Does Australia make many elegant wines with finesse?

WINE TALK
21

I don’t quite get it, are you asking about A wines in general, or just PN…

22

I’ve had some very good white wines from Australia and I suspect there are many more but as a category they’re underrepresented in our market. One of the very best producers, Grosset, is no longer imported into the U.S., as far as I know (I’d be pleased to be corrected on this.)

23

Thanks, Marcus and welcome to WineBerserkers!

24

I don’t know of many but I’m pretty sure that’s just because I’m not familiar with them. Of what I’ve tried Mt. Mary and Henschke both make beautiful elegant wines. WA/WS scores for years ensured that it was mostly the high octane wines that were imported to the US.

25

I love Leeuwin, especially their Art Series Chardonnay, but I would never call that wine Burgundian. To me, young or with 8-10 years of age, it tastes like a New World Chardonnay which happens to be one of the best ones. Now, their Art Series Cabernet, that’s a wine with some Old World sensibility.

I don’t know producers well, but I will agree with suggestions to look at Victoria and Tasmania. I’ve had wines from each place that I’m sure would fit the bill.

26

I would add Bindi to the list.

27

As a general statement, the cabernets from Australia (at least among the Aussie red wines that are generally available in the US) tend the most towards restrained styling. There seems to be a real effort to make the cabs in more of a Bordeaux style. The Wynn’s John Riddoch is a great example. The Cullen Diana Madelaine is another good one.

A very good restrained and ageworthy Shiraz that you can find in the US is the Penfold’s St. Henri. I had a 1992 in the last year or two and it was beautiful. That is their premium Shiraz that is made in neutral casks, no new oak. It’s a shame there aren’t more Shiraz made in that way (or at least imported to the US).

28

Craig,

There are certainly plenty of wines with finesse and purity in Oz. The comments above definitely hit many of the regions on the head. Margaret/Great Western, Tasmania, Pyrenees, Macedon Ranges, Yarra, Mornington, King Valley, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra, Eden Valley, even the McLaren Vale & Barossa (in parts) all produce silky wines.

I am LOVING the Adelaide Hills right now and the near limitless micro-climates there.

Here are some favorite producers of more ‘subtle’ wines. I hate the term ‘balanced’ because there are plenty of higher alc ‘balanced’ wines. Starred wines I know are imported:
BURGUNDY VARIETALS - *Bindi, MacForbes, *Kooyong, By Farr, *Jamsheed, Timo Mayer, Gembrook Hill, *Leeuwin, William Downie (though can get ripe), *Moondarra, *Giaconda, *Flametree, *Yabby Lake
RHONE VARIETALS - *Luke Lambert, *Jamsheed, *Sami-Odi, *Ochota Barrels, *Jauma, Lucy Margaux, *Xabregas, *Giaconda, *Clonakilla, *BK Wines, *Pyren, Between Five Bells, Syrahmi, Dalwhinnie
BORDEAUX VARIETALS - *Yarra Yering, *Cullen, *Flametree, *Moss Wood, Wendouree, *Rusden, *Vasse Felix
ALTERNATIVE VARIETALS - Thick as Thieves,

29

I haven’t experienced Burgundian-style wines from Australia but two of my favorites have been from Bordeaux varieties–James Irvine Grand Merlot from Barossa, Eden Valley, and Wynn’s Coonawarra Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon (inexpensive) and Wynn’s John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon (top of the line.) Unfortunately, a couple years ago neither producer’s wines were being imported into the USA–don’t know if that has changed. Someone else mentioned John Duval–I forgot that when I posted earlier so I am editing to second the recommendation.

30

Does anyone have experience with Tahbilk? They sound like a long-aging and more traditional style producer, and I’m starting to see them on shelves more often. Do they belong in this category? How good are their wines?

31

Wish some Wendouree would make it into the states.

32

There’s some in CT. [wink.gif]

If you want, I can bring down an '03 Cabernet Malbec on Tuesday…

33

Tahbilk is known to punch well above it’s weight in the aging stakes. You can expect a $20-ish a bottle Shiraz or Cab Sav to last 15 years easily. They actually sell stock from 1991 at their cellar door.

Their Marsannes age wonderfully as well with at least 10 years required on them to start getting secondary characteristics coming through similar to how Aussie Semillon ages.

Here are a couple from my collection

34

I had the Tahbilk 1962 Bin 26 Cabernet and the 1961 Bin 22 Cabernet, both absolutely world class wines.

We had the '61 blind in a bunch of serious '61 Bordeaux (Latour, Cos, Margeaux and Palmer) and it more than held it’s own coming equal second, and looking the freshest of all the wines. The '62 is even better than the '61.

35

Tahblik is always genius…forgot that one.

Always up for purchasing/drinking a little Wendouree

36

+1 on clonakilla especially if you can find one with some age on it.