Wine: for Steve

[barney]

Steve, I have mentioned before my belief that the Coonawarra - a small south Australian region about 60km by 30 on the Victorian border - is Australia's best wine region. By that, of course, I mean it suits my palate. And now today's news:

A Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon named for the founder of the famed wine region - John Riddoch - has been declared the best in the world at the prestigious International Wine Challenge.

Paragon Wine Estates’ Riddoch The Pastoralist from the 2021 vintage topped wines from 20 other countries to take out the highest honour for that varietal, which has not been won by an Australian wine for more than a decade.

Australia had a strong showing overall at the IWC with 62 gold medals, 250 silvers and 199 bronzes, placing second only to France, which picked up 70 gold medals.

Australia’s fortified wines were well-awarded also, garnering 24 medals including 13 golds, six of which went to Victoria’s Morris Wines for its muscat, topaque and tawny varietals.

[Holden Fourth]

Aussie wine is hard to beat, despite the claims of the Kiwis.

I am a member of the Qantas Wine Club and they frequently offer to members wines they would serve in both domestic and international business class for very competitive prices. It was a Qantas business class trip that introduced me to my favourite blended wine which is a Grenache Shiraz Mouvedre. At the time of writing I am sipping on GSM from Qantas Wines called The Stump Jump from d'Arenberg, a McLaren Vale winery. At $13.00 a bottle it's an absolute steal.

[maestrob]

Excellent posting, gentlemen. I'll be tracking these down and sharing this information with my local wine merchant.

Many thanks!

[Rach3]

Thanks from me, too, gentlemen.

My kingdom for a Coonawarra ! Alas, in my town I'm limited to only Penfolds' Koonunga Hills, but I shall look for Coonawarra next time I'm in Chicago.

GSM blends are also great , agree with Holden, but again I have only Californians and French to choose here, no Oz.

[Rach3]

Not the Paragon Estates ( probably out of my price range, especially now ), but my Chicago store does have these South Australias currently, for which I could find some convenient excuse to justify purchase ( such as , I'm 74 and time is not on my side ) if Coonawarras:

2015,2017,2018,2109 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet ( each US$72)
Penley Estate Helios 2018 Cabernet ($50), Penley Estate Tolmer 2018 Cabernet ($25)

Thanks again for the tips.