Season Four of the Drinks Adventures podcast is out now, featuring some high praise for Australian wine from UK wine experts Jancis Robinson and Matthew Jukes.
In Australia recently to launch the eight edition of The World Atlas of Wine, Jancis Robinson told Drinks Adventures that Chardonnay is the variety she is currently most excited about in Australia.
“When compared with the European archetype, White Burgundy, which is now zooming out of affordability… the Australian Chardonnay is so much more consistent and accessible, and it’s so well-made nowadays,” she said.
The extended interview with Robinson also covers the rise of natural wine, retired wine critic Robert Parker’s legacy, her new glassware, the MW exam and many other topics.
The Drinks Adventures podcast also had exclusive coverage of Matthew Jukes’ masterclass on Shiraz Cabernet blends, conducted at Wynns Coonawarra Estate during the recent Cabernet Celebrations festival.
Together with Australia’s Tyson Stelzer, Jukes created The Great Australian Red competition in 2004 to celebrate this uniquely Australian wine style.
“The reason why it’s The Great Australian Red, the reason why I came up with that name, is it’s unique in the world, no one else does this,” he said.
“I hope that everybody uses this class of wine as their ticket to gain entry to other markets around the world.
“This style will bash down the door because this style competes head-to-head with Bordeaux Claret, Napa Cabernet, the big South African reds, Super Tuscans and Big Rhones.
“All the world’s great red styles, these wines compete and stand side by side on the table.”
Jukes paid tributes to the wineries that have persisted with Shiraz Cabernet blends even while they have been out of favour with consumers.
“There are a few companies who have never ever dropped this flame, charging forwards with it,” he says.
“Those people are clearly Penfolds, Yalumba and Wolf Blass, and a few others. And they make wines that are unique and wines that are sensational, and wines that literally refuse to fall over in the cellar.”
You can listen to all episodes of Season Four of Drinks Adventures here.