Jodie Brittain

Classic Australian Wines

Good Australian Wines

Some Australian wines have become highly prized for their excellence and are sought after not just for their taste but for their potential as investments. The most well-known is the Penfolds Grange and this and some of the other classic Australian wines are discussed in this article.

Penfolds is a South Australian winery based in the Barossa Valley. Penfolds Grange is considered the definitive red wine in Australia and since 1951 it has been a model of style and consistency. It is based on Barossa shiraz with some cabernet sauvignon. It has won a host of medals and trophies in major wine Shows and was a well-kept secret until 1995, when the 1990 vintage was awarded Wine of the Year by the American magazine Wine Spectator. This has helped take the price of 1990 Grange from $100.00 per bottle to over $500.00

Penfolds Limited Bin Reds are also highly regarded. Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon is a multi-region blend matured in American oak which represents the pick of the South Australian crop.

Henschke is a small South Australian winery with old vine plantings in Eden Valley as well as some relatively modern plantings in the Adelaide Hills. Henschke’s Hill of Grace and Henschke’s Mount Edelstone are both classic shiraz wines. Hill of Grace first vintaged in 1958.It is generally regarded as Australia's most sought after wine after Grange. This single vineyard wine is produced from old low yielding vines, producing a full bodied complex wine which marries firmness with velvet like fineness with optimum drinking ranging from fifteen to twenty five years. Mount Edelstones first vintage was in 1952 with consecutive vintages, this full bodied wine has consistently been a medal and trophy winner at major Australian and International wine shows. Ideal drinking ranges from ten to twenty years.

Wynns winery is located at Coonawarra in South Australia. Wynn’s John Riddoch and Wynn’s Cabernet Sauvignon are both regarded as classic cabernet sauvignons. John Riddoch was first made in 1982 and is only produced in good years, a full bodied powerful wine with pronounced French oak character. Ideal drinking ranges from fifteen to twenty five years. Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced in 1952. This would be one the best value wines in Australia, offering the consumer a wine ready to drink upon release. It is also a wine with good ageing qualities from ten to twenty years, with a good vintage.

Lindemans in South Australia has two classic wines with St George and Limestone Ridge. Lindemans St George is a cabernet sauvignon . Theyfirst started making this wine in the early 1970's with the most famous being the 1980 vintage winning the 1981 Jimmy Watson Trophy. A medium to full bodied wine ideal for drinking after eight to fifteen years. Limestone Ridge is an excellent example of a shiraz cabernet blend with shiraz being the dominant grape. A consistent medal and trophy winner on the wine show circuit. This is ideal for drinking after eight to fifteen years.

Other classics include Mount Mary cabernets and chardonnay, Seppelts Dorrien Cabernet and Great Western shiraz and Hardys Eileen Shiraz and Eileen Chgardonnay.

Article Tags: Classic Australian Wines, Classic Australian, Australian Wines, South Australian, Cabernet Sauvignon, Full Bodied

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