New plantings in cooler-climate regions and changes in the vineyard and cellar have led to a rise in quality, diversity of styles and varietal expression, says Anthony Rose.
In the next two weeks try 16 Australian Shiraz wines priced under £20 and recommended by Decanter experts. All are available to buy in China.
First published on the June Issue of Decanter magazine. Click to subscribe>>
A composed and gentle wine with admirable freshness underneath the savoury framework. It is not showy, but spicy, meaty and seductive.
Sweet perfumed blueberries combine with spicy notes and juicy tannins. The palate is a little raw at this stage but given some time it should relax.
A delicate chocolate nose is heading to a more savoury style on the palate. There's a surprising amount of vanilla-violet oak sweetness though, and fresh acid spine.
Blueberries and cherries lead the nose with attractive herbal top-notes; it is halfway to a Rhone style. The palate continues this theme, with added pepper and marzipan characters that may not be traditionally Barossa but has real conviction and presence
Sage and liquorice aromas are encompassed by sweetly ripe berries and gentle truffle notes. It has quite chunky acidity and tannins, giving it a relatively burly structure revealing a more fluid texture as it develops.
The aromas are closed at first but open onto a graphite element alongside ripe apricot and blackberry fruit. Mouth-coating tannins are supported by a firm spine of acidity. An intelligent expression of place.
Ballsy, evocative mint-and-blackberry aromas peek through underneath a sweet peppery veneer. This is a classic Clare Valley style full of blueberries and purity, with alcohol protruding slightly on the finish.
A youthful nose that is on the savoury side, keeping its cards close to its chest. Soft leather runs through the fluid, gently extracted palate with a touch of lead pencil shavings and an underlying creamy texture.