It's good to start by looking at which wines are typically produced in which region to get a taste for the different styles, then once you find a style you like to explore the same grapes from different regions, or other wines from the same producer.
Chardonnay and Semillon are Australia's most widely produced white wines. Semillon is the iconic wine of Hunter Valley, which is two hours drive north of Sydney in NSW. Semillon in the Hunter Valley is harvested early with low sugar levels (resulting in low alcohol) and low acidity. The wines are almost neutral in flavour when first bottled, but then develop honey and toast with bottle age. This Lindemans shows gooseberry and lemon zest aromas, with a subtle honeyed finish. Lindemans Bin 1355, Semillon, Hunter Valley, Australia, 2013, 10.5% Waitrose £9.99.
Over-oaked Aussie Chardonnay is what led to the ABC
(Anything But Chardonnay) trend. Those days are mostly gone and wineries are now producing elegant Chardonnays like this one. It has light oak in it,
detected by the vanilla note, and the lemon and pear aromas balance the wine
nicely, with a hazelnut finish. Daydream, De Bortoli,
Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Australia, 2014, 12.5% Waitrose £9.99
Australia is known for its diveristy, so be brave to try something atypical. A full-bodied, aromatic unoaked white wine, with
lovely peach, tangerine and honeysuckle flavours. You may notice an oily
sensation on your tongue, which is common with this grape. It has quite a high
alcohol content because the grapes are left on the vine longer to ensure they
achieve their heady aromas. A vegan wine. Yalumba, Organic Viognier, South
Australia, 2016, 13.5% Wine Rack £11.99
Eden Valley is known for minerally and dry Rieslings; Clare Valley is known for rich Rieslings, and this
certainly is rich. Zingy citrus fruit, lime and a hint of petrol on the finish.
Many Rieslings are off-dry like this one. However, its acidity is so high that
without doing a sweetness test (dipping the tip of your tongue into the wine)
you may not have detected the residual sugar. Baily & Baily, Folio, Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia, 2015, 11.5% Waitrose £8.49
Shiraz
and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most planted red grape varieties in Australia. It's a great idea to try wines from different regions and at different price points. For example, if oak is used in the wine-making the wine will be more epxensive, so if you don't like the flavours imparted by oak (vanilla, caramel) then you'll be satsified by a cheaper wine. If you want full-bodied and juicy go for Shiraz from McLaren Vale or Barossa, but if you want something fresher and more like a French Syrah (same grape as Shiraz) then go for one from Victoria.
Dark purple colour. Blueberry, black cherry, and black
pepper, with hints of cocoa. The cool climate of the Grampians in Victoria
allows this wine to develop more savoury characteristics. Shiraz from the
Grampians is known for being peppery, and is often sourced for sparkling red
wine production. A great value wine. Mount Langi Ghiran,
Hollows Shiraz, Victoria, 2013, 14% Wine Rack £6.99
Black and silky, aged in new American oak with a long
velvety finish. Blackcurrant jam, sweet spices, vanilla and coconut. A long
finish, which means you are likely to drink it less quickly, and a bottle
should last longer. Vegetarian and organic, made with minimal interference. IWC
Gold and Decanter Silver medal winner. The Hedonist, Shiraz, McLaren Vale,
Australia, 2014, 14% Wine Rack £15.49 THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE WINES
Cabernet
Sauvignon wines from South Australia are fruit-forward, whereas Margaret River
in Western Australia has a maritime climate similar to Bordeaux, so produces
wines with more earthiness.
Blackcurrant, cherry, liquorice, a hint of black olive
and a savoury earthiness. An easy-drinking wine. The generous addition of
Merlot (and a tiny drop of Malbec and of Petit Verdot) has softened the tannic structure of the Cabernet
Sauvignon, making it a smoother, more approachable wine than Cab Savs from South Eastern
Australia. Vasse Felix, Filius, Cabernet Merlot, Margaret River, Australia, 2015,
13.5% Waitrose £12.99
Coonawarra in South Australia is just about the best region for
New World Cab Sav, known for growing
grapes on its strip of ‘terra rossa’ soil. The 2014 vintage was rated as the best New World
Cab Sav in Decanter magazine
April 2017. Cherries and fresh blackberries with firm tannins and a lovely long
length. Berton Vineyard, Reserve, Cab Sav,
Coonawarra, Australia, 2013, 14.5% Wine-discovery.co.uk £14.75
Once you've tried the typical wines of Australia, try something different, like these wines from RedHeads. RedHeads is a kind of movement in winemaking. This team of
dedicated winemakers scour Aussie vineyards to find spectacular parcels of
grapes and blend them into outstanding wines.
They work in a small shed in McLaren Vale to make limited releases of
wines that are great value for money. They are not tied to their own vineyards
so they can make wine from the best grapes each year. If you find a RedHeads wine you like buy it
quickly as they may not make it again next year. The Coco Rotie is a take on Cote Rotie, the Vinatus is copying the Rioja blend, and Nobs and Snobs is a Cab Sav / Malbec blend. You can buy RedHeads wines from Laithwaites.
And if you want to try something truly remarkable, go for this Aussie version of a Port (it can't be called a Port because its not from Portugal) by Penfolds, also available from Laithwaites.
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