S.W. and Rich Hermansen
Guest Writers
wine@lbknews.com
Southern Hemisphere red wines occupy very limited shelf space in wine shops and receive 
fewer reviews in the press than they deserve.
The 2021 vintage down under offers many wine buys that merit the attention of serious wine drinkers, Here we recommend Australian and New Zealand wine regions that have bottled outstanding wines in 2021. We also mention a few wines from these regions as examples of highly rated wines.
The Southeastern Australia Shiraz wines, from the Australian clones of the classic red Syrah grape from the Rhone Valley of the South of France, compete head to head with the best of French Bordeaux and California Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The old vines in the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions near Adelaide are as old or older than the vines on the Chateau of Bordeaux or. the estates in the Napa Valley. The heat and long winter days around Adelaide rival summer days in France and California. The Shiraz grapes make boldly tannic wines that stand up to lamb, game, and aged beef in their youth, and soften and mellow with age in the bottle. Look for these wines both for pairing now with grilled meats and to hold for five years or more:
The 2021 Langmeil Hangin Snakes Shiraz Viognier Barossa Valley ($21) and the 2021 deNegoce Lot 355 McLaren Vale Shiraz ($13) have the intense cassis (black current) and plum flavors of wines from these regions. The bargain prices make them options for everyday meals.
The small Coonawarra (the aboriginal word for “honeysuckle”) wine region in extreme Southeastern Australia has become a national favorite for Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine Australia calls it “A flat region famous f