Australia: Road to Recovery

By / Wine + Drinks / October 15th, 2014 / 1

It wasn’t too long ago that the hot “new” wine was a thing called Shiraz from Australia – everyone was flocking to try this great new wine-style and they bought it in droves. Boom.

Then came the hard time, the lean times; where there was so much Shiraz on the market it seemed that everyone and his dog was making it … there was an over-abundance of cheap Shiraz-swill that the public lost interest and began searching for something else. Bust.

Australia also went into search mode, how do they get back on top? How do they regain their status as the hot regions? Thing is, once you’re hot it takes a while before your turn comes around again (if ever); the key is to go from swill to thrill and right now some of the wine being made in Australia are showing more complexity and balance (key word) then one even thought possible.

The road to recovery is long, but many Australian winemakers are willing to put their rucksack on their back and get on that road.

JJ Hahn 2010 Reginald Shiraz / Cabernet ($21.95)

Chocolate, strawberry, white pepper and juicy but with restraint. There’s a nice balance here and that’s what makes it so impressive.

Maxwell 2010 Lime Cave Cabernet ($53.50)

Great mouthfeel with cocoa, earthy and raspberry notes; great balance of acidity and tannins.

Kalleske 2012 Pirathon Shiraz ($29.95)

Cherry nose leads to a robust cherry palate seasoned with white pepper; again there’s a great balance of tannins and acidity – this one’s alluringly delicious.

For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is an award-winning journalist: Promoting the Promoters Award Cuvée 2010 and Ontario Wine Awards Journalist of the Year 2012.  He is also a national and international wine judge - Ontario Wine Awards, All Canadian Wine Championships; Best of Riesling — Germany; Essencia do Vinho — "Top Wines of Portugal".  He is currently the President of the Wine Writers Circle of Canada and the wine columnist for Ottawa Life and Grand magazine as well as regular contributor to Tidings, and Grapevine ... his reviews have also appeared in the LCBO Vintages magazine. Michael has also added a YouTube channel to his activities where he reviews bottles of great Ontario wine on a weekly basis. In whatever he does, it is Michael’s desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine – and to realize that it is their palate that ultimately makes the decision.

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