Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines 2014/15 – 11th edition, launched.
Britain’s most widely read wine critic, Matthew Jukes, launched his 100 Best Australian Wines 2014/15 early this month with 250 wine trade elite in attendance.
Wirra Wirra’s Andrew Kay summed up the event at Australia House as a showcase of Australian wine, demonstrating both depth and range.
‘Australian wine producers surely must walk a little taller leaving the Matthew Jukes 100 Best launch. What a showcase of our diversity,’ Kay said. ‘Classics stand alongside the new kids. I’d like to wrap it up and tour it around the world.’
The 100 Best Australian Wines 2014/15 is a compilation of the finest Australian wines available in the UK as judged by Matthew Jukes through exhaustive tastings over 12 months.
Speaking about the launch event, Matthew Jukes told Essentials: ‘It was the biggest turn out ever. But this was not a surprise. Interest in this initiative is at an all time high in the UK. It is the biggest Aussie trade/consumer initiative in the UK. ‘I have been in the wine trade for 28 years and 100 Best is eleven years old this year. I taste between 3000-4000 Aussie wines each year to research for this list.’
As well as keeping tabs on the more exclusive wines offered by long established Aussie producers such as Tahbilk, Penfolds and Brown Brothers, the top 100 also showcases a refreshing list of newcomers including the Circe Hillcrest Road 2012 pinot noir (Mornington Peninsula), Eden Road The Long Road 2012 chardonnay, (Tumbarumba) and Fowles Wine’s Are You Game? 2012 shiraz.
Speaking about their wine’s inclusion, Matt Fowles, CEO of Fowles Wine, told Essentials: ‘To have been selected as one of Australia’s leading wines by someone of Matthew’s calibre is humbling, particularly given the quality and diversity of Australian wine in the UK.
‘We strive to produce the very finest cool-climate Victorian wines and feel this accolade is significant recognition for our region, the Strathbogie Ranges, and testament to the tireless work of our team.’
Fowles’ Are you Game? 2012 shiraz, a lower price point wine, has no doubt achieved its high status by combining a quality flavour profile (complex, juicy and including a splash of tempranillo) with attention-getting, snazzy brand styling.
Obviously, the Essentials team were more than game to get sampling right away.
We were greeted by a surprising and delightful nose of cloves, nutmeg, violets, chocolate and cherries that immediately forced us to re-think our view of lower price-point wines. This Are You Game? offering presents a light to mid-weight, yet totally lush and juicy, palate. It is far more enjoyable than your average quaffer; although its finish was perhaps just a little lean.
Where the Are you Game? 2012 shiraz shines is as a savoury, food-pairing wine. As the label suggests, it will pair well with game meats and or other more robust flavours (Moroccan spiced lamb or a Penang curry for example). Deeper, darker bramble lengthens a popping bright cherry fruit palate. Add to that its impeccable balance and there’s no surprise this delightful Fowles wine is listed in Matthew’s top 100.
Speaking about the UK wine market, Matt Fowles told Essentials: ‘We’re excited and feel there is a real opportunity to bring focus to next generation Australian wines and, in our case, [to take] fine Victorian wines to UK wine lovers. We believe Matthew Jukes’ endorsement, together with the passion and ability of our team and that of our distributors, Enotria World Wine, will go a long way to making it happen.’
For a complete list of the top 100 visit:
www.matthewjukes.com
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