Australian wine, like their cricketers, will bowl you over
With the Aussies arriving for a T20 series this September, here's a selection of Laithwaites wines that match the players perfectly
Geoffrey Dean 6 August 2024 • 2:00pm
Travis Head's a premium player deserving of a premium wine like Coco Rotie, and there's plenty more perfect pairings to be found this summer Credit: Getty
Classic shotmakers
D’Arenberg Thunderstep Shiraz 2021 (£23): from one of South Australia’s best-known producers, D’Arenberg, this premium-quality Shiraz from McLaren Vale is rich, opulent and complex. Seductive notes of blackberries, boysenberries and plums along with silkily smooth tannins. Notable concentration and length.
MOST LIKE: Josh Inglis. The 29-year old Leeds-born wicketkeeper-batsman, whose parents emigrated to Australia when he was a boy, is as classy as the wine, being blessed with a top-notch attacking game (his strike-rate is a fearsome 152 in his 21 T20 internationals).
RedHeads Coco Rotie 2021 (£16.99): the brainchild of Tony Laithwaite, RedHeads was founded in South Australia to allow winemakers to produce small-batch premium wines with individuality, personality and character. This Syrah, with a dash of Viognier added, has all three in spades. Made from old-vine Barossa Valley fruit, it is deep purple in colour, with lifted vanilla and smoky aromas, as well as alluring blackberry and dark chocolate notes alongside some floral hints from the Viognier.
MOST LIKE: Travis Head. So many layers to this exciting wine, just like the South Australian with his multitude of different attacking shots. A premium wine for a top batsman.
Tscharke Shiraz Shiraz Shiraz 2021 (£19.99): so good they named it thrice. A sumptuous blend from three vineyards on some of the oldest soils in the Barossa Valley. Enticing red and black fruit, with soft tannins, some spicy undertones and a fresh, savoury and persistent finish.
MOST LIKE: Cameron Green. Its three quality sources of fruit mirror the West Australian all-rounder’s ability as a batsman, bowler and gully fielder.
Shiraz Shiraz Shiraz is a wine made from three vineyards and matches all-rounder Cameron Green Credit: Getty
Big hitters
The Great Bonza Reserve 2021 (£14.99): a lip-smacking blend of 75 per cent Shiraz and 25 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, made by John Quarisa from several vineyards in South Eastern Australia. It’s full-bodied and full-flavoured, with red cherry, plum and blackcurrant notes.
MOST LIKE: Mitchell Marsh. As powerful and full-bodied as the strapping Australian T20 captain, who hits the ball a country mile.
The Black Stump Durif/Shiraz 2022 (£12.99): another irresistible South Eastern Australian blend, made by Aussie winemaking legend Alan Kennett. Durif, the majority grape, has long flourished in Victoria, and gives off spicy, dark berry aromas. Notes on the palate of blackberry, liquorice and dark chocolate as well as black pepper. A really voluptuous wine with velvety tannins.
MOST LIKE: Marcus Stoinis. A spicy wine with the same power and length as the muscular New South Welshman.
A powerful wine, Black Stump brings to mind the muscular prowess of Marcus Stoinis Credit: Alamy
RedHeads Night of the Living Red 2022 (£24): another beauty from RedHeads made up of Durif, Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga from the Barossa Valley. A powerful and spicy blend with lovely fruit, ample freshness and firm but beautifully integrated tannins. And a label that takes your breath away.
MOST LIKE: Tim David. A powerful wine to match the dual Singaporean-Australian national’s full-throttled approach to batting.
No-nonsense all-rounders
Willy Willy Shiraz 2022: lots of structure in this medium to full-bodied single varietal, made by Bob Berton, with intensely flavoured red and black fruit.
MOST LIKE: Aaron Hardie. Very approachable wine with great potential, just like the 25-year old all-rounder from Western Australia, who has played for Surrey and was a very popular figure at the Kia Oval.
Gold Top Chardonnay Limestone Coast 2022 (13.99): from fruit grown near the idyllic coastal town of Robe, three hours’ drive south of Adelaide, this is a rich, buttery Chardonnay that went through partial malolactic fermentation, a process used to combine freshness with richness. Apricot notes, with hints of peaches and cream, are enhanced by fresh acidity.
MOST LIKE: Nathan Ellis. Lots of complex and subtle notes in this Chardonnay – not unlike the T20 specialist pace bowler with his skilful, well-concealed variations. Ellis, who celebrates his 30th birthday a week after the T20 series ends, also has a good economy rate of 7.77 per over in his 17 T20 international appearances from Ellis.
Trimboli Family Reserve Black Duck Durif 2023 (£15.49): an alluring wine from New South Wales, where Sam Trimboli made it from vines planted in the 1980s. A renowned fan of Durif, he describes it as “a stunning little powerhouse grape that develops astounding complexity.” Some time spent in American oak has given it hints of coconut and vanilla to complement its full body and layers of spicy fruit.
MOST LIKE: Ellyse Perry. A powerhouse of a wine to go with the superstar of the Australia women's team. And both come from the same state. The 33-year old all-rounder from Sydney, who has also represented her country at football 18 times, has so many dimensions to her game, just like the wine.
McPherson Full Fifteen Classic Red sparkling (£14.99): a left-field selection to finish with, in the form of Andrew ‘Big Mac’ McPherson’s sparkling Cabernet and Shiraz blend from Nagambie Lakes in Victoria. His still red wines have proved hugely popular over the years, and this lively carbonated bubbly, is clean and dry with ripe fruit flavours and hints of spice. It is 14% abv and goes well with charcuterie or gamey dishes.
MOST LIKE: Alyssa Healy. A characterful bubbly to match the irrepressible wicketkeeper-batter, who is also current captain of the Australia women's team. Married to fast bowler Mitchell Starc, as well as being the niece of Test great Ian Healy, she has made 153 T20 international appearances.
Captain of the Australia women's team, Alyssa Healy is a character paired with Full Fifteen Credit: Getty
Wily bowlers
RedHeads Harmonie Rox Chardonnay 2022 (£15.99): RedHeads’ determination to search far and wide for quality fruit in South Australia took them to a Cabernet Sauvignon heartland, Coonawarra. Local grower, Jack Burston, showed how good Chardonnay can be in this region. Made from the Mendoza clone, it has delightful nectarine and lemon pith notes, with vibrant acidity and a subtle and well-judged oak influence.
MOST LIKE: Josh Hazlewood. A wine of quality that’s a match for the New South Wales fast bowler with his clever changes of pace.
Josh Hazlewood's quality bowling is a match for the fruity notes found in Harmonie Rox Credit: Getty
V-on-Yay Viognier 2023 (£11.99): just like wrist-spinners, this is unconventional with its wacky brand name based on the French pronunciation of the Rhone grape, Viognier, that most Aussies struggle to get right. From fruit in the Riverina region of South Australia, this is a very drinkable example of this varietal, with bright tropical notes and hints of peach, apricot and spice. The grape can be high in alcohol and low in acidity, but this wine is well-balanced and a delight to drink.
MOST LIKE: Adam Zampa. As wacky and unconventional a wine as the cunning leggie, whose variation foxes so many batsmen.
Make your selection for the summer of cricket at laithwaites.co.uk