Top 100 Wines: Great Blends
Top 100 Wines: Great Blends
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Nowhere does the joyous mix of grenache, shiraz and mataro better than SA, and the all-Australian duet between shiraz and cabernet is a great combination for all occasions.
Taylors Promised Land 2013 Shiraz Cabernet
This all-Aussie blend of shiraz and cabernet (and vice versa) works wonders in the bargain end of the red spectrum, one variety supporting the other, two heads better than one, here all about the harmony of different fruit notes, plum foremost, blackberry next, with a sweet juicy palate and medium-weighted mouth feel. Value.
★★★1/2
SA various
Food: Mixed barbecue grills
$14
Bremerton 2012 Tamblyn
A lovely, easy-drinking blend of key regional varieties – cabernet sauvignon (44%), shiraz (35%), malbec (15%) and merlot (6%) – with the cabernet’s ripe black berries and forest-like aromas demanding notice above the steady balance of sweet fruits, fleshiness and complete expression of sticky black juice and grip.
★★★★
Langhorne Creek
Food: Sirloin, béarnaise sauce
$18
Partisan 2012 Trenchcoat GSM
The regional meets varietally supple mix of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre (aka mataro) is worth noting as a style that increasingly defines the Vales district, here in full, ripe crimson and darker fruits with excellent balance for its 15 per cent alcohol rating. Full tote red with cherry and spice typical of the blend. Vibrant and full of character.
★★★★
McLaren Vale
Food: Goat curry
$20
Paracombe 2011 The Reuben
One of the hits of last year’s Top 100, this “Bordeaux blend” of cabernet sauvignon (46%), cabernet franc (26%), merlot (17%) malbec (9%) and 2% shiraz is looking smart again. A little tighter in its shape due to a cooler vintage, but still pure-fruited in a cassis spectrum with savoury, fine-grained texture and anise, earthy edges.
★★★★
Adelaide Hills
Food: Lamb shoulder, shawarma style
$21
Yalumba The Strapper 2012 Grenache Shiraz Mataro
The Valley’s shiraz was not the only beneficiary of a wonder vintage, with the grenache leading this harmonic blend offering wonderful perfume, attractive light fruitcake notes, with great juicy and spicy shiraz adding energy in the midfield. Full of rustic underlayers left to excite the palate without interference. Authentic.
★★★★
Barossa Valley
Food: Chilli con carne
$21
Anvers 2012 Razorback Road
A mix of shiraz and cabernet in an 80:20 blend with lovely balance in the black fruits and licorice lines of the former, delineated neatly beside the structure and backbone of the latter, adding weight and respect. A mix of French and American oak maturation adds a well-entwined sweet fruit-spice complexity.
★★★★
Adelaide Hills
Food: Goat ragu, soft polenta
$22
Metala 2012 Shiraz Cabernet
One of the great traditional reds of the region, released first in 1961 and still going strong with this beautiful vintage – rich, juicily oozing blackberry juices, some regionally noted gum leaf. It is full-bodied with good cabernet aroma and pleasing shiraz fruit sweetness. Lots going for it as a great Australian blend and widely available at good pricing.
★★★★
Langhorne Creek
Food: Sausages, best gravy possible.
$23
Three Dark Horses 2013 G+T Grenache Touriga
A great example of contemporary winemaking pushing the boundaries in winemaking techniques as well as in the artful presentation of exciting red grape flavours that steer away from more trad oak impact. It has juicy red fruits with an earthy, bloody edge that will interest anyone keen to explore new tastes.
★★★★1/2
McLaren Vale
Food: Tea-smoked quail
$25
Serafino 2012 Grenache Shiraz Mataro
Right on song, this GSM’s signature points come with ease and confidence, plus just a tinge of oak to deepen a darker fruit spectrum than many others in the same category display. It’s beautifully weighted, medium to full bodied, balanced, poised and enhanced delightfully by a supportive hug of fine finishing tannins.
★★★★1/2
McLaren Vale
Food: Grass-fed T-bone
$26
Teusner Joshua
Starting with grenache in the lead, then bringing Barossa’s adored old mataro into a more vital role with shiraz in support, this is an unoaked, juicy style that shows quite a deal of dark fruits, good bright lift and crunch on the palate. There is plenty of body and muscle even without barrel impact. Lots of action and interest.
★★★★1/2
Barossa Valley
Food: Korean hot pot
$29
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