The Auswine Forum

The introduction of Italian grape varieties some years ago was followed by much hype as to how good the resultant wines would be. In reality though, we don't hear much about these wines reaching any great heights. I tried a Skilly Ridge Tempranillo 2002 last night which was ok, but nothing memorable. This started me thinking, what exactly are the really good examples of wine made in Australia from Italian varieties. I enjoyed the Chapel Hill Sangiovese Cabernet last year and the Coriole Sangiovese prior to that. Gem Tree's Tempranillo is a big wine that hasn't come together yet.
Can any Auswine Forum members steer me towards any really good examples of these wines?

Pizzini gets good wraps. I've only tried one of their Sangiovese but that seemed good to me. Savoury and powerful.

I haven't had any of the genuine Italian stuff to compare it to though.

Just one tiiiiiiny thing - Tempranillo is Spanish.

I've enjoyed the Nepenthe Tempranillo a couple of times.

The Tahbilk Sangiovese is only about 11 bucks a bottle, and while it isnt earh shattering, its a nice drink, airly varietal IMO and brilliant VFM. They also make a tempranillo that I didnt like so much, at the same price. At the other end of the scale, the Castagna "la Chiave" is a lovely Sangiovese. The 02 was outstanding, and I have some 04 inthe cellar to try soon.

Tried te Chapel Hill Il Vescovo on Saturday, the 02 I thnk. Nice enough wine but lacked some interest.

Come in Darby...

For my mind, out of the wide world of Italian varietals in Australia, I'm most interested in sangiovese, nebbiolo, sagrantino and a couple of the whites.

Some growers are getting enough Sangiovese vintages under their belt to start to know how to handle it. Coriole's cellar-door only brunello clone bottling is a decent wine. Pizzini is about to release their second bottling of the Il Barone super-Tuscan blend, which was excellent when tried at cellar door recently. The Castagna La Chiave is perhaps Australia's best sangiovese, but poor QPR. Yarrh's sangiovese (Canberra district) I also quite like.

I haven't tasted that many of the Australian nebbiolo examples yet, but it's worth tracking down David Freschi's nebbiolo blend called La Signora (Langhorne Creek, Casa Freschi is the winery). Shapes up really well with time in the decanter. The Pizzini nebbiolo hasn't convinced me yet but the current release (2001) will get better with time in bottle.

Robin Day at Domain Day in the Barossa has sagrantino in, which should be interesting to keep an eye on. It's something I've considered planting here in Canberra but I'm not sure about getting it ripe.

I have found the Pizzini range very tasty - their sangiovese has plenty of body and their current release nebbiolo (2001) is built to last a while, and will need some time to soften up the tannins. A long decant helps with this too but I suspect a few more years will do it better. Their arneis I have found to be gorgeous and the verduzzo bright and juicy. The fruit on all these wines is very savoury, which is a style I prefer.

Another worth trying is Happs from WA. Their Three Hills range has a nebbiolo and a sangiovese, both of which are very tasty and right up there in quality. Slightly sweeter fruit style to the Pizzini above.

I am told also that Coriole do a funky nebbiolo which I hope to try in the coming weeks.

If you are looking for Tempranillo (and ignoring the geography ), then a couple I have tried recently and liked are West Cape Howe from Denmark and Talajancich from the Swan Valley.

Cheers

Dave

Dave Dewhurst wrote:If you are looking for Tempranillo (and ignoring the geography ), then a couple I have tried recently and liked are West Cape Howe from Denmark and Talajancich from the Swan Valley.

Cheers

Dave

Talajancich is somewhat an unheralded name, but they do make a very, very good tokay. Haven't tried the best of the line but the standard tokay in 750ml bottle was better than Seppelt DP33 for a similar cost. That's the only product of Talajancich' I've tried. Never tasted any tempranillo.

Seem to remember that Davo has some knowledge of the winery.

Daryl Douglas wrote:

Dave Dewhurst wrote:If you are looking for Tempranillo (and ignoring the geography ), then a couple I have tried recently and liked are West Cape Howe from Denmark and Talajancich from the Swan Valley.

Cheers

Dave

Talajancich is somewhat an unheralded name, but they do make a very, very good tokay. Haven't tried the best of the line but the standard tokay in 750ml bottle was better than Seppelt DP33 for a similar cost. That's the only product of Talajancich' I've tried. Never tasted any tempranillo.

Seem to remember that Davo has some knowledge of the winery.

Yep, they make a cracking verdelho amonst their table wines, most of which are pretty average, but the forts are really their forte and they have some pretty old stock to blend with. Turn out a pretty good liqueur shiraz and some superb tokay.

