Last night my WSET Diploma tasting group got together to taste our way through a lineup of Australian wines, in preparation for our upcoming Unit 3 Diploma exam. Each person brought a bottle, which we tasted blind (unsighted). The mandate was to taste typical examples of classic Aussie wines. It turned out to be a terrific lineup, and proves once again (as if proof is still necessary) that Australia can, and does, produce great wines across a wide range of styles and regions. Here are the wines, along with brief summary tasting notes:
Rieslingfreak No. 3 2017, Clare Valley, South Australia
The wine showed great line and length, with pure, crisp acidity undergirding the lemon, lime, ripe melon and green apple flavours. Very good, but needs time to soften and better integrate the sharp acidity and fruit flavours. Classic Clare riesling.
Voyager Estate Margaret River Chardonnay 2014, Western Australia
This classic chardonnay showed great complexity, evolved tertiary aromas and flavours, and real intensity without being overbearing. The oak aging is well handled and subtle. This one can last. Very good, almost outstanding.
Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2007, Hunter Valley, New South Wales
A classic example of bottle-aged Hunter Valley semillon: unmistakable, with evolved waxy lanolin, beeswax, honey, acacia and white peach notes, and a long, mouthwatering, acidic finish. Somehow lean and yet full and rich at the same time. Very good.
Coldstream Hills Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2015, Victoria
From one of the top pinot noir regions in Victoria, this is a blend of fruit from both the Upper and Lower Yarra Valley. Intense flavours of sous bois (forest floor), blackberry, morello cherry, charcuterie and sour currant, with a long, tarry, layered finish. More savoury than sweet. Elegant and refined, and very good indeed. Cooler climate pinot. Delicious.
Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Coonawarra, South Australia
Another Aussie classic, so consistent and great value for money. Ripe, smooth, elegant flavours of minty eucalyptus, cedar and creme de cassis, with a lingering, complex, layered finish. Pronounced aromatic and flavour intensity, and a complex interplay of primary and secondary flavours, this wine borders on outstanding, and with more bottle age may yet rate as such. Classic Coonawarra cabernet, and unmistakable.
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Yes it has high alcohol (15%), but this is well-integrated and smoothed by the layers of ripe dark fruit and sweet oak influence. With classic shiraz flavours of mocha, clove, dark chocolate, black plum and black pepper, this wine showed great intensity, complexity and length. Generous in all respects, and the finish goes on and on. Outstanding.
All in all, a great Aussie lineup, with every wine either very good or outstanding. Now we can only hope that one (or more) of these wines show up in our Diploma tasting exam.