1996 Wendouree Cabernet/Malbec

Wendouree is in the Clare Valley. The 30-acre estate was planted in the late 19th century and is today owned by Tony and Lita Brady. The estate grows Shiraz, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro and small amounts of white grapes. Wendouree wines are generally available only through mailing lists and in Australia the estate’s small quantities combined with the excellent reputation of its wines makes Wendouree something of a cult producer. James Halliday, Australia’s best known wine reviewer, has written that “an iron fist in a velvet glove best describes these extraordinary wines. They are fashioned with passion and precision from the very old vineyard….”

South Australia is the nation’s most important wine region. South Australia is to Australia what California is to the U.S. About half of Australia’s wine comes from South Australia and many of the country’s most acclaimed producers are there. Wineries based in South Australia include Penfolds Grange, Torbreck, Amon Ra, Henschke and Jacob’s Creek. The prestigious Barossa Valley is located in South Australia, and is often compared to Napa Valley because it is gorgeous topography covered in grape vines. First farmed by 19th century German-speakers who immigrated from what is now Poland, the Barossa Valley is the crown jewel of the region. South Australia has widely varying climates, from very hot, dry areas to cooler, high altitude areas. There are more than 150,000 acres of vineyards in South Australia, with more being planted each month. Shiraz is king, though the region also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay and Semillon.