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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on January 16, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Bet you didn’t know January 26th is “Australia Day. ” Yes, it is just a day in the middle of winter to most of us. But on that day in 1788, the First Fleet under the Command of Captain Arthur Phillip sailed into Sydney Cove, which is named after the Home Secretary, Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney. Since the 13 colonies had recently gained their independence, the British needed someplace to send their prisoners, so it seems from the start that our paths were crossing.
Why should any of us care about Australia, I mean besides the wine, Crocodile Dundee and of course Nicole Kidman.
[Pause for a minute to ponder Nicole and that gorgeous dress she had on at the Golden Globe Awards last night.]
The Aussie’s are probably more like us Americans than any other country in the world. Aside from the fact that they have had our back in every conflict since World War One, they are the only nation that has always had our back. Besides, they appreciate us as much as we appreciate them.
With Australia Day coming up, I thought we should have an Australia Day Wine Tasting featuring a few wines from the different regions of Australia. Perhaps a Shiraz, a Cabernet, maybe a blend too and something bubbly to celebrate? We will also have some fun loving people in to help celebrate and it promises to be a very good time. I am told we cannot get any Kangaroo fillets for the occasion, but I am pretty sure Chef Mike can whip up a fine shrimp dish or something appropriate.
If you’re thinking “I’m over Australian wines,” well you wouldn’t be alone. Like the ants that populate Orange County, Australian wine was a commercial juggernaut that seemingly came out of nowhere boasting mind boggling scores from Parker and others. Problem was that these wines were exhausting to drink and they wore us out – quickly. Hmm, sounds familiar, right Napa Valley?
Then, a few years ago, the Australian invasion ground to a halt. It seemed that all of a sudden nobody wanted Australian wines anymore. Fast forward to today’s efforts from Australia – they’ve radically reformed themselves after this wake-up call. You have to try Australian wines now as you won’t be disappointed. Gone are the high alcohol, throat burning, fruit-bombs. Their wines have never been purer, finer or more profound. I swear!
So, please stop by Amazing Grapes on January 26th and help us celebrate Australia Day by tasting some great examples of what I’m talking about!
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on August 17, 2011 at 11:48 pm
I get asked that question a lot. After being in the wine business for a while now, I usually respond “What kind of wines do you like?” Of course there are a few who will respond to that “Oh, I drink everything!”. So, I start to show them a few new wines and they almost always say – “I’m not really a Chardonnay, or Syrah or whatever I am showing them – do you have anything similar to Silver Oak or Caymus, etc.”
Well, I’m glad they at least want to “look” at the new stuff, but, honestly people, we have a huge wine world out there and plenty of great and tasty wines. We also have a wine bar and we try to put up a few lesser known wines for you to experiment with. We want to expand your horizons, why? Well, We get bored with the same old thing everyday and besides that, new wines come in and go out of fashion and we need to be able to present those to you.
So what am I trying to tell you? Try something a little different once in a while – you never know what you might find. I have tried wines from just about everywhere they grow grapes and I must say, for the most part they are decent wines – some take a bit getting used to, and there are a few I will never understand (Retsina) and a few discoveries I wish I could get more of (Tannat from Uruguay, or Tempranillo from Argentina – open for 10 days before showing any sign of oxidation). Will these be the next big thing?? Who knows, but, I will keep looking for it.
So, just once in a while, try something a little different, something new – it might not be the next big thing, but it might become one of you new favorites.
Jeffrey Hall
Aussie Wine Buyer, Amazing Grapes
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on August 10, 2011 at 9:36 pm
No, not the American West, I’m talking the Australian West in many ways maybe even rougher and tougher than the old West.
Western Australia covers just about one third of the continent of Australia. It is a huge expanse of mostly very dry sandy dunes covers about 4/5ths of the state except for the northern tropical region.
All this seems like it would make this region a poor place to grow wine grapes, but, along the coast the conditions seem to be just about perfect for this. The area around Margaret River seems to have many of the most famous wineries and I think some of the older wineries. Wineries were really not that prevalent until the 1970’s and 80’s. We have several wineries represented in our line-up.
