Am I the only person who hates Australian wine?

Rosemount Estate Diamond Label Shiraz/Cab

There is a world of difference between "Old World" and "New World" wines, with the former being less fruit-driven than the latter. But the fact that you like Chilean Cabs and Californian wines would seem to indicate that that isn't where your problems arise. Also, your description of what you encounter in them would tend to suggest other explanations, too. Since you appear to be in the UK, what Aussie wines have you based this conclusion on? Is it possible that you've only been exposed to their plonk and haven't yet had one of the better examples? I am not a big fan of many Aussie wines, either, because I find them too "gobby" (jammy fruit and lacking in acidity) to pair with food. However, I have enjoyed certain of Penfolds wines, especially their Bin

389 Cab-Shiraz and their Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz, so maybe try one if you haven't already.

Good luck! Mark Lipton

Mark

More like a troll from this side of the pond.

BTW, had Penfolds RWT 2001 on Friday night. Thick as port, oaky syrah nose which was complex and subdued, huge fruit entry with tannins ++, yet very drinkable. The boss said not her kind of wine, but after an hour had opened up, spice and toothpaste, Drinking now but will try again 3 years,

I wondered about that, but didn't do the research to establish one way or another. The question seemed sincere, though.

Spice and toothpaste: what a gustatory "image." I don't know the RWT, but a recent (ca. '06) taste of the Penfolds lineup left me quite let down: across the board, too minty and/or oaky for my tastes. No St. Henri, Kamlimna or 389, though, and they are usually my favorites of the lineup.

Mark Lipton

Well, "Confused", I guess it's a matter of taste - I liked most of the Aussie wines I tried BECAUSE they were on the acidic side. As a Yank, I get American produce most of the time, but I sometimes venture into other countries' wines.

Dan-O

It's OK to give it another go -- another last shot; and it's OK to just drink other wines from other countries. But there are so many other countries to choose from; why waste your time on Australian wines? Price? Availability?

I've decided not to spend my money or time and energy looking for another Australian wine. I gave up that ghost a while ago. (Although I did write down Mark's recommendation, I'll probably use the money for a bottle from another country.) Dee Dee

Black Stump actually exists

The Black Stump Durif Shiraz 2005

James James Dempster

You know you've had a good night when you wake up and someone's outlining you in chalk.

It sounds like you've been drinking cork tainted wine from a bad blender. As an Aussie, I'll be the first to accept that our wine industry exports a lot of crap where it thinks it will be accepted just because of the label. Of the bulk-produced labels exported, Rosemount diamond label (already mentioned) is a good starting point for an acceptable brand. Work upwards from there! Beware of phrases on the bottle such as "Produce of South Eastern Australia". Its not a specific wine region and usually means "cobbled together from what we could buy cheap". Buy wine from well accepted specific regions, such as Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Barrossa Valley, Margaret River, Swan Valley. Don't give up because you've been conned into buying from the bottom of the barrel.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. However, I've tried more than my share. Not all were cork tainted nor have I been connned -- as far as I know ;-)) Just don't like Australian wines that I've tried. Dee Dee

I have always found the vast majority of Aussie wines have the same "cooked" flavor that is common with wines which were produced from central California valley grapes. I have also noted the flavor in bottles that have been shown the oven in some way - maybe it is the shipping methods of the more "inexpensive" Aussie wineries.

Australia, just like other places in the world, makes fine wines and they make cheap poor wines. And others in between.

To verify this, I would suggest that you get someone to arrange a blind tasting for you of decent wines (don't choose cheap ones), in pairs--one from Australia and the other from elsewhere, each of the pair made from the same grape. See if you can pick out which of each pair is from Australia. My guess is that you will not come close to being able to do this consistently.

-- Ken Blake Please Reply to the Newsgroup

I second the motion! Try a Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley. It won't be the big jammy Shiraz style you seem to be running into and not enjoying.

I agree with you. Because my guess is that I will not come close to being able to do this with wines from Chile & Portugal; etc. etc. I applaud people that can. I've seen experts do taste testing, and I'm no expert. I appreciate your advice, tho. I hear what you're saying.

DH just came home with 11 bottles of wine from Gary's in New Jersey.

8 were from Spain, 2 from France, 1 from Italy. We used to drink Spanish wines in the 70's, so we thought we'd go thru some again. His preference is France, then Italian; mine Italian, though we do try others.

Dee

If you "hear what I'm saying," I may not need to add this comment, but my point is simply that it doesn't make much sense to say that you don't like wines from Australia (or anyplace else) if you are not able to identify that a wine is from Australia.

-- Ken Blake Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Dee Dee what were the French wines please? tonight at dinner I had a Beaune, it was superb and i don't like reds too much!!!

You win! Dee