Thoughtful Australian wines on a (after the) budget

In rather timely fashion, last week I presented a tasting themed Australian wines for around a tenner.

Hardly wine on a shoestring given the UK average spend is £4.85 but, for members of wine societies who are prepared to spend significantly more on a bottle of wine than most, the budget’s duty escalator is taking its toll. In fact, for this society, many of whom are retired, it was a double whammy, what with the “granny tax” too. (Click here for an excellent critique of the budget by Gavin Quinney, an english Bordeaux producer).

Still, there was consolation to be found in my selection of eight wines (which the beady eyed will notice average out at around a tenner). As you’d expect coming from Down Under, the wines were very well made. But there was plenty of character too, the Marsanne (favourite white of the night) and Semillon in particular revealing their old vine credentials and, for the reds, the it could only be from Australia Rutherglen Durif (a.k.a. Petit Syrah) went down a storm.

Here’s the line up:

McHenry Hohnen Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010 – Margaret River – £8.75  Richer than previous vintages, this is the first vintage to be made solely from estate fruit; it also sees 10% barrel (wild) ferment.

Peter Lehmann 88 Growers Semillon 2009 – Barossa Valley – £7.75 Peter Lehmann’s Margaret Reserve Semillon is South Australia’s finest rendition of an unoaked Semillon. It is released with around five years bottle age. 88 Growers is about Semillon’s youthful subtly waxy, lemony fruit with gentler (but present) acidity than the Hunter.

Tahbilk Marsanne 2009 – Nagambie Lakes – £9.50  A ripe vintage of this famously ageworthy, peachy Marsanne – check out my notes of a vertical here.

The Society’s Exhibition Tasmanian Chardonnay 2010 – Tasmania – £14.95 Made by Claudio Radenti at Freycinet, this boasts East Coast (ripe) fruit with this cool island’s unmistakable acid backbone.

Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz 2008 – Victoria (Grampians, Swan Hill, Bendigo) – £8.95 Though looking a little forward, Mount Langi’s famously spicy pepperiness was well in evidence.

Wirra Wirra Church Block 2009 – McLaren Vale – £12.50 This reliably good Bordeaux blend with a twist (Shiraz) is fleshy, plummy, sweetly fruited yet composed, with a lithe girder of Cabernet for line and length.

Sandalford Cabernet Merlot 2008 – Margaret River – £11.95 A Bordeaux blend with no twist and in more savoury form, with its dried herbs and leafy, dusty notes; firmer too.

Campbells Bobbie Burns Durif 2008 – Rutherglen – £12.50 Ripe and dark-fruited with notes of toffeed oak and warm earth; a smooth rendition of this rustic grape.

All the wines were sourced from The Wine Society. In my experience, their prices are very sharp and, good news, The Society will be holding its current prices for all orders placed before Thursday, 5th April when the new April-July List prices take effect.