An old favorite of many and one of the “giants” of Western Australia is Leeuwin. In 1972 none other than Robert Mondavi helped search for and identify the future site that would become Leeuwin. Leeuwin has become one of the greats not just in Western Australia but in all of Australia. They really hit the world stage when in 1980 Decanter Magazine gave Leeuwin its highest recommendation to the 1980 “Art Series” Chardonnay in an international blind tasting. Leeuwin also makes excellent reds, Cab, Shiraz and a very nice Cab/Merlot blend.
One of my new favorites is called Xanadu, and no, Olivia Newton John is not part of the package for this one. But they do make some really great wines. Named after a line of the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem Kubla Khan, the first plantings were in 1977. In 2005 The Rathbone Family (of Yering Station Wines) bought the place and started focusing on Quality after a few uneven years or corporate ownership. The wines coming from Xanadu now are excellent. The Cabernet Sauvignon is full bodied yet carries its weight with ease, it has lots of nice layers of mocha, earthiness, dark fruits and a nice spine of tannin.
Another spectacular winery is Hay Shed Hill, first planted in 1973. Micheal Kerrigan, the chief winemaker, formerly of Howard Park, is making really wonderful wines here.
Though they make a number of great wines, I really like there Cabernet. The Cab leads off with a wiff of dark berries, cocoa and a hint of mint. The palate picks up on this and turns it up to 11! Really fine Cab here!
Please do not be afraid to try something that might be new to you. These are all world class wines that are much more apart of the Aussie wine scene than some of those over the top Monster wines that have become all to familiar to the American public. So, try a few of these and let me know what you think.
Western Australia Wines we carry at Amazing Grapes;
- Xanadu
- West Cape Howe
- Leeuwin
- Hay Shed Hill
Jeffrey Hall
Aussie Wine Buyer, Amazing Grapes
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on July 27, 2011 at 10:36 pm
New South Wales can claim to be the oldest wine area in Australia. With the First Fleet came vines (from South Africa) that were planted in Sydney in 1788, they didn’t last long. There were a few other attempts until 1831, when James Busby went to France and Spain and brought back 547 “varieties of vines”. Some of these vines are very likely the “mother vines” of some of Austalia’s best shiraz.
New South Wales encompasses quite a few viticultural areas, the most famous amoung them would probably be the Hunter Valley. We have several wines from the Hunter including two fantastic Semillons, one from Brokenwood (founded by James Halliday and 2 friends) and one from Margan a 2006 example that shows how well these wines can age (yeah I said it, aged white wine!!). I also have a few bottles of Brokenwood Shiraz, one of the better Shiraz I have tasted, very complete, it actually has a beginning, middle and ending, something that lacks in many, many great wines.
Included in New South Wales wine area’s is the Canberrra District of which we have just one right now, but, it is THE one from Canberra, Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier, and one of the TOP wines of Australia. This wine is built for the long haul and typically takes a few years to settle into a groove, but, when it does, it is a Giant Slayer.
Robert Oatley made his mark on the world with coffee in the 1960’s, exporting them around the world. He then set his sights on wine and in 1969 founded Rosemount Estates, the wine that brought Australia to the world. Robert sold the winery and after a while apparently got a bit bored and decided to get back into the wine business with Robert Oatley Vinyards. The winery is located in Mudgee, just south of the Hunter.
We have a very good Cabernet-Merlot from them, nice structure from the Cab and good fruitiness from the Merlot combine to make this wine very drinkable and pleasing, fantastic for every day.
There are many, many more wines to explore from Australia’s oldest wine region, please let me know what your favorites are.
We have the following wineries from New South Wales
- Brokenwood
- Margan
- Clonakilla
- Robert Oatley
Author: Jeffrey Hall – Aussie Buyer
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on July 19, 2011 at 5:32 pm
No not that one – that is another blog entirely! Though the boss does keep getting that catalog. Anyway, this is about the State of Victoria in Australia and some of the awesome wines they make and sell at fantastic prices, really, I cannot believe that we can get such world class wines at such a small tariff – not sure if they are just too modest or just really like selling lots of great wines, maybe it’s just the stream of happy faces that leave their cellar doors everyday, whatever, I’m liking them a lot.
Talk about wines that totally dispel the “Aussie wine myths”, the wines of Victoria encompass quite a few growing area’s but, I will confine myself to the area’s we have represented in Amazing Grapes.
Yarra Valley is just north of Melbourne and has quite a few popular wineries with the day trippers from the big city. Victoria’s first vineyard was planted in 1838 at Yering Station by the Ryrie brothers of Scotland and over the years changed hands several times until the Rathbone family bought it in 1996. The winery, called Yering Station, makes some really fine examples of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and maybe my favorite Shiraz/Viognier.
