Australian Wines

Australian wine comes in an amazing array of styles and origins, from such classics as Eden Valley Riesling to Hunter Valley Semillon and Barossa Shiraz to Rutherglen Muscat. Our Australian wine guide divides Australian wine regions into four clusters: South Eastern Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Other Australia. Each of these includes numerous individual Geographic Indications, such as Barossa Valley, Margaret River and Hunter Valley, among others.

You’ll find thousands of Australian wine ratings and Australian wine reviews in Wine Enthusiast’s Australian wine guide, all of which you can sort by region, grape variety, vintage, producer or price.

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Chambers Rosewood Vineyards NV Rare Muscat (Rutherglen)

Cellar Selection

Price $300

Not a Cellar Selection in the traditional sense of requiring additional aging, this venerable wine (it contains some material over 100 years old) is ready to drink now, but should hold in the bottle indefinitely. It’s dark coffee-brown, with delectable aromas of rancio, pressed flowers, molasses and honey, yet despite enormous concentration avoids excessive weight… — J.C. (2/1/2011)

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Seppeltsfield 1987 Para Tawny Port (Barossa Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $70

Seppeltsfield’s 1987 Para Tawny features ample rancio complexity coupled with candied citrus notes. It’s amazingly viscous, rich and mouthcoating, and seems to linger forever on the palate. Only 25 cases imported. — J.C. (2/1/2011)

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Penfolds 1998 Grange Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon

Price $205

Though the nose on this wine is still somewhat closed, it’s still remarkable. Individual notes (apart from eucalyptus and toast) aren’t discernible; instead, it’s an intense, penetrating sensation that fills the nose. Vanilla and coffee flavors are sumptuous foils to rich blackberries on the palate, which is muscular and plush as all get-out. Finishes long, with… — D.T. (10/1/2003)

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Jim Barry 1999 The Armagh Shiraz (Clare Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $100

You could fill your pen with this stuff, it’s that dark. Aromas of black cherry marmalade, cassis and white chocolate, young and fresh. In the mouth, it’s massive and ripe, yet balanced and harmonious, with perky acids and caressing tannins. Be forewarned: Big is not necessarily better. Despite the high score, this wine will drown many foods. — S.H. (12/15/2002)

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Clarendon Hills 2005 Astralis Syrah (Clarendon)

Cellar Selection

Price $350

Astralis has become one of Australia’s top collectibles, and Roman Bratasiuk’s 2005 version is once again top-shelf stuff. It’s full-bodied and rich without being over the top, balancing dark-chocolate-covered blackberries and blueberries with more complex savory notes (spice, grilled meat). While it’s a big, hulking wine at first, the finish shows great elegance… — J.C. (9/1/2008)

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Penfolds 2002 Grange Shiraz

Cellar Selection

Price $250

The bulk of this year’s Grange (77.5%) is from Barossa, with the remainder coming from McLaren Vale. It starts off with scents of maple syrup and lightly caramelized blackberries, plums and a hint of mocha, while on the palate it turns rich and creamy in texture with the bold fruit underscored by vanilla. There’s plenty of power here, but it’s restrained and tight… — J.C. (11/1/2007)

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Campbells NV Rutherglen Muscat (Rutherglen)

Best Buy

Price $10

This wine is so intensely textured and flavored, you’ve got to brace yourself. Packed with ultra sweet honey, peach, dried apricot, toast, walnut, coffee, caramel, licorice and sesame notes, it holds onto the palate with bright acidity and length. Massive. — J.M. (12/1/2002)

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Grant Burge 1996 Meshach Shiraz (Barossa Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $145

Seamless, rich and intense are among the words tasters used to describe this complex wine with its tart-sweet fruit, cedar, smoke, coffee and brown-sugar profile. The even, full mouthfeel is seductively lovely, as is the long, tangy, roasted fruit and toasted coconut finish. Already nicely evolved, this pleasure package is a keeper that will last ages. — W.E. (11/1/2001)

Most Reviewed Sub Regions

Australia Other New South Wales Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Grenache Merlot Pinot Noir Red Blend Rhône-style Red Blend Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Shiraz/Syrah White Blend

Most Reviewed Wineries

Clarendon Hills D'Arenberg De Bortoli Grant Burge Henschke Jacob's Creek Leeuwin Estate Lindemans Penfolds Rosemount Wolf Blass Yalumba

2007 Trump Brut SP Reserve

Rich and luscious scents of baked apple, dried pineapple, honeyed…

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