Tasting Bench: Shiraz and Shiraz/Cabernet

TASTING BENCH SHIRAZ

AND SHIRAZ/CABERNET BLENDS

Shiraz - Australia’s most ubiquitous and popular red wine variety. Drinks Trade’s expert panel blind tasted just over 100 latest release Australian Shiraz and Shiraz/Cabernet blend wines. All agreed the general quality was encouraging and the direction Australian winemakers and viticulturists were taking with Australia’s most globally recognised variety highlighted the diverse characters of our diverse terroirs. From the classic Hunter Valley to the Barossa Valley, from McLaren Vale to the Yarra Valley, Australia can be proud to offer a broad and extensive range of Shiraz styles that are truly unique. From the judges picks it’s very clear which specific regions are peaking right now.

THE PANEL

CHRISTINE RICKETTS

CELLAR DIRECTOR & WINE EDUCATOR, CELLARMASTERS

Christine Ricketts is the Cellar Director and Wine Educator at Cellarmaster Wines. She fell in love with wine while working in a small London wine bar back in the late 1980s. After returning to Australia she graduated from South Australia’s prestigious Roseworthy campus and now runs wine education classes and master classes – from basic introductory level right up to the internationally accredited Wine and Spirit Education Trust Levels 1, 2 and 3. After 30 years in wine, she still enjoys the thrill of sharing her knowledge with novices, eager amateurs and wine and hospitality professionals across Australia.

COMMENT:

The wines were very balanced and very good. I didn’t pick up much volatility. There was a bit of simplicity amongst some of them in that they were all bright fruit and not a lot of oak.

TRAVIS FULLER

FINE WINE DIRECTOR, PERNOD RICARD WINEMAKERS

After studying marketing and finance Travis Fuller worked for Southcorp Wines (now Treasury Wine Estates) marketing premium Australian wine to the world. He was invited to the Len Evans Tutorial in 2007 by Len himself after winning the inaugural Greg Doyle Medal for Best Associate Judge at the Royal Sydney Wine Show. Travis is a senior wine show judge across Australia and internationally, and Jury President at Mundus Vini.

COMMENT:

The amazing diversity was the key. I saw everything from those old classic style Shiraz’s where they were big, ripe, juicy, lots of alcohol, lots of tannins, lots of fruit flavour, right through to the more delicate, spicy, white pepper, cooler characters. And it’s great to see that kind of diversity through Australia.

Personal Standout: Mt Pleasant Rosehill Vineyard Shiraz 2017 Personal Standout: Purple Hands Shiraz 2016

STUART KNOX

OWNER AND SOMMELIER, FIX WINE BAR SYDNEY

During his 20 years in the wine trade, Stuart has been named the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Sommelier of the Year 2012, and accepted to become a Len Evans Scholar. The last few years have seen Stuart invited to judge a number of well-known Australian wine shows including the Sydney Royal Wine Show, the Hunter Valley Wine Show, the McLaren Vale Wine Show and the NSW Wine Awards. You’ll find Stuart working the floor most days, ready to point you in the direction of some obscure winery or variety.

COMMENT:

Shiraz is a big part of our culture here in Australia and these wines were mostly really well made, quite smart and there’s some nice interplay of elegance and fuller styles.

NICK BARLOW

WINE SPECIALIST, 100 PROOF

After developing cocktail programs in international hotels, Nick Barlow turned to what is now his passion - wine, while working for the Rockpool Group for six years. On finishing his tenure, he applied his hand to building Riedel in the on-premise on the East Coast before joining 100 Proof as the state Wine Specialist for NSW.

COMMENT:

The overall quality of the wine was relatively high. Not many wines were sub-par or had considerable faults. In some instances though, they were very similar, where they weren’t able to be a standout, but the consistency was definitely there.

