When reviewing Australian wines, it’s tempting to focus on all of the country’s assorted wine offerings. With more than 60 winegrowing regions across a continent roughly the size of the United States, Australia’s diversity of grapes, styles and terroirs can’t be emphasized enough.
That said, when looking at wines that put Australia on the map, there’s a good reason why wine lovers continue to associate Australian wines with Rhône-style reds, particularly Shiraz, Grenache and blends, which sometimes incorporate Mourvèdre. This week’s Tasting Highlights features eight bottlings in a variety of styles from multiple regions that showcase the dynamism and high quality of the category (in contrast to the cheap and cheerful jammy styles one might find for sale in the supermarket). Even better, these wines top off at the $40 price tag, so if you can find these bottles, they are definitely over-delivering on their price.
Here is a wonderful collection of some of the category’s strengths. John Duval and his son Tim craft wines that are both elegant and powerful. Plexus was the first wine made in the brand’s inaugural vintage, 2003, and this blend of old-vine Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre has an impressive track record. Grapes are fermented in open stainless-steel fermentors, some with the cap submerged. A part of the Grenache is fermented with whole bunches to add a savory edge.
This grouping also showcases bottlings from D’Arenberg, Two Hands and more. Read on to get our expert scores and full tasting notes!
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