Tag Archives: australian wine

Broaden Your Cab Horizons with Coonawarra

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Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Coonawarra Offers Intriguing Change of Pace from Your Usual Cab

Lo and behold, we are officially one-fourth of the way through 2024. Gulp/gasp.

How’s the year going for you so far? Have you ditched your resolutions yet, or are you still holding strong and leveling up in your life goals? Or did you set “intentions” rather than resolutions?

Most importantly, how many new wines have you tried so far this year – new-to-you grapes, regions, producers, styles? How are you expanding your wine horizons? Deliberately opening up wines from new-to-you places makes for an exciting journey, and it’s usually a lot cheaper than hotels, rental cars, and airfare. 🙂

Let’s take Cabernet Sauvignon. It is the quintessential red wine: bold. Fruity. Tannic. Powerful. Complex. Utterly captivating. Sounds like a leading male character in a bodice ripper! Who can resist its seductive charms?

If you’ve been tasting wine long enough, no doubt you have tried some of the more popular appellations for Cabernet Sauvignon – France (Bordeaux Blends), California, Washington, and many others. There are bajillions of outstanding examples the world over – enough to blog about for 50 lifetimes. And chances are you have your favorite Cabs, I know I do  – for me, Washington, California, and Chile.

But were you aware that Australia is home to some remarkable and distinct Cabernet Sauvignon that is deliciously different from your usual go-to? Maybe you even knew that Shiraz and Chardonnay were some of their top wines, but today, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by their Cabernet Sauvignon!

Now, Australia is a HUGE wine-growing country with TONS of different appellations. Today I am only focusing on one of them, the Coonawarra region.

You may be glancing below at my picture of The Cigar and having images of Al Capone or The Godfather dance through your head. Actually, not quite the reference they were going for. According to Yalumba Winery, “The Cigar is named after the unique cigar-shaped strip of rich red terra rossa soil found only in the Coonawarra.” The soil gets its red color from iron oxide. It is ideal terroir for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing to full body and excellent structure.

No, it does not taste like a cigar….

Here are some facts and my opinions about the
Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon 2018:

  • $38.99 at wine.com
  • Concentrated, full body, 14% ABV
  • Deep ruby, slightly opaque
  • Intriguing aromatics on the nose: mint/eucalyptus, floral (violet/lavender), blackberry, plum, hay, strawberry cream, black currant
  • Flavors: black currant, plum, cherry
  • Luscious, nice level of acidity
  • Strong fruit but it’s not center stage, more of a supporting character on the side
  • Beautiful tannins that are powerful, strong, and gripping but fine
  • Beautiful acidity that comes back up and around in your mouth so you keep craving another sip
  • Excellent, long, complex finish

This was a fascinating wine to try and I would gladly recommend it. Consider it a challenge to change up your usual red wine routine and dig into Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon!

Fun fact: did you know that the eucalyptus notes you often get in Australian reds are due to actual oils from nearby leaves blowing onto the vineyards? Strangely enough, the aroma compounds do end up in the wine!

Terroir.

Magical.

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Red Purists, Take Note: The Allure of Australian Chardonnay

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Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

This Aussie Chardonnay May Make You Rethink Your Red Wine Only Allegiance

Most wine drinkers fall into the two main camps of red wine drinkers and white wine drinkers. While some are “all or nothing” red or white drinkers, I’d venture to say many of us prefer one camp over the other, but we don’t exclusively identify with just that one type of wine (ahem, politics, anyone?).

I myself prefer red wine over white. It’s usually much more interesting to me and also the health-promoting polyphenols are found in the reds, not the whites, so it’s for that reason also.

However, Chardonnay is a white wine that surprises me at each new encounter and causes me to question my red-wine-only preferences. It is such an intriguing grape, expressing itself in the glass in countless different ways. I’ve become fascinated with it lately, and my goal is to become better acquainted with it. #winegoals

Chardonnay is a noble white wine grape that is grown all over the world and does well in a variety of climates. It can be aged in oak barrels, which impart notes of vanilla, coconut, etc. or in stainless steel tanks, which do not impart any flavors and allow the wine to express itself in an unadulterated fashion. Some Chardonnays undergo malolactic fermentation, a process whereby malic acid is converted to lactic acid, and this results in the unctuous, buttery notes you sometimes get in a Chardonnay.

Penfolds Max's Chardonnay Adelaide HillsIn keeping with my little Aussie theme this week, I’ve got a wonderful Chardonnay for you (not Yellow Tail). 😉 This Australian Chardonnay I tried recently made me weep with ecstasy made me stand back and take note of how serious and attention-worthy some white wines can be! It’s from the Adelaide Hills region in South Australia. Penfolds notes that it is “A contemporary style Chardonnay, fresh and finely structured. This wine delivers pure fruit flavours balanced by bright, crisp natural acidity and complexity afforded from time in barrel.” According to Wine Folly: The Master Guide (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases), some Aussie winemakers are – get this – bridging the gap between the two style camps of oak-aged Chardonnay and stainless steel Chardonnay, and combining the two in their bottles of wine. A great idea I can get behind because the wine it yields is outstanding!

Here is the scoop on the Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay 2018:

  • $20.99
  • Pale straw color
  • Full body, 13% ABV
  • Modest acidity
  • Aromas/flavors: stone fruits, baked apple, lime, grapefruit, rose, white flowers, balanced by compelling minerality
  • Moderate finish, good warmth and acidity on the finish

So, whether you fancy white or red, look around for this Chardonnay when you want a wine that is beautiful, strong, elegant, and endlessly intriguing.

