Sipping and swirling a glass of rich red red wine is the ideal indulgence over winter, and these three bold Aussie reds stave off the cold doldrums and icy isolation. here are our tasting notes on wines that will really keep you pleased till spring.
When I was growing up in the UK, there used to be a show on the BBC called simply Food and Drink. In one of the sections, host Jilly Goolden would talk red wine with her co-host Oz Clarke, and their descriptions of the red wine they were sampling became a bit of a running joke.
Hedgerows, pencil shavings, soil and even rubber were all descriptors that I remember laughing at and that were lampooned by numerous a comedian of the time.
Everyone – possibly even fellow oenophiles – thought they were taking it a bit far.
And who knows if these seemingly incongruent epithets were really what Jilly and Oz were tasting in their glasses, the trouble is I think it put a lot of people off.
Rather than encouraging folk to try different wines and explore their flavours, the show highlighted the worst side of wine: the effected, pretentious snobbery that puts people off going to wineries or even getting enthusiastic about flavours.
Such a shame; such a squandered opportunity.
Since then, worry of ‘getting into’ red wine has faded. The reasons why people swirl the red wine like a washing machine, why they sniff the red wine before they taste, why they stare at the red wine through sides of the glass go back to appreciating the best of the red wine rather than just looking like a wanker.
But I digress.
These three wines that we’ve tried and tasted are absolutely ideal for dodging the cold months and warming yourself from the inside out.
You can view our wine-tasting video of these three tipples on our IGTV episode here:
Midwinter wine-tasting – 3 reds you can bank on
While these wines aren’t your everyday swiggers – mostly because of the price point – they are terrific value for their quality and are ideal for a dinner party, special occasion or a birthday gift, or a sign of appreciation for Father’s or Mother’s Day.
Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2018
Pinot Noir is a fantastic red wine style that’s versatile to match with many cuisine and complex enough to drink on its own without food. and this Bay of Fires Pinot is the ideal example of that.
Intense flavours of stone fruit and gentle aniseed notes and cinnamon spices makes this Pinot Noir a refreshing yet exuberant wine. The dynamic scarlet colours and sweet strawberry aromas combine with the flavours of this red wine to create a beautifully balanced, well-structured red wine that lingers and impresses.
The amazing climates of Tasmania create beautifully complex wines anyway, and this winery really shows this off well.
Available at leading sellers nationally at RRP $62.00.
Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2018
We’ve been fans of grant Burge wines for a while now – their sparkling red wine is outstanding – and this full-bodied, rich Barossa Shiraz does the winery proud.
Even as you pour this wine, the colour captivates. Its dark, dark red colour with a glimmer of ruby gives up the clues of what you’re about to enjoy.
On the nose, this Filsell Shiraz has a chocolatey, warm aroma with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla. smells of dark fruit we all associate with winter season come through too, which is reflected in the taste.
Smooth, rich and dense, this red wine coats the mouth luxuriantly and leaves the dark chocolate and coffee notes for you to delight in long after you’ve finished the first sip.
Good on its own, this red wine would also shine next to a hearty roast, a steak or even a good cigar. keep it (if you can) for up to 20 years, whereby the flavours and texture of this Shiraz will develop exponentially.
Available from all major sellers and independent bottle shops at RRP $44.00.
Brookland Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
A discerning winery in the Margaret River, Brookland Valley doesn’t produce their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon every year. They wait until the vines give out their best crop of grapes and then thoroughly hand-pick the harvest and open-ferment the red wine – a conventional and much more complex technique.
They then mature the red wine in the finest French oak barrels to craft what is this winery’s flagship Cab Sauv. The result is extraordinary.
From the moment the red wine hits the glass, you know you’re in for something special. practically black, this bold yet deep red wine releases rich aromas of dark chocolate, black cherry and spice.
Flavours in the Brookland Valley Reserve Cabernet are profound. Hints of vanilla and mocha blend with an savoury earthiness that only comes from a exceptional red wine that’s ageing well. If you can hold off, this red wine will get even better over the next 10-15 years.
This is a big red wine ideal for a big roast or a thick-cut steak. even a pasta or gnocchi dish with a rich, slow-cooked ragu would be amazing with this wine.
Available at Brookland Valley Cellar Door or online, and from independent sellers at RRP $70.00.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these wines – especially over the winter season months. they’re hearty, comforting and warm the very soul.
The only risk with drinking them is you’ll all of a sudden want to become a red wine expert, waxing lyrical about hedgerows, pencil shavings and soil… though hopefully not rubber!
We were gifted these red wine samples.