We have been tasting a lot of good wines from Australia lately. Although competition for inexpensive wines has become fierce, Australia continues to make good values.

If you like lots of fruit for a reasonable price, here are few wines to consider:

Hardy’s Nottage Hill Shiraz Southeastern Australia 2004 ($9). This is an amazing value! Very ripe cherry and mocha nose. Ripe and rich in the mouth with ripe cherry and mocha  flavors. Mouth filling, satisfying, and complex. We guessed this to be a $25+ shiraz. Drink now or over the next 3 years.

Schild Estate GMS Barossa 2005 ($24). We’re really starting to enjoy and appreciate the growing presence of GSM wines available in the U.S. GSM stands for grenache, shiraz and mourvedre. This is a Southern Rhone style blend —  a Chateauneuf-du-Pape-style wine minus the brett and earthiness. In any event  this is a delicious wine made from vines that average 70 years of age. Lovely, yummy, blackberry, raspberry, plum and cherry nose and flavors, with a hint of black pepper. An outstanding wine that is worth seeking out.

Taltarni Cephas Pyrenees Victoria 2002 ($40). Intense black cherry and cedar nose. This is a big wine in the mouth, made up of 70 percent shiraz and 30 percent cabernet sauvignon. The flavors are cherries, plums and raspberry in a cedar and oak frame. Very drinkable now, but has the tannins and structure to easily age 5 plus years. It would be great with grill steaks.           

Philip Shaw No. 89 Shiraz Viognier Orange Australia 2005 ($45). Some pepper in the nose with a nice soft plum cherry flavor. A hint of mocha developed over time in the nose and mouth. Somewhat closed now but has the feel that some age will open up this gem. Try one now if you want but put any others away for at least 5 years.

Philip Shaw No.17 New South Wales 2005 ($27). A very interesting blend of merlot 43 percent, cabernet franc 34 percent, and 23 percent cabernet sauvignon. Cherry nose, with bright cherry flavors, and a nice fruity finish with a hint of mocha. Good acidity, and pleasing to drink.

Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz South Eastern Australia 2006 ($10.50). Ripe cherry berry nose with a hint of lead pencil. Cherry flavors in a mild oak frame. Good balance,  pleasing in the mouth and is a great buy. Rosemount Shiraz Grenache South Eastern Australia 2005. ($10-12). The blend is 55 percent shiraz and 45 percent grenache.  Round and soft, with ripe cherry and berry fruit flavors and a hint of oak. Great buy.

Rosemount Traminer Reisling South Eastern Australia 2006 ($10.50). A nice bargain wine from Rosemount — 65 percent traminer and 35 percent reisling. This wine exhibits an intriguing peach and pear nose. Fruity pear flavors in the mouth with a hint of sweetness. Eleven percent alcohol won’t club you over the head on a warm summer night. Serve well chilled and enjoy.

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz 2004 ($28). Often called a “poor man’s Grange,” this blend delivers opulent berry fruit with fine tannins and good oak.

Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 3004 ($23). Full body, plum fruit with a hint of chocolate and spice. Big tannins make it more than your simple shiraz and with a very reasonable price for what you get.

Barossa Vines Shiraz 2005 ($15). This showy shiraz made by Grant Burge has simple but generous raspberry notes with hints of chocolate and spice. Delicious.

Wine of the week

Chateau d’Aqueria Tavel Rosé 2006 ($17). The Tavel region of southern France makes some of the best rosés in the world. This blend of grenache, clairette, cinsault, mourvedre and bourboulenc makes for a tantalizing wine. Founded in 1595, d’Aqueria has been making rosé for a long time. Floral aroms, bone dry and full bodied.