How about you? Do you have an Australian (or any) kind of Chardonnay you love? Do tell!

*Unfortunately this particular wine is out of stock at the moment on wine.com. 😦

But when I asked for some other similar recommendations, these were mentioned. 🙂

Please note I have not personally tried these yet, but they sound great and are in keeping with the style of the Penfolds Chardonnay. Until then, keep your eyes peeled for this wine or try the following!

Margaret River: Fantasy Travel and Wine Destination

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Fulfill Your Travel Fantasies through Tasting this Margaret River Australian Shiraz

I live in the Pacific Northwest, one of the most stunningly gorgeous places on earth. I am surrounded by pristine mountain ranges, bodies of water, nonstop greenery, and dramatic landscapes.

But, like most humans, the urge to blow the popsicle stand and pursue a change of scenery pops up every now and then. Especially during the colder, rainier, overcast months, and especially with spring break right around the corner. Cue wanderlust-inducing travel videos!

During the lockdown orders of the pandemic, after we would finish watching our online church service on YouTube, various other videos would automatically play as soon as our service was done. For some reason, this video played and it immediately captivated me (YouTube knows my heart!).

Who wouldn’t want to go here? Check this place out, it has everything! (drooling…)

Wow…. Now this is a place worth exploring – if not in person, then at the very least through the wines. Wine is such a great way to travel, am I right?

Margaret River is an Australian wine appellation world-renowned for incredible wines. Australia is famous for its powerhouse wines with full body, high alcohol, and gregarious tannins – thanks to all that sunshine and heat causing very juicy grapes with high sugar content. During fermentation, yeasts eat sugar and convert it to alcohol and carbon dioxide, so the higher the sugar content in the grapes, the higher the alcohol in the resulting wine. What makes Margaret River a little different is that while they still get lots of lovely warmth and sunshine, they are also right on the ocean and subject to cooling winds. This means the grapes stay a little more acidic and this yields wines with great acidity and structure to age well.

According to Totalwine.com,

“The same qualities that make Margaret River terrific beachfront property help to create outstanding wines. Margaret River wines benefit from the Mediterranean-style climate, with its consistent moderate temperatures and dry summers. The gravelly, sandy soils drain easily, and inland rolling hills and forests protect vineyards from strong ocean winds. The result is elegant and flavorful wines.”

I am working my way through the tail-end of the course The Everyday Guide to Wine (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases). For the lecture on Australia and Tasmania, a recommended wine to taste was a Shiraz (just Australia’s way of saying Syrah, same grape) from Western Australia. Perfect opportunity to try a Margaret River wine!

The wine I opened is the Miles From Nowhere Shiraz. Here are the details and my impressions:

  • $14.99 at Total Wine
  • Year: 2020
  • 14.5% ABV
  • Medium-bodied, medium acidity, dense but silky, integrated tannins
  • Aromas/Flavors: black cherry, black currant, blueberry, spices, pepper, eucalyptus, bubblegum, tea tree
  • Very smooth
  • Long finish

In sum, this is a good wine and I would drink it again, but I would like to explore some other producers from the area just to compare.

Here is a great video from Wine Folly with a few more interesting details on what makes this region special and some perspective on three additional wines. I have not taken this particular Margaret River wine course but I use the book Wine Folly: Magnum Edition all the time in my studies (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases). This course looks very cool. 🙂

 

How about you? Have you ever tried a wine from the Margaret River Wine Region? What would you recommend? I would love to hear your suggestions!

Happy taste bud travels! 🙂

When Time Isn’t On Your Side: What to Drink

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All too familiar scenario: you drag through the door on a Friday night after a long week of work and while you would love to immediately start indulging in a glass of wine, you have a moderately nice bottle that requires a couple hours worth of aerating/decanting (for optimal taste, you’re a wine connoisseur, after all) and you absolutely cannot wait. Seriously, who has time for nonsense like that at times like these? It’s time to start winding down from your long week and focus on relaxing. A glass of wine is a lovely addition to this process and you need unfettered access ASAP.

This past week was brutal. I was unusually overwhelmed by things that needed to get done, and wasn’t easy on myself about them. Rest assured, my week ended joyfully, but during much of it I was super pressed for time, cramming umpteen tasks that I needed to get done into every minute of the day. This is only natural on weeks where there is more to do than usual. I don’t mind being busy, but I need space and time to relax and recharge. I do better that way. But I also don’t want to miss out on fun activities or neglect the things I really do need to get done (you know, like showering).

A tempting treat from the Land Down Under that’s under $10 a bottle, 2010 Rosemount Estate Diamond Label Shiraz (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases) is a wine that drinks BEAUTIFULLY without needing decanting. You can drink it the second you pop the cork. I poured some in our decanter but it made scant difference. Voilà instant gratification, pour away!

From the tasting notes: “A full bodied, juicy sweet palate with cherry, chocolate and plum flavours with a smooth finish.” I find it smooth and easily drinkable, but it possesses enough flavor complexity to pair very well with red wine foods, particularly a rich beef stew or pasta, or even Afghan cuisine (yes, I’ve had this wine with Afghan cuisine at a local restaurant, and it’s awesome). On its own, it’s mellow and yummy.

For those of you who pride yourselves on time-saving tricks and tactics, put this red wine at the top of your list for “time-saving” wines. Now go have a glass and relax!

Time is
Too slow for those who wait
Too swift for those who fear
Too long for those who grieve
Too short for those who rejoice
But for those who love
Time is eternity.

~ Henry Van Dyke