Yering Station 2008 Shiraz Viognier has become a standard bearer for Shiraz in Australia. It is made in a cooler climate that focuses on its minerality and structure as much as the abundant and pristine fruit that makes this so good to drink with so many foods. This wine really is not all about block busting big in your face power at all, the power it has comes from its harmony in just about everyway, it is a very balanced Shiraz that will last a long time and is really something those who are not yet sold on Australian wines should have a go at before they give up entirely. I am very excited to be able to offer this wine at just $16.98; I mean it beats the crap out of wines 3, 4 or 5 times the price.
Mount Langi Ghiran is located in the Great Dividing Range in the Grampians region of Victoria. It is very isolated and incredibly beautiful. The vines were first planted in 1870
But were replanted by the Frantin brothers in 1963. They in turn hired Trevor Mast in 1978, who really made the winery what it is today. Dan Buckle is now the winemaker and he has carried on what Trevor started. They make several really great wines including some fantastic Riesling and a killer Sparkling Shiraz. The 2007 Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz is an incredible Shiraz showing really nice dark berry and plum fruits along with a good amount of that Shiraz spiciness. This is just seriously good shiraz and it is MLG’s entry level!!! It truly does not get much better for the measly $13.98 it costs for this Shiraz!
Lastly we have a few wines from Taltarni a relatively young winery started in 1969 in the Pyrenees region of Victoria. They make a whole range of wines from Sparkling to great Shiraz and Cabernets. There 2007 Three Monks Cabernet Merlot is a really nice blend that is almost Bordeaux like. The wine has very good fruit and structure, nice ripe tannins, not at all over the top or fruit bomb like. This is a wine that will go great with just about anything from the grill. It can stand up to a big meaty steak but, at this price would be just at home with a burger or even grilled chicken. At $15.98 it is really tough to beat.
These wines just scratch the surface of what Victoria has to offer, please try these “other” Australian wines.
Jeffrey Hall
Aussie wine buyer
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on July 11, 2011 at 9:53 pm
It has been said of Australian Wine that it is too big, overly alcoholic, too jammy, a fruit bomb, massed produced critter wines, and the list goes on. While some of these accusations may have been valid (at least for some producers) in the recent past, I defy anyone to look through the breadth and depth that is Australian wine and level those same accusations.
Too big, jammy and overly alcoholic? Well, there are still a few that might meet that standard (about 10%), but the vast majority of wineries are pumping out really fantastic wines of great diversity.
Take Western Australia (yeah, didn’t even know about them, huh?). The area around Margaret River is producing some really great Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, among many other varietals. You will find they make really well made medium to full bodied reds and some really sumptuous whites. They rival some of the best of Bordeaux and even (are you sitting down) Napa. Plus, I have heard that Western Australia is one of Mick Jaggers favorite wine appellations in the world (that just rocks on so many levels).
Look to Victoria for some exceptional Shiraz and even Pinot Noir. The reds of Victoria rival those of any place in Australia and also in the rest of the world. Some great cool climate shiraz from the Grampian Ranges (north of Melbourne) will challenge even the most Rhône loving purists not to like them.
Tasmania isn’t just the home of the Tasmanian Devil! Tasmania is also home to many Pinot Noir, and Sparkling Wine producers that rival New Zealand, Oregon and even (wait for it) King Burgundy himself. There are some Sparklers that could easily slip into a Champagne tasting with no one being any wiser for it.
These are just a few of the area’s that are making great wine in Australia – and that’s without mentioning the big guys, Barossa and McLaren Vale (where many of the Big Wines have come from). I would like to paraphrase Lisa Perotti-Brown of The Wine Advocate – Global consumers who claim they are bored with Australian wines should taste the diversity of the high quality wines coming out of Australia and if they are still underwhelmed with these fruits of stiff competition then I would have to conclude that they are tired not with Australia but with wine.
Jeffrey Hall
Aussie Wine Buyer, Amazing Grapes
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on September 28, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Like many of you, we’re always on the hunt for a great wine at a great price. And it seems like everyone these days is trying to promote their value wine. In the sea of choices out there, how are you supposed to know what wine offers an exceptional value at a great price. Well, we think we’ve stumble across a wine that is sure to turn heads.
