Aussie Wines that taste as good as they look!

I'm not sure if i'm alone here but I find that when it comes to the wines of our Aussie cousins I need to tread a little carefully.  I know that some of the best wines in the world that originate here, but for the more affordable wines I just find that there is often a couple of issues.  Foremost amongst which is wines that look great or sound totally wacky with comedy names.  I'll be honest I like this about the Aussies, being able to instantly pick out a well-designed bottle on the shelf and perhaps even then have a quiet chuckle when I read the name appeals to the silly side of me.  The problem is just when the actual wine does not live up to the hype the disappointment is even greater, so really they have to over deliver.  When re-discovering some of our newest Australian additions I happened across a whole sphere of fabulous wines at a good price that offer something strangely refined in a country where it seems that muscle and intensity is everything, when it comes to Shiraz at least!

Vinaceous Divine Light Sauvignon Blanc 2013.

Standing at 12.5% ABV and coming out of the Margaret River, where I have actually just visited, I was pleased to find a Sauvignon from here that did not insist upon blending with Semillon!  A healthy natural acidity within the grapes coupled with minimal skin contact during fermentation makes for a really delicate and fresh style of Sauvignon.  The nose is quite mild but the flavours of pineapple and mango just build and build where the citrus freshness comes through.  It is the sourcing of fruits from different sub-regions of Margaret River that offer different qualities to the wine and offer the end complexity.  We agree with James Haliday who gave this 94/100 points
£13.24 per bottle or £153.22 per case of 12

Riposte Stiletto Pinot Gris 2013.

With a little further Alcohol at 13% the small amount of residual sugar within the wine serves to enhance the natural flavours and balance the wine overall.  This Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris sees a very small amount of time in French Oak combined with Malolactic fermentation all give this wine a very smooth creamy texture that compliments and enhances the tropical & stone fruit smoothie flavours.  It comes as no surprise that wine maker Tim Knappstein is something of a pioneer and hugely regarded figure in Australia who has won a string of awards for all his wines including this Pinot Gris.  I have to say this style has really won me over to the case of Pinot Gris.
£15.11 per bottle or £174.92 per case of 12

 Rob Dolan True Colours Chardonnay 2012.

ABC (Anything But Chardonnay)?  Let us change your mind please!  Normally that means breaking out the unoaked Chardonnay, well Rob Dolan has created possibly the best introduction to Chardonnay and in particular Chardonnay with delicate integrated oak.  For those of you still reading, I am not a massive fan of heavily oaked wines, but the key words here are delicate and integrated, the oak just feels like it belongs alongside the warming tropical fruits and balanced acidity.  Rob Dolan, Yarra Valley in Victoria and voted newcomer of the year, this ex Aussie rules star has a surprising ability to show off some finesse!
£167.27 per case of 12

Route du Van Dolcetto-Shiraz 2012

79% Dolcetto and just 21% Shiraz but does the Shiraz make the Dolcetto or does the Dolcetto make the Shiraz?  Frankly with a wine this good I just don't care about those kind of technicalities, I just want to savour it and enjoy it.  This was most probably everyone's highlight of the night.  Whilst the combination is unusual it makes total sense when you try it, the softer, earthy characters of the Dolcetto are magnified by a spicy shiraz incorporating parma violet and rich plum jam.  Unoaked, just like the Italians, this is a scarily drinkable wine with silky fine grained tannin.  Honestly if you aren't sold by now then there's no hope!
£11.68 per bottle or £135.10 per case of 12

 Riposte Cutlass Shiraz 2012

Another almighty showing by Tim Knappstein in the Adelaide Hills.  At 14% ABV you might be expecting the usual monster Shiraz, alas if that is what you love, The Riposte Cutlass Shiraz has just a little more refinement to it, in part owing to the position up in the Adelaide Hills.  If, however, you are left needing to instantly brush your teeth and have a long lie down after the average Aussie Shiraz then this small batch (genuinely) hand crafted option will be just the ticket for you.  There is plenty of body and flavours of menthol and white pepper but it is just sublimely smooth and balanced.  "It's Shiraz Tim, but not as we know it!"
£17.40 per bottle or £201.46 per case of 12

 Vinaceous Raconteur Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

For the final wine of the evening we head back to Margaret River and for one of the regions specialities, Cabernet Sauvignon.  I am stuffed if I know why but Cabernet from most parts of the world just fail to excite me, neither wonderful or awful, Australia is one of the few places I see real potential in the varietal as a standalone grape.  Vinaceos do it exceptionally well, 100% Willyabrup old vine fruit, the nose just leaps out at you with lemongrass and all sorts of sweet spices alongside fresh fruits and herbal notes.  What's nice to see here is a decent amount of acidity keeping the whole wine refreshing and balance the 14% ABV.
£14.21 per bottle or £164.54 per case of 12

There you have it a line-up of 6 totally different wine styles, offering something from the more refined side of Australia, oh and have you noticed?  Not a mention of the Barossa once!