Thanks for all the wine

[cowdery]

Since we now have this topic and several recent members from Down Under, I just want to say thanks for all the great, cheap wine. I would estimate that wines from Australia and New Zealand make up at least 50 percent of my wine purchases. Keep up the good work.

[jeff]

I'll second that. In particular Leslie and I love Jacob's Creek and Rosemount Estates. Both offer excellent wines at even better prices. Man I love Syrah

[cowdery]

I love the Rosemount Estates Grenache-Shiraz even though it's a really simple, superficial wine. It just tastes good.

[Paradox]

Yah, Shiraz is good. Chris and Kristin got me and Stacy into it... We don't have it too often but it's a good wine.

[dhooch]

Anything Black Opal is very good.

[LeNell]

The problem I've had with many Aussie reds (mostly Shiraz) is high alcohol and huge in your face fruit quality that is often hard to pair with a meal. These can often be fun with BBQ meats. The high alcohol and sweet fruit appeals to the American palate as it hits the front of your tongue first and makes you go, "Ooooh, that's good." The heaviness can wear you out, though, once that initial impression fades. I have found some fun treats in the cooler climate areas like Orange and Margaret River that have some good acidity to balance out the lush fruit.

[jeff]

I have found that a good Aussie shiraz pairs well with about any red-sauce pizza

[LeNell]

MMMM...Pizza! I think many, many reds go well with pizza. Oh, I am so hungry and cravin' pizza right about now. Shame on you!

[cowdery]

I prefer the Shiraz blends, especially the cab-shiraz, to the straight shiraz.