Last Friday, I attend a lunch with Peter de Wet from Excelsior wines, one of the oldest wineries in South Africa. Excelsior was established in 1859 and produces some of the finest value wines in the region. Here’s what we tried:
Excelsior ’08 Chardonnay [Wine Enthusiast: 86 Points] – In a world of highly oaked Chardonnays, this Chardonnay stands out as one of the more balanced offerings available at a value level. With a rich aroma of peach and orange blossoms, the palate delivers crisp green apple balanced with a smooth a creamy finish. While crisp and clean, this wine has a balanced acidity that keeps the finish from falling off. Lightly oaked, this wine is a perfect wine match for seafood.
Excelsior ’07 Paddock Shiraz [2009 Michelangelo Silver Award Winner] – While Australia is what one thinks about when you think about Shiraz, South African Shiraz is something to be reckoned with. If Australian Shiraz often seems over-extracted and one dimensional, South African Shiraz may be just the thing. Understated and extremely elegant, South Africa seems to have more in common with the Southern Rhone than its Southern Hemisphere counterpart. Excelsior’s Shiraz is a great example. Filled with deep, ripe black cherries and smoked meat, the Paddock Shiraz leads to a lengthy finish marked with gentle hints of vanilla and new oak.
Excelsior ’07 Cabernet Sauvignon [2009 Michelangelo Silver Award Winner and Wine Advocate: 86 Points] – The 2007 Cabernet is the wine that put Excelsior on the map, as it is the best selling Cabernet in South Africa. Filled with ripe blackcurrants and rich plum, the soft tannins offer a complex balance between rich fruit, toasted oak, and earth notes. Because of water stress, the vines, some of which are 20 years old or better, produce deeply concentrated berries, which in turn produce the deep color, as well as the rich fruit components.
What is most amazing about these wines is while they boast beautiful fruit characteristics, they do not break the bank at a mind-blowing $6.98 per bottle. [Yes, you read that right, $6.98 per bottle! We were a bit shocked ourselves...]
At this point the 2007 Cabernet is in stock, with the other two wines close behind. If you are looking for an exceptional value in wine, something that will astound friends and guests, this is your wine. It will seem like you’ve spent upwards of $20 on this bottle, but only you will know the truth.
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on September 28, 2009 at 2:45 pm
In an earlier post I wrote that the recession “appears” to be over – or at least waning. Well, if the lineup of luxury cars in front of The Pacific Club in Newport Beach is a testimony – it’s officially over in my book!! Sheesh, I felt so inferior in my Toyota Hybrid Hylander. The premium cars were an obvious precursor to what was waiting for us inside.
I was one of a few lucky guests invited to taste Australia’s ‘Best of the Best’ wines. Leading the seminar and hosting the tasting was John Larchet, proprietor of The Australian Premium Wine Collection. Traveling with John was three of Australia’s finest wine makers/representatives that presented their wines.
First up was Patrick Gehrig (Yes, he is related to Lou Gehrig – very cool) of Rutherglen Estates which is located in Rutherglen, Victoria, located in the south eastern area of Australia. Patrick poured the following wines:
Rutherglen Estates “The Allicane” – A blend of 70% Marsanne and 30%Viognier. Lemony, creamy which bode well for a great food wine. The Viognier adds a nice touch of honeysuckle. ‘Red’ – This wine is an extremely good value for the money; it has great color, peppery Shiraz characters, berries and brambles, intense spice and is a mouthful of rich flavor and juicy tannins. Great food wine that would be great with a pizza. The Reunion – A blend of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Shiraz, 20% Grenache, this wine is dominated by the Mourvedre, showing off savory notes and a hint of spice. Pair this one with lamb chops. Durif, AKA Petit Sirah – This is the main variety of Rutherglen – obviously their flagship wine. The color was ink black, like you’d expect from Petit Sirah. Savory, earthy, black current flavors, chocolate spice and a huge tannin finish on the back end. Delicious! Muscat – Very difficult decision to spit this out! Fortified with 7% alcohol and made in a sherry solera type system. Flavors of caramel and toffee that reminded me of liquid brown sugar. This would be great over vanilla ice cream. Or if you’re adventurous, make a Muscat slushy!
