Australian Shiraz Tasting

by Dr. Bob Ouellette


 Compagnons des Bons Vins      Saturday, January 5, 2002

What a nice way to start the New Year! A full house and some wonderful wines that offered quality at a very reasonable price. Australia has consistently offered us wines that are easily found in our local wine stores and always mindful of our hard earned funds. Shiraz in particular, has been a hallmark of this country and offers strong competition to the Rhone Valley.

 Some eight wines were tasted varying in price from under $10 to nudging $30. From the scores however, there were little variations to match to match the above. All the wines exhibited a generous bouquet of cherry fruit. On the palate, ripe fruit with hints of tobacco, spice, vanilla and at times violets enveloped around soft sweet tannins and generous acidity slowly lingered off in the twilight. 

Two wines in particular, Greg Norman 1998,Limestone Coast, probably scored better than Greg’s recent scores on the golf course. Pirrammima 1997, a recent find, took top honors with promise of more years to come. All in all, not only were the tasters in agreement that this was a super way to start the year. Add to that, our host for the evening put together a display of offerings that did no good to our resolutions for the New Year.

                                      

Penfolds Bin 2

88
L’Oiseau - Hewitson- Mclaren Vale 89
Greg Norman 1998- Limestone Coast 91
Rosemount 1999 88
Rosemount 1997 –Mountain Blue 88
Reynella 1998 –Basket Pressed 89
The Holy Trinity 1997 –Barossa 89
Pirramimma 1997 –Mclaren Vale   93

  

drbob@oxfordwineroom.com