Ace Australian Wines at the Vancouver International Wine Fest

G’Day to all my wine drinking mates.  The Aussies came in force to the Vancouver International Wine Fest and showed off their best, from Shiraz to Chardonnay and many other varietals and blends in between.  I can say that the wines I tasted were Fair Dinkum. Some of the wines really caught my eye so I thought I’d share these with you.  Some are at the Festival only, but others are available at the BC SIgnature Liquor stores across BC.  So give it a burl!

The theme grape this year was Syrah/Shiraz, and I have a few wines listed here, and I will have another article just dedicated to this grape variety.

White Wines

Devil’s Lair Margaret River Chardonnay 2012 – Nice light citrus and honey on the nose.  Medium body, round a silky in the mouth with tropical fruit flavours.  Very light oak and some minerality.

Evans & Tate Metricup Road Chardonnay 2013 – Light green vegetal nose.  Medium body, soft with light citrus and stone fruit flavours. A  bit of toast on the finish.  An elegant wine.

Grape Expectations Franklin Tate Estate Alexander’s Vineyard Chardonnay 2013 – Nice light white flowers and white peach aromas.  Dry, medium body with a lighter mouth feel.  Stone fruit flavours.  Very light oak. Another elegant wine.

Peter Lehmann Wines H&V Barossa Verdejo 2014 – Light red and crab apple aromas.  Light body, mineral with apple and flower flavours.  Dry.  Very tasty!

Coldstream Hills Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2013 – Nice apple and vanilla aromas.  Dry, medium body, with a bit of roundness on the palate.  Flavours of apples, flowers and a hint of vanilla.

McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Appellation Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2013 – Light apple nose.  Dry, medium body, light acidity and a bit of roundness to the mouth feel.  Citrus with a green edge on the palate. Some bitterness and spice on the finish. Nice.

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2008 – I was told by Bruce Tyrrell that 2008 was a cooler, wetter year and they held this wine back a bit longer before releasing it to the public, and it is now showing quite well.  And I agree.  Very nice nose with aromas of apples, and pears.  Dry to off-dry, with medium plus acidity but still soft in the mouth.  Medium intensity citrus flavour together with some minerality. Very elegant.

Berton Vineyards Metal Label Vermentino 2013 – a truly Italian white grape, that I was surprised to see coming out of Australia. This wine had a nice light tropical fruit nose. Fuller bodied, round and silky.  Slightly off-dry.  Light spice and stone fruit flavours.  Medium acidity on the finish.

Red Wines

Nugan Estate Alfredo Dried Grape Shiraz 2012 – Dark fruit nose.  Full body with a heavier mouth feel.  Ripe dark fruit, and a hint of sweet fruit.  A quality wine.

Jacob’s Creek St. Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – Medium intensity cassis and vanilla nose.  Fuller bodied, medium acidity and fine tannins.  Ripe plums, raspberries and in overall juicy, ripe fruit.  Some minerality, with a peppery finish. Nice.

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz 2012 – Very nice nose with aromas of cherries and sweet spices.  Dry, medium body with a light mouth feel.  Fine tannins.  Sweet and sour cherries, vanilla and bramble berry flavours.

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Quartage 2012 – Medium intensity dark fruit and oak on the nose.  Full body, dry, with flavours of ripe raspberries and dark fruit.  Medium acidity and fine tannins. A very nice wine.

WD Wines St. John’s Road Barossa Motley Brunch GSM 2012 – Nice ripe raspberries, red fruit and vanilla aromas. Medium body and acidity.  Some minerality.  Flavours of red cherries and raspberries.  Very fruity.  Fine tannins.  Slightly off dry with a peppery finish.

Brothers in Arms No. 6 Shiraz 2009 – Ripe dark fruit and coffee on the nose. Fuller bodied, with more coffee and dark fruit flavours.  Some minerality and fine tannins.  A joy to enjoy.

Hardy’s Wines Tintara McLaren Vale Shiraz 2012 – Nice sweet dark fruit nose.  Full body, with soft tannins.  Ripe dark fruit flavours, with some minerality showing up later on the palate.

Shaw + Smith Tolpuddle Pinot Noir 2013 – A cool climate Pinot coming out of Tasmania with a bit of wildness.  Sweet candied cherry nose.  Meaty, mineral, smoky, and cherry flavours.

In addition to these wines, there were a few others that I recommended in an earlier post for the preview to the Wine Festival.  Read my Aussie wine selections from the preview here.  Overall I must say that the Australians put forth some strong, New World style wines, with many showing more restraint on the oak, and are quite elegant.