Next up was Dean Hewiston, owner and founder of Hewitson located in South Australia (Adelaide). Dean poured the following wines:
‘Lulu’ Sauvignon Blanc. Named after his wife Lulu who adores Sauvignon Blanc, this region is considered the premier area to produce Sauvignon Blancs. Like drinking fermented grapefruit juice! ‘Miss Harry’ (The daughter’s nickname). A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre grapes that come from bush (head pruned) vines dating back the 1800′s with roots that go 30′ into the ground searching for water. This wine was carried in 100% French old barriques that gave a lovely complexity to this wine. Because of the old barrigues, no one varietal dominates and the treatment gave this wine such a nice strawberry cream flavor and smoothness. Delicious. ‘Ned and Henry’s’ Shiraz (Miss Harry’s older brothers). Beautiful Barossa Valley fruit gives off a wonderful bouquet and great minerality flavor – mostly limestone. This was a graceful, not in your face fruit bomb, shiraz. I’d put this up against any French wine. Clearly my favorite of this winery. ‘Old Garden’ Mourvedre – These vines are living in 6 feet of sand over limestone. The sand is important as it helps drain away the rain so that the grapes can ripen. Without it, no grapes! Vines are head pruned about 2′ off the ground. Contained an interesting hint of orange peel which you wouldn’t expect to encounter. ‘The Mad Hatter’ Shiraz – Single vineyard grapes from Blewitt Springs in McLaren Valley that spend almost 2 years on new French oak. More what I’m used to with Australian Shiraz. The third winery and presenter was Allister Ashmead with Elderton Estate. He along with his useless brother (his description, not mine!) are the current owners of Elderton Estate in the Barossa Valley. Allister presented the following wines:
E Series Unoaked Chardonnay – Tasted more like a Sauvignon Blanc than a Chardonnay. Grassy and flinty – according to the distributor, lots of people are buying and loving this wine. Not my cup of tea. E Series 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet – Probably a good value wine, but structure, richness and boldness would not be my description. Estate Shiraz – Much better!! Now things are starting to look up. Very much a stinky, fruity, leathery Shiraz that was soft and easy to drink with a hint of chocolate. Classic Barossa Shiraz. ‘Ode to Lorraine’. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot – Dedicated to Allisters mother as a last great tribute before they kick her out of the house and stick her in a nursing home (again, his words, not mine!) Supposedly from the three best vineyards on the property, it was interesting but not great. This was the #16 wine of the year last year and this year is supposed to be better? We’ll see. Command Shiraz – Wow, wow, wow – I kept this in my mouth while I wrote so that it didn’t end! Clearly their best wine and one we will probably have in the store. This Shiraz spent almost 3 years in oak and 1 year in bottle. Beautiful power, structure and balance.
The next wines are all from John Larchet, our host.
‘The Wishing Tree’ Unoaked Chardonnay. Western Australia fruit from 11 different growers. Each batch is fermented separately. Done this way for complexity and to withhold batches they don’t want/like. Didn’t care for this either. I just don’t think Aussie Chards, especially stainless, can compare with the French. Again, tasted like Sauvignon Blanc. John told us that others have questioned this as well, so I’m not nuts! ‘The Wishing Tree’ Shiraz – 16 different growers. Medium body because of the use of neutral barrels. ‘Hill of Content’ Cabernet – Pretty true expression of cabernet sauvignon. Sweet, lush dry – bone dry – wine. Again with the neutral barrels, held for 28 months. ‘Tir na N’og’ Old Vines Grenache – Land of the Young is the English translation of this Irish saying. High toned, sweet fruit, very aromatic, not to be drunk alone but with a piece of pork smothered in a reduced cherry sauce. ‘The Old Faithful’ Top of the Hill Shiraz – Old reliable is the meaning behind the name as the grapes for this wine come from very old vines. Probably the best of the five presented by John, but that’s like saying it was the tallest midget. Hits you with a smack of fruit up front but it disappears quickly. As soon as we determine which of these wines will be in our store, I’ll update the post. In the mean time, Australia has my heart!
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Bet you didn’t know January 26th is “Australia Day. ” Yes, it is just a day in the middle of winter to most of us. But on that day in 1788, the First Fleet under the Command of Captain Arthur Phillip sailed into Sydney Cove, which is named after the Home Secretary, Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney. Since the 13 colonies had recently gained their independence, the British needed someplace to send their prisoners, so it seems from the start that our paths were crossing.