Prices have increased markedly over the last several years but then you can't keep cranking out 70+ year old barrel aged forts, unless of course you are Seppelts.

Big thumbs down to the Brown Brothers Moscato. Insipid sweet rubbish with no acidity = teenyboppers drink. Moscato D'Asti it is not!

Maybe not Italian grapes per se, but Primo's "Moda" Joseph is a fine wine using Italian influenced methods.

I was not taken with the Pizzini range at a tasting...

Bit of a fan of DiLusso wines, italian varietals grown in Mudgee.

Dave Dewhurst wrote:I am told also that Coriole do a funky nebbiolo which I hope to try in the coming weeks.

The Coriole Neb is the best Aussie Italian I have had (I think it was the '03). I have to admit that I have tried very little Italian Italian wine, and I probably like the Coriole Neb because it was a gutsy wine - therefore probably more Aussie than Italian in style.

Pizzini do a nice 'rose' style.

On somewhat of a tangent. Tonight (tomorrow morning): Italy 1 - Australia 2. Remember you heard it here first.

There are some good Nebbiolos starting to appear on the market. In recent times I have tried the following Aust. Nebbiolos:

2002 Longview Vineyard Black Crow (Adelaide Hills)
2003 Longview Vineyard Black Crow (Adelaide Hills)
2004 Longview Vineyard Black Crow (Adelaide Hills)

2002 Coriole
2003 Coriole

2004 Brokenwood (Beechworth)

2002 Scaffidi One Tree Hill

The pick of the bunch are the 2002 Longview and 2002 Coriole, both have different characteristics but are both nice varietals in their own right. The 2002 Longview is a real stand out if you get the opportunity to try, the 2003 misses the mark (very yeasty, almost like a vegemite characteristic about it), but the 2004 is good wine that at least needs another 2-3 years before the tannins settle.

I’d rate the worst example being the 2004 Brokenwood, having said that it is still a pleasant wine and great with a variety of foods.

Personally, I can’t get into Sangiovese, tried a few different ones, but just does not excite me at all (perhaps I haven’t tried the right one)

Chalk Hill in McLaren Vale do very passable examples of Barbera and Sangiovese (though the new vintages have a little too much toasty oak for my liking)

Cardinham in Clare do an interesting Sangiovese as well. Quite supercharged.

There are many others around, eg.

Domain Day - Garganega
Crittendon - Arneis etc

The Longview Nebs show some great fruit, but I find the winemaking a touch to lighthanded (for a change I would like to see more extract in a wine!!)

Since launching my website a couple of years ago I have switched over almost entirely to alternative varietals; I now rarely drink shiraz or cabernet - there are just too many others around.

Some stand outs

Arneis: definitately Crittenden's Pinocchio, but this is such a stunning variety that there are several very good ones,Yarraloch, Pizzini etc
Sangiovese: those mentioned in earlier posts, critenden's as well
Barbera: Dal Zotto
Nebbiolo: there are a few good ones, and a a lot of mediocre ones. I like D'arenberg's it has the 'tar and roses nose'
Lagrein: Cobaw Ridge
Vermentino: Aldinga Bay, Di Lusso

Remember all of the Italo Australians are new. Young vines, viticulturalists and winemakers are still learning how to best use them so there will be wide variations between vintages, makers and regions. Only those with the ticker to survive outside the Fosters Security blanket will enjoy them.

best red from Italian varietes
easy
Lowe vineyard Zin. (Primativo)
Awesome

Smithy
OK so its originally something Croation thats bloody unpronouncable..it starts with Cz!

I had a Casella Yendah Vale Tempranillo (01 I think) with Goan food (at the excellent Viva Goa) a few nights ago and it was brilliant. Quite a good label for minor varietals.

Kieran

Thanks for the replies but judging by the number of posts and the general comments, it seems that Auswine Forum members aren't exactly queueing up to buy Italian varieties made in Oz. The posts that mentioned matching these wines with specific foods are probably on the right track and probably most of these wines are more 'food wines' anyway. Ciao.

Really enjoyed Tscharke Montepulciano in recent months. Big enjoyable fruit-generous wine.

Would second any positive mentions of the Longview Nebbiolo.

Cheers
Nick

The Happs Three Hills sangiovese '04 got a guernsey in the big red tasting published today in The West Australian magazine... "Beautiful drinking and great with hearty food."

cranky wrote:The Happs Three Hills sangiovese '04 got a guernsey in the big red tasting published today in The West Australian magazine... "Beautiful drinking and great with hearty food."

Yep, had this at the WA Food and Wine fair a few weeks back - not sure it was particularly varietal but it was a gorgeous drink with great fruit and structure.

Cheers

Dave