Perhaps Australians are contrarians as how else to explain the popularity of Shiraz when elsewhere in the World the appeal of Shiraz or Syrah is well down the chart. Did this transfer from our love of sweetened, dark coloured ports and sherries? Drinkers shifting to table wines from the 1950s may have assumed a good wine would similarly be deep in colour and packed with flavour.
Barossa Shiraz has a density of flavour like no other and quality examples produce an impression of sweetness on the mid palate. Assessing wine is largely about subjective emotions and an expert at a Penfolds Grange tasting in the early 1960s congratulated the maker Max Schubert on making a dry style port. Not much has changed and many of todays local experts and not impressed by the warm ripe flavours of our best wines as they favour European imitators.
Finally, Barossa Shiraz will have its moment on the World stage and sales will take off. Until then enjoy what is ours at prices that favour the consumer with the knowledge you are blessed.
