Huon Hooke – "95 out of 100 we scored it, a gold Ribbon score, and number 1 out of 25 grenache blends from Barossa in 2019 so very high recommendation. $30 wine...
...Lovely full bodied wine, intense but not heavy, enough tannin to carry flavour and to make it stand up with food. Plummy, spicy, good balance, harmony, freshness, beautiful drinkability although will age well as well.
We suggest drinking now until 10 years hence, but it would last a lot longer."
James Halliday – "94 Points. Bright crimson-purple; a spray of red flowers, berries and spice on the bouquet sets the scene for a wine that over-delivers on its price and the vagaries of the '16 vintage. It's light to medium-bodied, with a cornucopia of red fruits, ripe, fine tannins providing length and persistence to the palate. There's no need for patience, but 5 years won't tire it. $24.00 14.5% alc Drink By: 2025" James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au
World Wine – Formed from ugni blanc, clairette, viognier, muscat-a-petit grains, riesling. Mostly ugni blanc though. Old vines, low yields here. The wine was matured on lees for its life before bottling.
This is delicious. It’s slippery in texture, fragrant and bursting with character. Honey, lemon blossom, pear, green apple in the bouquet, suggestively sweet, but not so to taste. Glides in the palate, shows depth of pear-like flavours, licks of oatmeal and sweet spice. Precise, but with a come hither drinking appeal. Lovely stuff.
The Wine Front – "Super shiraz. Powerfully fruited but soft through the palate and, importantly, spread widely with tannin. A few sips and the word complete came to mind. Berries, earth, woodsmoke, peppercorns and toast. Viognier adds brightness and texture more than it does flavour, though it is (just) detectable. This feels like an outstanding wine at all points along the palate." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)
James Halliday – "Great depth and spread of flavour and a remarkable set of tannin. It's the complete red wine. Smoky, ripe, drenched in red berry and clove flavours, a finish that reaches far. Dark chocolate and toast characters are melted through, as indeed are dark roasted spice notes. Cracking wine." - James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)
World Wine – Sales of this Grenache have been thundering along so the composition of this 2021 is slightly different from those of years gone by. The 2020 was made with 100% whole bunches off one site but an increase in production has seen two blocks blended. A 1949 planted block is 100% whole bunch and a second block planted in 1929 sees 30% whole bunches with the overall total now 61%. But let's just pause for a moment and consider the age of the vines contributing to this $40 wine... Extraordinary really when you look at the price. This 2021 is the first vintage that puncheons (8 year old) have been used to ensure a softer maturation. Slick describes this Grenache best. Softly textured, red fruits sing. It opens up and there is a savoury wrestle with fruit. Blue fruits rise up adding another level of prettiness. Picked at mid 13s brings a slight mintiness and red pepper character with it. But those soft blue and red berries waltz on and glisten. Superfine spices are draped through the mouth like a velvet blanket and that finish just goes on and on. A brilliant wine from a first-class Barossa vintage. Chase it down. Drink to five years+. (Q Wine Reviews)
The Wine Front – We’ve pretty much liked/loved every release of Teusner’s The Dog Strangler Mataro that we’ve tried. Sheesh. This is seductive. This is good. If you want a guaranteed-to-please Aussie red, look no further. It offers a wealth of dark, berried, suede-like fruit flavour and it does so in the smoothest, most supple fashion. It has spice, it has earth, it has tannin – it has credentials – but mostly it’s a bloom of beautiful mataro fruit flavour. Coffeed/toasty/milky oak, modestly applied, is an excellent finishing touch.
Wine production in Australia boasts a rich history that dates back to the 18th century. From its humble beginnings, the wine industry in the country has flourished, leveraging the varied climatic zones to cultivate a diverse array of grape varieties. While regions like Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Hunter Valley might ring familiar to many, there are over 60 wine regions in Australia, each with its unique terroir and specialties.
One of the standout features of Australian winemaking is the innovative spirit. From pioneering new viticultural techniques to experimenting with grape varieties not traditionally associated with the Australian terroir, winemakers consistently push boundaries. This zeal for innovation is balanced by a deep respect for tradition, resulting in wines that are both groundbreaking and deeply rooted in the country's winemaking legacy.
Shiraz might be the grape most synonymous with Australian wine, but the country also produces exceptional Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling, among others. The complexity, depth, and character of Australian wines make them a favorite on the global stage, celebrated for their uniqueness and authenticity.
Wine grapes arrived in Australia in 1788 with its first colonists. However, experts credit James Busby for popularising viticulture in the country in 1833, when he brought many wine grapes to Australia, including the now-famous Shiraz (AKA Syrah). Wine production exists in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Most vineyards are near the coast, where the grapevines benefit from the oceanic cooling breeze, while irrigated regions inland are also a significant source of wine. Australia has both warm and cold wine regions. Some are a few miles from the seashore, and others are on the mountains.
Shiraz is Australia’s flagship grape. The French variety feels right at home in the country, especially in South Australia (the country’s most important wine region.) Shiraz is the most planted varietal in Australia, followed closely by Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Other grapes with significant plantings include Merlot, Pinot Noir, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and those used to make GSM blends along with Shiraz — Grenache and Mourvedre. You’ll also be surprised to find rare grapes in Australia, from Italian Nebbiolo to Spanish Tempranillo. Of course, these wines are hard to find but worth seeking.
For types of wine, the most popular wine styles in Australia are youthful red wines made with Syrah, oak-aged Chardonnay, age-worthy Shiraz and Cabernet, and elegant Pinot Noir. Fragrant Riesling and refreshing Sauvignon and Semillon are famous, too! Fortified wines were once the most celebrated wine style in Australia. Although the category still exists, it has fallen out of fashion as dry table wines dominate the global wine market. And let’s not forget about the refreshing sparkling wines produced in several Australian regions, most notably in Tasmania — they are amongst the best in the world.
Wine is a noble drink. You usually get what you pay for. Fine wine is expensive to make, and it’s often produced in small quantities. That means that the best wines in Australia are not cheap. Having said that, Australia is a source of extraordinarily well-priced wine, and the quality-price ratio is very convenient, especially for everyday wines. The most age-worthy red wines from prestigious regions like Barossa and Eden Valley can go for a few hundred dollars, while inexpensive Shiraz or Chardonnay from the irrigated area inland are often inexpensive.
The best Australian wines are the ones you like the most. The good news? Australian winemakers produce all types of wine to satisfy your every need. Look for Australian wine in World Wine and choose your favourite. From collector’s items to lovely weeknight sippers. Australia has it all!
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Delivery Times
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Quality Guarantee
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
Sending a Gift
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.