2011 will forever be etched in my memory as one of the worst and best years of my life, the latter sentiment largely due to a five month stint in the United States where I lived in Los Angeles over their summer and spent part of the US spring time touring California and visiting the East Coast for the first time where I saw Boston, New York and Washington DC.
It meant I had a vast array of US wines that are not available in Australia and for this reason I have separated those wines from the wines available or made in Australia. It is sad to see the lack of US wine labels available in Australia given the fact that they have access to good Australian wines in almost every wine store and some of our cheaper, but not always bad, brands are in their major supermarkets like Ralph's and Wholefoods. America makes many fantastic wines at all different price points and if you love Cabernet Sauvignon and haven't had some of Napa Valley's finest you are really missing out. I was told before I left that Napa had Australia beat when it came to ultra premium Cabernet. I'll admit prior to my trip I was sceptical but now having had my second trip to Napa I must confess that many of the Cabernet's on my list below are amongst the best Cabernet's I've ever had. If given the choice, I'd take a $70-$100 bottle of Napa Cabernet over anything of a similar price made in Australia.
However, upon my return in September I was very impressed with the quality of a number of wines I tried from right here in Australia. So, without further adue the below, in no particular order, are my most memorable wines of 2011.
Made or purchased in Australia
Primo Estate 'Joseph' 2008 Nebbiolo
Xanadu 'Reserve' 2008 Chardonnay
Taltarni 1977 Cabernet Sauvignon
De Bortoli Gulf Station 2008 Pinot Noir
Grove Estate NV MCB (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Barbera)
Thomas Wines 'The Kiss' 2007 Shiraz
Oak Works 2008 Tina Molle
Logan Wines 2010 Sauvignon Blanc
Chapel Hill 2011 Il Vescovo White blend
Two Paddocks Picnic 2009 Pinot Noir
Lowe Wines 2009 Zinfandel
Logan Wines 2011 'Hannah' Rose
ByJingo 2006 Montepulciano
Henschke 1992 Hill of Grace
American Wines
J.Lohr Monterey 2009 Valdiguie
Phiffer Pavitt 'Date Night' 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Kelly Flemming Wines 2009 Sauvignon Blanc & 2007 Cabernet
Wolffer Estate 2006 Fatalis Fatum red blend
Bridlewood Reserve 2007 Syrah
Corison 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
Red Tail Ridge 2008 Sparkling Teroldego
Opus One 2007 Bordeaux Blend
Seghesio 2009 'Home Ranch' Zinfandel
Smith Madrone Chardonnay (Vintage not noted)
Kenneth Volk Vineyards 2008 Negrette
Rancho Sisquoc 2009 Sylvaner
Andrew Murray Vineyards 2008 Esperance Red blend
(The barrel room at Opus One. The centre of each barrel is painted with red wine so that spills as a result of topping-up the barrel do not make the barrels look messy! This is just one example of the kind of attention to detail I saw during my tour of this amazing facilitiy.)
