Many of the legendary Hunter Valley wines of the 1950s and 1960s, were blends of Shiraz and Pinot Noir. The very best of those wines that survive today are some of the most sought-after in the country. They are unicorn wines, and some of the more profoundly delicious things you will ever taste if you're lucky enough to find a bottle.
But somewhere along the line, the Shiraz/Pinot partnership fell out of vogue. Australia became obsessed with mono-varietal winemaking. The idea that 'bigger is better' in Australian red wines left little room for the medium weight, aromatic style of red that this duo produces. Now that Australian wine drinkers are looking for a more vibrant style of red wine, the blend is back in a shiny new form.
The modern Shiraz/Pinot is built predominantly for early drinking. Bright, silky, popping with fruit and ready to rip. Places like the Yarra Valley and the Adelaide Hills seem ideally suited to producing these blends and now plenty of producers are catching on.
Here are six examples of this uniquely Australian blend that we've really enjoyed recently. Check them out, everything that's old is new again.
