The wines and writers came out from Down Under for Wine Blogging Wednesday 76, celebrating the Barossa Boomerang; a recovery of Australian wine sales in North America. Ardent Australian juice fans, real time Barossa wine travelers, Aussie wine drinkers on multi-year hiatuses, curiosity seekers, and value chasers all weighed in. Great insights into the region were shared, and specific wines under $30 have been recommended.
It was great fun instigating this up close and personal Barossa (re?)inspection. Hosting and theming #WBW76 had its rewards, especially since I also once turned my back on these wines like too many North Americans did between 2008 and 2010. I was refreshed, if not totally reconvinced, dipping my own my own toes and palate back into the water somewhere between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Great thanks to all that participated. Here’s the wrap-up:
- Bob at 2001 Bottles-A Wine Odyssey was actually posting from Barossa and shared some very fresh info on Langmeil’s 2009 Valley Floor Shiraz
- The Wine Muse doesn’t believe that Barossa “needs to be reduxed at all” and reminded us that Barossa covers both the Eden and Barossa Valleys. Notes are available on Kalleske Dodger Tempranillo 10,Tscharke Marananga Girl Talk Savagnin 11, and Charles Melton The Kirche 09 Shiraz
- I shared some perspective on aging Barossa cabernet at WineZag.
- The Wine Predator left us hanging a bit, hoping to qualify for an upcoming wine trip to Australia and shared a picture of three bottles and promises to let us know her favorite. Here’s Gwendolyn’s Barossa thoughts on Grateful Palate, Chris Ringland etc!
- BrixChicks provided a little insight into Cupcake Vineyards and winemaker Adam Richardson .
- Enoflyz went above and beyond down under and provided tasting notes 0n 2010 Schild Estate GMS at Cellar Tracker as well as some context on the grenache, mourvedre, and syrah blend at his blog.
- The Hudson Valley Wine Goddess told us about a really interesting sounding St. Hallett 2006 Gamekeeper’s Reserve.
- Marie at Life of Vines, and Queen of #WineChat (:-) reminded us of the big bold value $23 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz.
- Kathryn Boyd shared tasting notes and this photo of Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz.
- “Seduction” was discovered by Talk-a-Vino for less than $9 in (on?) this bottle of 2008 Fetish Playmates Barossa Valley.
- Tim Elliot- the man behind Wine Blogging Wednesday also reconnected with his Aussie memories through this bottle of 14.5% alcohol $18 2009 Schild Estate Shiraz.
Thanks again to all the digital winos that helped bring Barossa back into the limelight. And thanks to Lenn Thompson and Tim Elliot for keeping the lights on for Wine Blogging Wednesday every month!