Decanter Regional Editor’s guide to Australian Wine Room – Shanghai Encounter

Credit: Wine Australia
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I might have been born in Canada and lived for the past 18 years in London, but I am as Australian as Vegemite, koalas and Kylie Minogue. I grew up there; from primary school through university, my first rungs on the career ladder, learning to drive and – most importantly – learning about wine. So it’s not surprising that even after working in wine for more than 16 years, including 11 at Decanter, tasting wines from first-growth Bordeaux, cult Californian Cabernets and SuperTuscans, that I have a real soft spot for the wines of my homeland.

For connoisseurs, or those just starting out on their wine journey, few line-ups of Australian wine are as comprehensive or impressive as those in our Featured Room this year. Guests truly have unparalleled access to taste some of the country’s most famous bottles – renowned on a global stage – as well as those wines destined to become future Aussie icons.

Andrew Caillard MW, the co-founder of Langton’s wine auctions and the creator of the Langton’s Classification in 1990, describes the three-tier ranking as the ‘form guide’ of Australia’s best-performing wines. It’s a fluid classification that is reviewed every five years and wines can be added, promoted or demoted.

Wines are eligible based on their demand, reputation, quality and track record at auction, and only considered for ranking after a minimum of 10 vintages, so you know that what you’re going to taste in this special room really are Aussie classics.

Like any great wine, its success is dependent on its history and people as much as the liquid itself, so make sure you ask those pouring these special wines a few questions – they will be grateful for your interest.

In the meantime, here are a few of my favourites that I hope you enjoy:

Exceptional

This is the finest tier of the Langton’s Classification. Experience Australia’s most classic and iconic wines, highly prized and sought-after by wine lovers and collectors across the world. These revered wines are the result of generations of effort, inspiration and custodial care of Australia’s most precious vines.

Editor’s pick:

Brokenwood, Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz

I love all Aussie Shiraz, but have a particular soft spot for the silky, medium-bodied style of those from the Hunter Valley. This is Brokenwood’s flagship wine, from vines planted in 1968 and made by legendary chief winemaker Iain Riggs who has been at Brokenwood since 1982. The 2017 vintage was one of only 50 wines that won Best in Show at the 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Cullen, Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot

This year (2019) marks Vanya Cullen’s 30th anniversary as chief winemaker at this famous family-owned property, which is arguably Australia’s most-high-profile biodynamic estate. Diana Madeline is named after her mother and the flagship Chardonnay, Kevin John, is named after her father.

Wynns, John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon

This quintessential Coonawarra Cabernet was first made in 1982 and only released in the best vintages in limited quantities – less than 1% of the estate’s best grapes are deemed worthy enough by chief winemaker Sue Hodder to make the final wine.

Jim Barry, The Armagh

Look out for Decanter’s February 2020 issue where we feature the 1999 vintage of this wine as our Wine Legend, made by another Aussie wine legend himself in the gregarious Peter Barry.

What else you'll taste

Penfolds, Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon

Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Chardonnay

Henschke, Mount Edelstone

Best's Great Western, Thomson Family Shiraz

Chris Ringland, Dry Grown Barossa Ranges Shiraz

Grosset, Polish Hill Riesling

Moss Wood, Cabernet Sauvignon

Giaconda, Estate Vineyard Chardonnay

Outstanding

A showcase of wines categorised as ‘Outstanding’ in the Langton’s Classification, an independent classification that sets the benchmark for Australia’s finest wines.

Credit: Wine Australia
Credit: Wine Australia

Editor’s pick:

Charles Melton, Nine Popes SGM

If you know your French, you’ll probably have guessed that Nine Popes (a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre) is Charlie Melton’s homage to that great Rhône blend of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Would you be able to taste the difference?

Tyrrells, Vat 1 Semillon

Hunter Valley Semillon is incomparable in the world of wine – especially at about 15 years of age with developing characters of lime marmalade on toast and beeswax – and Vat 1 is one of its finest expressions. They have very moderate alcohols of between 10% and 12% plus vibrant acidity making them excellent wines to pair with food.

What else you'll taste

Howard Park, Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon

Langmeil, Freedom Shiraz

Noon Winery, Reserve Shiraz

Penfolds, Yattarna Chardonnay

Woodlands, Family Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Yalumba, The Signature

Yarra Yering, Dry Red No 1.

Seppeltsfield, Para Liqueur Vintage Tawny

Excellent

From some of Australia’s most recognised names, these all-time greats prove their worth year after year. Wines that are expressive, authentic and with enduring appeal.

Credit: Wine Australia
Credit: Wine Australia

Editor’s pick

d'Arenberg, Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon

It won’t be hard to pick out d’Arenberg winemaker Chester Osborn in the crowds at the Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter – he will be the one with long flowing hair, the most colourful shirt and extravagant rings on his fingers! His vast range of wines also have some of the craziest names, and he brings fun props to tastings to explain them all.

De Bortoli, Noble One

If you love the sweet wines of Sauternes and Tokaji then make sure you taste this – Australia’s most famous dessert wine, first made in 1982, with its unique taste coming from Semillon grapes that have been infected with botrytis cinerea (‘noble rot’). If you want to sound like a local, Aussies call sweet wines ‘stickies’!

What else you'll taste

Elderton, Command Single Vineyard Shiraz

John Duval, Plexus Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre

Torbreck, Descendant Shiraz Viognier

Wolf Blass, Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon

Wynns, Michael Shiraz

St Hugo, Cabernet Sauvignon

Pewsey Vale, The Contours Riesling

Yabby Lake, Single Vineyard Pinot Noir

Mount Pleasant, Maurice O'Shea Shiraz

The Rising Stars

This line-up showcases the diversity and evolution of Australian wine, as well as the innovative, creative and pioneering spirit of its winemakers.

Credit: Wine Australia
Credit: Wine Australia

Editor’s pick

Tahbilk, 1927 Old Vines Marsanne

Marsanne is a Rhône variety, usually blended with Roussanne, but Tahbilk actually has the world’s largest plantings and oldest vines. This wine, from those 1927-planted vineyards, is a unique must try.

Campbell’s, The Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat

Can you believe that sweetness of this wine is equivalent to adding 400 teaspoons of sugar per litre? Thankfully while unbelievably rich and intense, it is balanced by fresh acidity. It was one of only 50 wines to win a Best in Show at the 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards.

What else you'll taste

Frankland Estate, Isolation Ridge Riesling

RieslingFreak, No 2 Polish Hill River Riesling

McHenry Hohnen, Calgardup Chardonnay

Shaw and Smith, M3 Chardonnay

Yering Station, Reserve Chardonnay

Ashton Hills, Reserve Pinot Noir

Giant Steps, Applejack Pinot Noir

Timo Mayer, Pinot Noir

Montalto, Pinot Noir

Moorooduc, McIntyre Pinot Noir

Ten Minutes X Tractor, McCutcheon Vineyard Pinot Noir

Tolpuddle, Pinot Noir

Cirillo, 1850 Grenache

Yangarra, High Sands Grenache

Hewitson, Old Garden Mourvedre

Caillard, Mourvedre

Powell And Son, Steinert Flaxman’s Valley Shiraz

SC Pannell, Koomilya Shiraz

Taylor’s, St Andrews Shiraz

Torbreck, The Laird Shiraz

Cloudburst, Cabernet Sauvignon

De Bortoli, Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Yalumba, The Caley Cabernet Shiraz

Translated by Sylvia Wu / 吴嘉溦

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