(5) Wines from Australia

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

Since 1912 the Osborn family has been making wine in McLaren Vale, Australia. Their 2006 Stump Jump white is made from 63% Riesling, 16% Sauvignon Blanc, 13% Roussane, and 8% Marsanne. The Riesling and the Sauv Blanc provide the acid and green apples while the Marsanne brings floral and honey notes to this easy drinking wine. I suggest grilled seafood along side grilled veggies and the Stump Jump for a great summer evening meal. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

Like the 2006 Roogle Red (a delicious three-grape blend of Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon), the 2006 Roogle Shiraz was rated 90 points by Parker and only cost me $10. This wine is from South Eastern Australia, and like most Shiraz from the area, it is inky, concentrated, and powerful. Kept in seasoned French and American oak for 12 months, the Roogle Shiraz is medium-full bodied, with less tannins and acid than the Roogle Red. Aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and a touch of chocolate make this a great cocktail and contemplation wine. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

I picked this wine up today from the store because I saw it was rated 90 points by Mr. Robert Parker, and why would anyone pass up a 90-pt Parker $10 wine — whether you like his taste or not. And I have to say, I liked this wine very much. The South Eastern Australian 2006 Roogle Red is 50% Shiraz, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is aged in seasoned French and American oak for 12 months. Roogle Red is medium-full bodied, with dark but not super-ripe fruit, and healthy tannins and acid. This wine is from R Wines (of Dan Philips and Chris Ringland), which includes labels such as 3 Rings, Roogle, Evil, and Bitch. Buy this wine if you see it, or maybe pick up a half-case. ($9-10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: bold
• Look for at: wine.com

This cocktail and contemplation wine from the Colchagua Valley in Chile is a monster. In the glass, the wine is inky and extracted. The nose offers dried fruit, some spice, and coffee. The dark fruit, plums, and cherry are set in a sea of fine grained tannins. The long finish is just what you would expect from this concentrated wine, which does not easily pare well with food. The size of this wine will keep all but grilled steak or lamb chops at bay. If you like Aussie Shiraz, be sure to pick up this wine — you get all the extracted fruit and stick-to-your-teeth feel, but at a fraction of the normal price. ($13-18)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

This is another offering by the busy winemaker Chris Ringland. Opaque purple, the wine opens with blackberry, spice, cedar, and a hint of alcohol (15%). In the mouth, this medium bodied wine integrated velvety tannins with dark fruit and spice. Despite the high alcohol level, this wine went down very nicely as an after dinner drink. ($16-20)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: bold
• Look for at: wine.com

Barossa valley is famous for Shiraz, and Americans are developing a taste for these very drinkable wines from Australia. The 2006 Layer Cake is made with sweet, new oak, and it is a dark, extracted drink with lots ripe. And true to its name, the wine delivers plenty of mocha and chocolate. ($15-17)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sparkling
• Look for at: wine.com

Don’t miss this dry bottle of bubbles from Australia. The wine offers a nose of citrus and bread followed on the palate by lots of citrus flavors. This will not become your “go to bubbly bottle for special occasions”, but for a Monday night, these bubbles away wash your troubles away. ($15)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This is a great value for those of you that do not want to stare at lots of oak in your Chardonnay glass. The nose offers apple, pear, and butterscotch. In the glass the wine gives you a mouth full of ripe apple balanced with plenty of acid. This wine from Southern Australia is from the same folks that produce Marquis Philips and 3 Rings. Many of these wines have been “blessed” by Robert Parker”s 90(+) ratings, and may be hard to find, but keep looking.