Robert Oatley Wines of Australia

It’s hard to imagine that in our modern, highly scientific, internet driven society that we, as were our cro magnon ancestors are still at the whims and fancies of a very fickle Mother Nature. This can be proven by the miserable weather conditions that she inflicted on most of the wine grape growing countries of the world; that’s right, the world, with the exception of our west coast which was not only spared but blessed with absolutely perfect weather conditions and an above average, bumper crop.
Among the poor souls that have been most seriously tried by mother nature are the vineyards and farms of Australia where an over three year long devastating drought has almost ruined not only the food farming but the grape growing as well. The growers have irrigated their crops as much as possible, but continuing high temperature have taken their toll. There are however some vineyards, located in specific areas that have survived and continued to produce fine wines. One, among the more fortunate ones, are the vineyards of the Robert Oatley.
Robert Oatley Chardonnay ($17.99). This very attractive wine should not be cast off as “simply another Chardonnay.” It is a bright and crisp wine, which presents a fine balance between the fruit flavors and the acid. The traditional chardonnay aromas of pineapple, apple, and citrus carry over to the flavor where they mingle with vanilla and soft oak. The wine also has a creamy mouth feel and manages a bit of summer fruit flavor in the background of the finish. Here is a wine which is a nice compliment to roasted poultry, grilled seafood, and veal based dishes and pastas.
Robert Oatley Shiraz ($17.99). Shiraz is a grape variety that bellows its Australian heritage and this particular Shiraz is a fine example of what the grape can do. The color is a dark ruby with the nose offering the scents of ripe cherries, dark summer berries and of course, oak. The flavor continues the cherry/berry with the addition of a spicy element in the background and here too the sensation of a new wine. This is a well-balanced wine that can serve as an accompaniment to a very wide variety of meat, fish and cheese dishes.
Robert Oatley 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.99). The aromas of this wine tend to be on the fresh fruit side, accenting black summer berries and oak. The flavor displays the true essence of cabernet sauvignon, cassis, chocolate, vanilla with a beautiful cedar background. The tannins, the element in red wines that gives the pucker sensation in the cheeks, are soft and add the magical quality that makes a cabernet sauvignon a cabernet sauvignon. While a little different from our California cabs, it certainly does not take a back seat to them. Try it; we are sure you will like it as much as we did.
Robert Oatley 2010 Riesling ($17.99). Riesling grapes fare very well in the soil and climate of Southern Australian. The wine displays the floral and fresh citrus aromas the variety is famous for. On the palate, the wine exhibits fresh and lively tropical fruit flavors. There is also a very long and lively fruit finish to this wine. Here is an excellent, very affordable wine that is a must to try; it is excellent.
Robert Oatley 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.99). While New Zealand is better known for their sauvignon blanc wines, the Australian grown wines are not to be cast off as an “also ran.” This wine is crisp and acidic, with the pronounced aromas of green olives and lemon, along with notes of pepper and nectarine. The very intense flavor displays notes of gooseberry, pepper and melon. Riding throughout both the flavor and aroma is the grape varieties signature herbaceous (dry grass) aroma and flavor. All of these manage to show up in the finish, which is long and luscious. This is not a wine to be cast off lightly, it is a grand example of the variety.