Hunter Valley - There is Hope

In recent years there has been quite a resurgence for Hunter Valley wines from Australia and in particular Hunter Valley Shiraz.  Their naturally lower alcohols of between 12.5% and 13.5% mixed with their rich flavour profiles seems to be the main reasons for this.

Aussie Shiraz's wines have for a long time been known for big flavours and often big alcohol with some hitting as much as 17%!

One of the main proponents for the Hunter Valley and what it can offer the wine enthusiast is the very well respected Australian wine writer James Halliday. He has written a few pieces now on the Hunter Valley and recently wrote a blog on it as well.  In that blog he says "I have commented more than once on my renewed love affair with Hunter Valley Shiraz... The time of harvesting shiraz in the Hunter Valley is not always in the hands of the winemaker, vintage rainfall, hail, searing heat and sunburn, defoliation and a host of other challenges can mean there is no choice. But in the ‘07 and ‘09 vintages, weather conditions were as good as they are ever likely to be for shiraz, and quite beautiful wines were made in these years."

We have found a lovely Hunter Valley Shiraz from 2009, one of the years James picks out as particularly good and worthy of consideration.

This Shiraz comes from a place doing great things in wine; Hope Estate. Typical Hunter Valley style with a smooth, juicy palate with intense berry fruit. Rich mocha and spicy plums lead to an earthy finish. Soft, defined oak characters combined with silky tannins give the wine complexity and great length.

The oak fermentation and maturation have enhanced the peppery and spicy characters of the wine. Whilst the open ferments have increased the fruit intensity and warm colours of the Shiraz.

However, as James points out, "The uniting feature is alcohol levels with a weighted average around 13.5%. The wines have a purity and balance that will see them develop over 20 years (or much longer given screwcaps) gradually picking up that polished leather, sweet earth and forest litter backdrop of great Hunter Shiraz.

Many will be drunk long before they reach this stage, because they are so easy to enjoy in their youth."

This wine is great to enjoy now, but will also reward cellaring for several years as well to allow it to develop some exciting new characteristics and flavours.

You can buy this wine by clicking here.


Blog written by: John Martin