The Auswine Forum

I think it somewhat unfair to lump all Aussie shiraz into one stylistic camp. There are some that are made with restraint, often signaling their intent by calling their wine syrah instead of shiraz. I have plenty of older Australian shiraz so I don't usually buy them anymore but a sharply priced 2013 Annie's Lane 'Copper Trail tempted me. It was by no means "dreary", offering instead dark fruit and ripe tannins. It was both appraochable with hearty fare and offered offered potential for considerable cellaring. Look at Huon Hook's note: "It's very full-bodied and rich, dense and compact, powerful and loaded with fruit and tannin. Lots of dark fruit, spice and a lacing of graphite, soot and charcoal characters" (emphasis is mine). Nothing dreary about that description I have to say. I'm sure that there are plenty of other examples about.

Mahmoud.

Mahmoud Ali wrote:I think it somewhat unfair to lump all Aussie shiraz into one stylistic camp. There are some that are made with restraint, often signaling their intent by calling their wine syrah instead of shiraz. I have plenty of older Australian shiraz so I don't usually buy them anymore but a sharply priced 2013 Annie's Lane 'Copper Trail tempted me. It was by no means "dreary", offering instead dark fruit and ripe tannins. It was both appraochable with hearty fare and offered offered potential for considerable cellaring. Look at Huon Hook's note: "It's very full-bodied and rich, dense and compact, powerful and loaded with fruit and tannin. Lots of dark fruit, spice and a lacing of graphite, soot and charcoal characters" (emphasis is mine). Nothing dreary about that description I have to say. I'm sure that there are plenty of other examples about.

Mahmoud.

I agree. Thanks for starting the new thread on this topic. Should make for interesting discussions.

However, I still find the cooler climate styles of Syrah "dreary" compared with say Italian Nebbiolo. By dreary, I mean boring, unexciting, uninspiring. Don't get me wrong, they can be fantastic wines with lots of complexity. I just don't get the same interest as I do from say Italian Nebbiolo, Burgundy, Etna.

Polymer wrote:Maybe you need to lay off the big aussies then...

Actually, I've been pleased with screw capped Kay Brothers this last few months and I dare to try some early Block 6 under screw cap soon.

My drinking is diverse. Especially at the medium end. I note Ozzie's comments on shiraz being dreary but this ain't so for me. Some of the cheap 'bottle sunshine' would be better off stuffed with a cork - bringing about dare I say a softening complexity. And on the Aussie GSM "earth wines"- I'm really wondering if this is a style that is better off under cork?

Felix's comments on Leeuwin reflect my own concerns. When I pay a thousand dollars for a case of premium Aussie wine I'm far happier to lose one or two in a decade and get a refund, than be unsatisfied with the whole case. I just shudder at Wendouree. What happens if the the without trial, screw capped wines aren't evolving? By the time I have deduced this ( as has the rest of the wine community ) I've been buying near 2k a year of wine over many vintages.