Being able to taste a Wendouree in Central Europe feels special When my Aussie connection, Attila Halász came to Budapest in the summer, he brought two bottles with him actually – what a treat it was. Especially as one was the shiraz, the most admired wine of this cult producer.
shiraz
Cru quality Cotes du Rhone: Saint Cosme 2023
I bought Saint Cosme wines every year around 2010 and really loved the producer – I even visited them in 2013 which was a great experience. Then I somehow missed many vintages so I was happy to re-visit them again – and what a return! This basic cuvée was always great value but the current vintage is next level. I need to buy more!
Yalumba Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
I’m sure that many wine lovers will rate this Yalumba higher and indeed it has the depth of a serious wine, yet it failed to impress me.
Yalumba Y Series Shiraz & Viognier 2019
World class South African syrah: Rall Ava 2018
A masterpiece. A syrah from South Africa that’s right up there with the first class of this variety from anywhere in the World.
Supermarket wines – Günzer Syrah 2020, Villány
The first syrah plantings in Villány date back to the early 2000s if I’m not mistaken, and the variety is still not widespread in the region. Yet there are quite cheap and affordable bottlings around, like this one, available at 5 Euros in Auchan.
Magnificent Australian shiraz: Tyrrell’s 8 Acres 2018
Tasted at the same event as the Wendouree shiraz, this is another amazing wine from Down Under. I bet this would not look out of class when placed next to the very best syrah from France… Continue reading
The best wine I tasted in 2022: Wendouree Shiraz 2019
Wendouree is one of the hardest wines to get. Unless you live in Australia and you are one of the lucky few who are on the mailing list of this legendary producer. The only reason I tasted their wines during the last decade is that a friend of mine from Sydney brings one or two every year when he is visiting us here in Budapest. But this was the first time for me in 2022 July to taste the shiraz, probably Wendouree’s most highly regarded red. Continue reading
Caves de Tain Saint-Joseph Nobles Rives 2019
A powerful Saint-Joseph syrah. Good, yes, many will love it, but it lacks some Northern Rhone charm for me.
Barossa Shiraz done well: Kaesler Reach For The Sky 2018
Big reds were still popular when I started to explore Barossa shiraz but they were difficult to get in this part of the World (Hungary), so there are many famous producers whose wines I never tasted. Kaesler is one of them and even though the wine world has changed since then, I still love big Aussie reds, given that they are not a caricature of a wine.