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Anyone here able to enlighten me? I need a wine for dummies guide!

Forget white, I can't stand it.
Pink I like, as long as it's more dry than sweet
Red, I hadn't touched for 8 years until this week, but I love it.

What's all this merlot, Shiraz, rijocca etc etc all about? Which countries are supposed to make good wine? Why?
How the heck to I pick a yummy one?!

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Former Member

Try and get a Buckfast 89.

It'll cost ya though

1/21/143:08 PM

Former Member

If I drink wine it's weight watchers white .

1/21/143:08 PM

MoonieMember VIP10 years

I am a voddie and coke man Sweet so cant help, sorry

1/21/143:08 PM

~Sparkling Summer~Member 10 years

The curiosity will annoy me, I have to find out! I wonder if it's about the grapes, or the fermenting technique...

1/21/143:10 PM

Former Member

Originally Posted by ~Sweet Summer~:

The curiosity will annoy me, I have to find out! I wonder if it's about the grapes, or the fermenting technique...

Best wines by variety 2014

By James Halliday.

I make my usual disclaimer: while there are two periods of intense tasting activity in the 12 months during which the tasting notes for this edition were made, and while some wines are tasted more than once, an over-arching comparative tasting of all the best wines is simply not possible, however desirable it might be.
So the points for each individual wine scoring stand uncorrected by the wisdom of hindsight. Nonetheless, the link between variety and region (or, if you prefer, between variety and terroir) is in most instances strikingly evident.

