Last week Gabriele and I attended another wine tasting hosted by Unwined in Alexandria. We’d previously been to one of their events focused on Rose, and they’ve got the process down. They operate a restaurant next door called Revel, and on Monday nights it is reserved for wine events from 5-6:30.
All of the wines tasted are from the importer Little Peacock, which specializes in smaller, family-run wineries across Australia. In most cases production levels are below 1,000 cases. We tasted three whites and three reds.
Our two favorites were the Hugh Hamilton Fiano and the Tim Smith Shiraz. The Fiano was a brand new varietal for both of us. It’s an Italian grape from the Campania region. The wine was light but there was a lot going on. It had a buttery texture and a good balance of fruit and acid. A cross between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Viognier comes close to how it seemed to us.
The Tim Smith Shiraz is a solid Shiraz – delicious, smooth, and not overwhelming as some Australian Shiraz can be. Rich but not heavy with a lot of currant and a lingering finish. Good value as well in the low $30 range.
The one wine we disagreed with the professionals over was the Moorooduc Estate Chardonnay. The taste was even more unusual than the spelling of the name. The bouquet was unlike any Chardonnay we ever had, and there was an oiliness to the texture and almost an umami hint in the taste. I would not recommend but this wine is sure to spark conversation.
Of course, after the tasting it’s convenient to stay and have dinner. Extra credit mention goes to the Rose sparkler Gabriele had with dinner, the Ademats Reserva Brut. It was light and delicious, with tasty Strawberry fruit.
It was a pleasant way to spend a Monday night and get introduced to some good Australian wine. In particular, give an Australian Fiano a thought when you’re shopping for warmer weather whites.