Best wines of 2008

My Best wines of the year, all alternative varieties of course, were

Centennial Vineyards Tempranillo
Mount Majura Graciano, and their Tempranillo
Pikes Sangiovese Rose
Eldrege Estate Sangiovese Rose
Crittenden's Geppetto Arneis
Tahbilk's Roussanne and Marsanne
Brown Brothers Vermentino, also Di Lusso's
Just about anyone's Barbera (start with Boggy Creek!)
Rewine Durif at the Queen Vic Market for value!
Irvine's Albarino

Leave a comment if you agree, disagree. Add or subtract from my list. See what others think. Just don't rabbit on about kiwi sav blank!

Vale Durif on Wine Blogging Wednesday

Image of Durif from State Library of South Australia.

Petite Sirah is known by its correct name of Durif in Australia. There are about 60-70 wineries making wine from Durif. See Vinodiversity's Durif page.

Most of the wineries with the variety are in the warm and hot regions, Rutherglen, Riverina, Murray Darling etc. But Durif actually is also suited to cooler climate viticulture, although very few Australians will believe you if you tell them. John Vale of Vale Wines at Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula has grown the variety for several Vintages.

Last weekend I tried the 2005 Vale Durif. The wine is deep red colour and has great depth of flavour. There are spicy characters in the middle palate, reminiscent of cool climate Shiraz. Compared to typical Rutherglen Durif this wines is positively elegant. You could drink this wine a range of foods, perhaps you could pair it in a similar way as you would a young tempranillo, rather than with heavy meats and game dishes that are called for with the more usual Australian Durifs.

More about Durif on Wine Blogging Wednesday #40