Best of Riesling 2014
Riesling has undergone the most dramatic change in the geographic origin of any varietal group in the history of the Wine Companion; 16 of the wines come from the Great Southern, only nine from the Clare and Eden Valleys. (I have used Great Southern as the region of origin, rather than one or more of its subregions.) I’m not sure whether the utterly unexpected – and overwhelming – dominance of Great Southern will be repeated in the years ahead, but it will give indigestion to the great names in the Clare and Eden Valleys in the short term.
Best of Chardonnay 2014
Chardonnay is a marvelously flexible variety, performing well almost everywhere it is grown. But two regions stand apart: Margaret River with its 15 wines with 96 points and above and the lion’s share of the 97-point wines, and the Yarra Valley with 12 such wines. Three regions (Geelong, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania) contributed five wines each. It is now beyond doubt that modern Australian Chardonnay is our best varietal wine.
Best of Semillon 2014
Little needs to be said, except to repeat Bruce Tyrrell’s comment on the impact of screwcaps: ‘Hunter Valley is entering a golden age.’ These wines are all screwcapped, and span 2002 (the first vintage) to 2013. I strongly suspect they will easily see out 20 years, the best 50 years. As with riesling, sauvignon blanc and sauvignon blanc semillon, I have not differentiated subregions, particularly irrelevant in this (semillon) case.
Best of Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Sauvignon blanc has held its ground as the waves of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc continue to flood the market. Happily, Australia has stuck to its knitting, producing wines that have structure, and do not seek to emulate the Marlborough style. This variety is not going to go away anytime soon; Adelaide Hills leads the pack.
Best of Sauvignon Semillon Blends 2014
This is a distinctly Australian blend to which New Zealand sauvignon blanc has no answer. As in prior years, Margaret River dominates the field. The maritime climate replicates that of Bordeaux, the old world home of the blend (the percentage of muscadelle is rapidly decreasing in Bordeaux).
Best of Other Whites & Blends 2014
This group of wines shows that the ‘alternative’ varieties’ Charge of the Light Brigade is yet to inflict many casualties on viognier, pinot gris, marsanne and gewurztraminer. The cause of the newer alternatives was not helped by the embarrassing discovery that the CSIRO-supplied albarino is in fact savagnin, a gewurztraminer clone grown in the Jura region of France. However, it is true that the 49 wines that received 94 points do take in a much broader range of varieties.
Best of Sparkling 2014
The best sparkling wines are now predominantly sourced from Tasmania, the remainder come from the coolest sites in the southern parts of the mainland, with altitude playing a major role. They are all fermented in the bottle, and the best have had extended lees contact prior to disgorgement, giving them great complexity.
Best of Sweet 2014
Two classes of riesling have continued to evolve, and cannot be grouped together: off-dry (in Mosel Kabinett style) and fully sweet (Auslese in German terminology).
Best of Rosé 2014
The number of Rosés on the market may be approaching saturation point. There are no rules: they can be bone-dry, slightly sweet, or very sweet. They can be and are made from almost any red variety, red blends or red and white blends. They may be a convenient way of concentrating the red wine left after the Rose is run off (bleeding or saignee) from the fermenter shortly after the grapes are crushed, or made from the ground up using grapes and techniques specifically chosen for the purpose. The vast majority fall in the former camp; those listed mainly come from the latter.
Best of Pinot Noir 2014
The three regions that produce most of Australia’s best Pinot Noirs are (in alpha order) the Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania and Yarra Valley. The most conspicuous exceptions are Gippsland and Geelong thanks to the contributions of Bass Phillip and by Farr. The Macedon Ranges is also in the fore-front.
Best of Shiraz 2014
The number of wines that received 96 points or more (a total of 101) may seem extreme, but in fact expressed as a percentage of the total number of wines tasted is on a par with chardonnay. Moreover, there is tremendous diversity of style from the resurgent Hunter Valley, through the whole of Victoria, most of South Australia and to the southwest of Western Australia. Finally, the 2010 vintage was exceptional in almost all regions, ’11 simply outstanding in the Hunter Valley, and a tsunami of top wines from ’12 will appear in the next Wine Companion.
Best of Shiraz Viognier 2014
In best Australian Tall Poppy Syndrome style it has already become fashionable in some quarters to challenge the remarkable synergy obtained by co-fermenting around 5% of viognier with shiraz. When used in cool to temperate regions, the enhancement of colour, aroma and flavour is remarkable, as is the softening and smoothing of texture. It is not a panacea for lesser quality grapes, and yes, it is and should remain a subtext to the thrust of shiraz’s flavour. Nonetheless, the wines in this group offer pleasure second to none, even on the face of the 2011 vintage.
Best of Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
The affinity of cabernet sauvignon with a maritime climate is put beyond doubt by its home in Bordeaux’s Medoc region. So it comes as no surprise to find that most (but not all) of Australia’s top-quality cabernets come from regions with climates similar to Bordeaux (conspicuously Coonawarra and Margaret River) and/or which are within 50km of the sea with no intervening mountains. The far greater number of Margaret River cabernet sauvignons is partly due to four excellent vintages from 2008 to ’11 inclusive (and ’12 to follow in the same vein when ready). Coonawarra has not had the same fortune.
Best of Cabernet & Family 2014
This group revolves around the grapes of Bordeaux, and primarily blends thereof, but with some single varieties, most notably merlot. The majority are from moderately cool regions, Margaret River once again the leader of the band thanks to its succession of top vintages. Also included are the classic Australian cabernet and shiraz (or vice versa) blends.
Best of Shiraz & Family 2014
This is a South Australian stronghold, mostly with some or all of shiraz, grenache and mourvedre.
Best of Other Reds 2014
A wonderfully diverse range of wines, grenache contributing more than any other variety, but leaving room for a Joseph’s coat of other single varieties and blends. It is entirely logical that McLaren Vale should contribute most of the wines, with the Barossa Valley not far behind.
Best of Fortified Wines 2014
A relatively small but absolutely sensational group of magnificent wines, as quintessentially Australian as a Driza-Bone, and of unique style. It hardly needs to be said that Rutherglen utterly dominates the field; the Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Liqueur from another vinous world.

1/21/143:12 PM

CosmopolitanMember 10 years

Start with an Australian Shiraz, Sweet and work your way through them from there.

If you're trying a Spanish red, go for the superior Ribero del Duero - they tend to be nicer than a basic Rioja.

