Earlier this week Matthew Jukes launched his 100 Best Australian Wines Report at Australia House in London. This is the sixteenth year in which he has compiled this snapshot of the greatest Aussie wines in our market.
The criteria for making the grade for this report are simple; the wines must be awesome and they must be available in sufficient quantities to last until at least Christmas.
Made by one of the most sought-after wineries in Australia, the Paringa Estate, Peninsula Shiraz is a wine made in one of the most famous pinot noir territories in the land. Winemaker Lindsay McCall makes both red grapes and every year he creates pinot-like shiraz and shiraz-like pinot. It is almost as if the grapes are close brothers as opposed to being from completely different families.
In complete contrast to the big, muscular shiraz of South Australia or the super-spicy, mineral drenched shiraz of greater Victoria, Paringa Shiraz is succulent, sensual, texturally indulgent and elegant, but with a dark hue, masses of berry notes and a liberal dusting of cinnamon spice. In short, this is a heavenly wine and it is selling at a terrific price, too. Unique and uniquely delicious, seek out this "100 Best"-grade wine soon, before it all disappears.
Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year (matthewjukes.com)