and
mocha. Climate affects these with the warmer climates providing the plums and
chocolate (Barossa) and the cooler climates giving more of the pepper
(Victoria).
Below is a list of some of the Australian regions producing
quality Shiraz wines, plus some labels to watch out for from those regions.
Naturally there will be many that I have missed, and this is not meant to be a
definitive list, but if you try these wines you will find quality, and discover
some of those flavours for yourself (with apologies to other regions and
producers I have missed).
Cool
Climate
Victoria
Mt Langi
Ghiran
Seppelt Great Western
Bests Great Western
Western
Australia
Cape Mentelle
Vasse Felix
Warm
Climate
Barossa Valley
Rockfords Basket
Press
St Hallett Old Block
Charles
Melton
Elderton
Henschke
Grange
McLaren
Vale
Eileen
Hardy
Coriole
Seaview
Woodstock
Clare
Leasingham
Bin 61 and Classic Clare
Wendouree
Tim Adams
Jim Barry the
Armagh
Mitchell Pepper Tree
Coonawarra
Wynns
Bowen
Estate
Zema Estate
Leconfield
Hunter
Valley
Brokenwood Graveyard
Tyrrells
Rothbury
Estates
Gavin is the manager of the Australian Wine Centre (a large collection
of affordable, rare and cult Australian wines) and hosts the very popular Auswine Forum (An online discussion
forum about Australian wine) .
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