1/21/143:16 PM

Former Member

I was on my way to bed, but logged back in to post. It's all about taste in my mind Trial and error

For instance, I prefer something sharp and 'vinegary' to hit my palate, whereas someone else will like something to slip down easily Go to a good wine seller and they should be able to guide you, as per the grading on the bottle. Even if you don't buy from them you'll get an idea as to what you need to look for in a supermarket

1/21/143:17 PM

~Sparkling Summer~Member 10 years

Thank you Erin & sprout

I think I'll need to taste them all then won't i, that's a project indeed!

So far, I liked the merlot better than the shiraz

1/21/143:18 PM

CosmopolitanMember 10 years

Try a Cab Sauv next, Sweet.

And a Montepulciano or go for the full on welly of a Barolo.

1/21/143:19 PM

MoonieMember VIP10 years

Originally Posted by ~Sweet Summer~:

Thank you Erin & sprout

I think I'll need to taste them all then won't i, that's a project indeed!

So far, I liked the merlot better than the shiraz

And a pleasure too Sweet

1/21/143:26 PM

Former Member

Originally Posted by Cosmopolitan:

Try a Cab Sauv next, Sweet.

And a Montepulciano or go for the full on welly of a Barolo.

And what Cosi doesn't know about wine is not worth knowing

1/21/143:33 PM

MoonieMember VIP10 years

1/21/143:36 PM

Garage JoeMember

Another vote for real ale.
Wine? Has to be white. I prefer the better German ones or champagne.

1/21/143:53 PM

Jen-StarMember VIP10 yearsModerator

I'm with Moonie, vodka and diet coke here.

I was actually looking at wine yesterday as a fancied a tipple but came away with nothing

1/21/144:01 PM

MoonieMember VIP10 years

Originally Posted by Jenstar:

I'm with Moonie, vodka and diet coke here.

I was actually looking at wine yesterday as a fancied a tipple but came away with nothing

1/21/144:05 PM

Garage JoeMember

The OAP should dash down to Morrisons as fast as her legs will carry her, and purchase one of those big cans of OSH. Only 16 sponds. You can share them with your nearest and dearest. Trust me! You will never want wine again.

1/21/144:15 PM

Former Member

Originally Posted by velvet donkey:

Try and get a Buckfast 89.

It'll cost ya though

1/21/144:15 PM

stonksMember

Lidl 2014..

1/22/144:07 AM

jacksonbMember

Originally Posted by ~Sweet Summer~:

The curiosity will annoy me, I have to find out! I wonder if it's about the grapes, or the fermenting technique...

It's the type of grape.

Australian shiraz is good.

S.African pinotage is good.

Argentinian malbec is good.

Sangovese, Italian and Corsican, are good.

It depends on preference as to which will suit you, I don't much like most French wines.Pinotage is very smoot as is Shiraz, both are full bodied and dark purple colour.

Malbec is a bit sharper but also deep purple.

Sangovese, is very drinkable but with a dry finish to it.

You'll have to try a few to see what you like.

1/22/144:25 AM

SaintMember 10 years

Originally Posted by ~Sweet Summer~:

Merlot is a character from Sherlock Holmes.

Shiraz is a type of curry.

Rijocca is made by Fiat, i think and available in both hatchback and estate.

I have no idea about wine though

1/22/141:09 PM

SaintMember 10 years

Come on - that was funny

1/23/1411:07 AM

MikeOxlongMember 10 years

I can't take to wine at all - red, white, or rose'.

And champagne - what a waste of money.

I'd rather have a cup of tea.

I like Asti Spumante though - sweet as it is.

Laithwaites.co.uk do a lot of deals for wine and you can mix a case of your own choice.

If you find one you particularly like - they will advise you on similar ones.

And the more you buy - the more you save.

I'm pretty sure that they accept returns as well (if for example you buy 6 bottles and don't like it - they will take 5 back)

1/23/1411:33 AM

Former Member

I have to say my faves are the Rhines and Mosels

But they're white.

1/23/1411:49 AM

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Best wines by variety 2014

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