Australians are getting a taste for thirst-quenching reds made for drinking now. Here are ten of our favourites.
2015 Ochota Barrels “I Am the Owl Syrah”, Adelaide Hills, SA
2015 Ochota Barrels “I Am the Owl Syrah”, Adelaide Hills, SA
Not all these young reds need to be drunk early. Some – this one in particular – have what it takes to age gracefully for many years, as well as being ravishing right now: stunning amalgam of black pepper and black berries and sinewy black tannin. $40, ochotabarrels.com
2015 Bobar Syrah, Yarra Valley, Vic
2015 Bobar Syrah, Yarra Valley, Vic
A wine of two halves: initially it comes across pale, angular and spritzy, but as you splash it around in a big glass, it settles into a lovely, pinot noir-like groove of silky autumnal berries and forest-floor funk. $30, [email protected]
2015 Lowe Tinja Preservative Free Shiraz, Mudgee, NSW
2015 Lowe Tinja Preservative Free Shiraz, Mudgee, NSW
If you doubt that preservative-free wine can be as delicious as “normal” wine, try this: it’s medium-bodied, with juicy black fruit balanced by dry, refreshing tannin. $22, lowewine.com.au
2015 Eldridge Estate PTG, Mornington Peninsula, Vic
2015 Eldridge Estate PTG, Mornington Peninsula, Vic
Winemaker David Lloyd has nailed this, modelled on Burgundy’s early-drinking Passetoutgrains, a blend of pinot noir and gamay. With juicy cherry fruit and snappy tannin, it’s best slightly chilled. $30, eldridge-estate.com.au
2015 Boovability Chateaubriand Petit Verdot, Rylstone, NSW
2015 Boovability Chateaubriand Petit Verdot, Rylstone, NSW
A surprise package: the petit verdot grape is renowned for inky, full-bodied wine that needs years to mature, but this one is bright and slurpable right now. $35, theotherbordeaux.com.au
2015 Oakridge Meunier, Yarra Valley, Vic
2015 Oakridge Meunier, Yarra Valley, Vic
I don’t know why more Australian winemakers aren’t planting pinot meunier and making red wines like this. It’s like pinot noir’s rustic cousin: medium colour and body but loads of berry compote and sweet compost flavours. $26, oakridgewines.com.au
2015 La Violetta Nova Syrová, WA
2015 La Violetta Nova Syrová, WA
This blend of shiraz, grenache, nebbiolo, pinot and mourvèdre is a deceptive beast: it’s rather pale in the glass, and starts out soft, fragrant and vanilla-powdery, but over time it grabs your tongue deliciously and refuses to let go. $32, laviolettawines.com.au
2015 Mr Mick Novo Sangiovese, Clare Valley, SA
2015 Mr Mick Novo Sangiovese, Clare Valley, SA
Terrific value, this: really pretty purple wine with fragrant sweet black fruit, medium-bodied roundness and some gamy tannin grunt. Very quaffable – especially if there’s a good wood-fired Margherita pizza on the table, too. $17, mrmick.com.au
2015 Whistler Get In My Belly Grenache, Barossa Valley, SA
2015 Whistler Get In My Belly Grenache, Barossa Valley, SA
I have a soft spot for Barossa grenache – I love its earthiness, its warm generosity of flavour. This is a lovely example, with spicy perfume, mouth-filling red fruit characters and supple, tongue-hugging tannin. Try with slow-smoked barbecue ribs. $35, whistlerwines.com.au
2015 Shadowfax Mondeuse, Werribee, Vic
2015 Shadowfax Mondeuse, Werribee, Vic
Talk about unexpected: mondeuse, a fairly obscure fragrant red grape originally from the Savoie region of France, planted in the rich red soils of Werribee, south-west of Melbourne. The result? Deliciously crunchy, tangy, vivid purple wine. $25, shadowfax.com.au