Personal Standout: d’Arenberg The Dead Arm 2016

d’Arenberg The Dead Arm 2016

RRP: $75 Region: McLaren Vale Distributor: Inglewood Wines Pty Ltd Email: sales@inglewoodwines.com.au Tasting note: There was loads of blackberry on the palate with hints of black pepper and savoury spices. The finish was juicy, sophisticated and long with a savoury earthy aroma.

Purple Hands Shiraz 2016

RRP: $30 Region: Barossa Valley

Distributor:

mark@purplehandswines.com.au Mobile : 0401 988 185 Tasting note: A medium-bodied wine with a lot of acidity, firm tannins, and a beautiful red fruit finish. This wine showcases delicate florals and subtle candied red fruits.

Taylors The Hotelier Shiraz 2018

RRP: $17.99 Region: Wrattonbully Distributor: Taylors Wines Tasting note: Medium bodied with a red fruit palate, notes of pencil oak and cranberry spiced vanilla. Where Shiraz is going in Australia.

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz 2017

RRP: $28 – LUC $17.20 Region: Barossa Distributor: Distributor Mezzanine Tasting note: After time this big wine opened up to a fantastic balance of fruit, tannin and alcohol with incredible length.

Mt Pleasant Rosehill Vineyard Shiraz, 2017

RRP: $50 Region: Hunter Valley Distributor: Available McWilliamscellar. com.au Tasting note: Very enjoyable. This bright, rubied Shiraz is a balance of savoury spice, pepper, tanned leather and a long finish.

Shingleback Red Knot Classified McLaren Vale 2017

RRP: $19 Region: McLaren Vale Distributor: Shingleback Wine Email: careyweston@shingleback.com.au Tasting note: Great mix of savoury and bright red fruit character while maintaining a good level of acidity.

d’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie 2015

RRP: $29 Region: McLaren Vale Distributor: Inglewood Wines Pty Ltd Email: sales@inglewoodwines.com.au Tasting note: Bright, ripe and juicy. There’s a hint of red fruit and black spice. Another beautifully balanced wine.

Yalumba Samuel’s Collection Barossa Shiraz 2017

RRP: $28 Region: Barossa Distributor: Samuel Smith & Sons Tel: 1300 615 072 Tasting note: Loads of plum and blackberry with hints of cinnamon, black olive and olive leaf. The palate was sophisticated and slightly sweet with a fine concentrated finish.

d’Arenberg The Lovegrass 2017

RRP: $25 Region: McLaren Vale Distributor: Inglewood Wines Pty Ltd Email: sales@inglewoodwines.com.au Tasting note: A dry palate with a savoury plum and cherry finish. Hints of burnt earth on the nose, leather and plum.

Pierre D’Amour Syrah 2017

RRP: $19.95 Region: Hilltops Distributor: Calabria Family Wines Email: info@calabriawines.com.au Tel: 0269690800 Tasting note: A rich and integrated palate of sweet tannins, with a white pepper finish that leaves you wanting more - always a good sign.

Shingleback Unedited McLaren Vale, 2016

RRP: $80 Region: McLaren Vale Distributor: Shingleback Wine Email: careyweston@shingleback.com.au Tasting note: Blackberry, blueberry, and sweet prune. This Shiraz incorporates luscious sweet fruits with a hint of mocha - a beautiful wine.

Andevine Reserve Canberra District 2016 Syrah

RRP: $45 Region: Canberra Districts Distributor: Andevine Wines Web: www.andevinewines.com.au Email: cellardoor@andevinewines.com.au Tasting note: Highlighting red and blue fruits, the palate was warm with aromas of leather and turned earth. There was a dominating note of oak but it worked in its favour.

Andevine Signature Collection Hunter Valley Shiraz 2017

RRP: $22 Region: Hunter Valley Distributor: Andevine Wines Web: www.andevinewines.com.au Email: cellardoor@andevinewines.com.au Tasting note: It needed time to open but once it did it had great layers and really spoke of blackberry/blueberry spice - beautiful and elegant.