2002 A great year South Australia

Have been a little more disciplined since my credit card account arrived, after our recent sojourn in France; but have attended a couple of freebie tastings trade only in the past couple weeks, both featuring mainly reds from South Australia.

Both presenters commented that 2002 was a difficult vintage, with reduced volumes, but wines of real quality.

I also detect, in quite a few wines, a slight change in direction away from the uniformly formulaic Aussie style ripe flavours; full body lots of alcohol and a big reliance on sweet American oak towards something a little more restrained.

Imagine, an Australian with finesse ;-)))

The first tasting was an all Penfolds affair - best wine of the night was 2002 RWT Barossa Shiraz I hope this red wine trial lasts long enough for the price to drop a little! - a sumptuous, refined wine.

Also presented were a couple of Cellar Reserve varietals, which are worth looking out for - the 2002 Reserve Grenache was a very "un-Rhone-like" succulent wine produced from old, low-yielding vines - not a huge Aussie block-buster, but worth trying if you can find it.

I really liked the 2003 Cellar Reserve Sangiovese, which I believe is another experimental release. Medium bodied palate, ripe in flavour, non-aggressive tannins.

The second tasting was all Victorian - and here is the good oil

Note - profound statement follows!!!!!

When it comes to Australian wines you will all know about Barossa and Coonawarra and maybe McLaren Vale.

Well, watch out for Heathcote, Victoria as a source of some of the biggest Australian Shiraz available. I only managed a smidgeon of Tyrells "Rufus Stone" Shiraz everyone was talking about this wine; very well priced too while the Hanging Rock Heathcote Shiraz 2002 probably needs another decade for the dominant oak to diminish and I am just not waiting that long!!!

My #1 Victorian wine was the 2002 Taltarni Pyrenees Shiraz - here is a real rarity - and Australian with true grace and style which just outshone the 200? Yering Station Reserve Shiraz-Viognier. Greater numbers of Australian winemakers are experimenting with 10-15% Viognier to provide elegance and complexity.

I must say that I was also very impressed with the 2003 Pondalowic Special Release Tempranillo - ripe cherry flavours; nuances of dried fruit and nuts and a big dollop of ripe tannin.

Early summer now in NZ - Bar-b-ques; salads and plenty of beaching - ain't life grand!