The Auswine Forum

I need to find a Austrlian wine which is totally in Rhone style for a blind wine tasting dinner in HK. Prefer 2001 vintage. Any suggestion?

Thanks

Northern or Southern Rhone?

camw wrote:Northern or Southern Rhone?

I dont know much about Rhone wine, but the wine use for comparation is from Domaine de Pegau. Which should be shiraz base I think.

Is there a budget? Torbreck Les Amis (Grenache) is good but expensive ($200+ AUD), Charles Melton Nine Popes (Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre) is around $50 AUD, still good but not as concentrated as the Les Amis.

Pegau would be mostly Grenache with Shiraz, Mourvedre and some others.

camw wrote:Is there a budget? Torbreck Les Amis (Grenache) is good but expensive ($200+ AUD), Charles Melton Nine Popes (Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre) is around $50 AUD, still good but not as concentrated as the Les Amis.

Pegau would be mostly Grenache with Shiraz, Mourvedre and some others.

Price is not a main concern but have to be accessible.

Rick Burge's Draycott & Olive Hill have some Rhoniness.

Clonakilla Shiraz Voignier too.

Craiglee shiraz in lighter vintages can be like a St Joseph.

Some of the Spinifex wines have a Rhone-ness about them - they're full of the common and obscure Rhone varietals.

Pegau is Southern Rhone, so you're looking at a Grenache Shiraz Mouvedre blend in some proportions.

Spinifex is a good suggestion (Indigene, Esprit are the two wines). Also take a look at some of the D'Arenberg grenaches (Custodian, Derelict Vineyard etc). Teusner (Avatar I think?) might also be good.

And others that are Southern Rhone like in blend but perhaps not in style, including Charles Melton Nine Popes, various Langmiel wines,

AB

Wizz wrote:Pegau is Southern Rhone, so you're looking at a Grenache Shiraz Mouvedre blend in some proportions.

Spinifex is a good suggestion (Indigene, Esprit are the two wines). Also take a look at some of the D'Arenberg grenaches (Custodian, Derelict Vineyard etc). Teusner (Avatar I think?) might also be good.

And others that are Southern Rhone like in blend but perhaps not in style, including Charles Melton Nine Popes, various Langmiel wines,

AB

Thanks for the advice, where in Brisbane I can get the Spinifex you mention.

Another couple of options

Grant Burge The Holy Trinity & Henschke Johann's Garden, both readily available in Brissie.

Cheers

Nick

Nothing in Australia comes close to Pegau.
I reckon you have more chance with Northern Rhone - Clonakilla is a very good example.

Linc's right. I was blown away by some top 06 CNdP cuvees in December. I still prefer Shiraz predominant but it was an eye-opener.
I'd slip in a top NZ syrah actually and pretend you thought Australia and NZ are all the same .

Jay

Jacques,

You could try Three Hills winery in Margaret River. They had a pretty handy 2004 GSM, and I think they carry a range of back vintages to the early 90's. Also, what about Clarendon Hills- I think they make quite a few grenache wines.

Cheers,

Monghead.

Clarendon Hills, Hickinbotham Grenache, 2001.

Hunter Man wrote:Clarendon Hills, Hickinbotham Grenache, 2001.

I have not tried it, but I really do doubt this comes close to a good cdp. I have lost hope with Australian Grenache... it is what it is, but it is not Chateauneuf....

Lincoln wrote:

Hunter Man wrote:Clarendon Hills, Hickinbotham Grenache, 2001.

I have not tried it, but I really do doubt this comes close to a good cdp. I have lost hope with Australian Grenache... it is what it is, but it is not Chateauneuf....

I wouldn't have reccomended it a few years ago but it has really come around. Also it's the closest thing to a CnDP (a traditional grenache based one) from Australia I've had for a while.

Try one yourself, you might be suprised.

Hunter Man wrote:

Lincoln wrote:

Hunter Man wrote:Clarendon Hills, Hickinbotham Grenache, 2001.

I have not tried it, but I really do doubt this comes close to a good cdp. I have lost hope with Australian Grenache... it is what it is, but it is not Chateauneuf....

I wouldn't have reccomended it a few years ago but it has really come around. Also it's the closest thing to a CnDP (a traditional grenache based one) from Australia I've had for a while.

Try one yourself, you might be suprised.

Thanks for your suggestion and I hope i can get one and try it.

Murray St GSM
Torbreck Steading
Dom Portet Heathcote
IMO