Vintus

Decanter and the Daily Mail’s man in Australia, Matthew Jukes, has published his annual 100 Best Australian Wines, with some spectacular results for Mitolo and Shaw + Smith. In his introduction, Jukes includes Mitolo among just 15 wineries in his inaugural “Hall of Fame,” a distinction awarded for having made the list every year since its inception. That’s a remarkable testament to the quality of Frank Mitolo and Ben Glaetzer’s project, consistently making the best wines in McLaren Vale.

Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, McLaren Vale
“Frank Mitolo kindly flew in all of his new releases a few weeks ago for assessment and any one of them could have made this list. After forensic examination, Jester Cab was the champion of the Jester duo, once again, by virtue of the dribble of Serpico that it is kindly allowed to slurp. This inky addition makes Jester’s fruit transcendental in its delivery of cassis, dark chocolate and liquorice flavours. This wine could teach the whole of South America about fruit/oak/alcohol balance such is its impeccable fulcrum of flavours. One more scoop – A 2010 Mitolo Vermentino (!) looked stunning, too. You heard it here first.” Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines

Mitolo Savitar Shiraz 2007, McLaren Vale
“From the Chinese Block in Willunga and named after a mythical dragon whose tail ‘swept the stars from the sky and flung them to the earth’, this is a wine groaning with symbolism and valid hype. Considered to be a lighter vintage and yet easily as gripping and bold as the rich 2006, this is a thrilling wine with clove, woodsmoke, black liquorice and even pastrami notes in its vast panoply of flavours. Mitolo is riding the crest of the wave and perhaps a dragon’s tail, too.” Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines

Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Adelaide Hills
“Is this the finest S+S SB ever? An early glimpse at this wine last year suggested that it is and repeated encounters ever since (many such goes, I am fortunate to report) have confirmed this thought. Purity and length are the only two elements worth considering after the flavour boxes have been ticked and this wine excels in both disciplines.” Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines

Alder Yarrow of Vinography is on the ground tasting his way through South Australia, running into “some wines that have totally redefined my understanding of what Australian wine is, and can be.” Two of the regional champions he’s singled out are Shaw + Smith and Mitolo. The wines below are recent releases that won’t be available in the US for a while, but the notes give a sense as to the sheer quality being attained these days in the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale.

Shaw + Smith “M3″ Chardonnay 2008
“Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells beautifully of lemon zest and cold cream with hints of herbal qualities. In the mouth the wine has a wonderful, stony mineral quality with lemon curd and cold cream touched with sourdough toast with butter. Perfectly balanced and really gorgeous, this is an exceptionally well made wine, and one of the better Chardonnays I’ve had from Australia.” 9-9.5/10 Vinography

Mitolo Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
“Made entirely from grapes dried in the style of Amarone. Dark garnet in the glass this wine has a nose of dried black cherry and chocolate. In the mouth wonderfully aggressive tannins wrap around black cherry and chocolate flavors with notes of leather that linger in the finish. Intense and interesting. And for being made from dried grapes, quite bright.” 9/10 Vinography