Tuesday 27 March 2007

WINE OF THE WEEK: McWilliams 2006 Lillydale Sauvignon Blanc

ONE FOR LUNCH: Cool climate Sauvignon Blanc styles are making big inroads amongst those who enjoy youthful buy-and-drink whites whose upfront fruit flavours to go so well with a variety of al fresco meal ideas.

McWilliams’ just-released 2006 Lillydale Sauvignon Blanc, a blend from three of the company’s Yarra Valley vineyards, has loads of kiwi and passionfruit characters, with just a hint of lime and lychee… at $19.99 enjoy it chilled on its own, or with antipasto or an asparagus salad.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

IF the dictionary defines watershed as “a dividing line… going to a new and higher level,” then the Margaret River’s Watershed Premium Wines has achieved just that with its 2006 Chardonnay.

Here’s a classic wine made by French-born Severine Logan, who brought together fruit from both the northern and central regions of the Margaret River, and then eschewed the use of oak to allow the sweet peach-like and citrus flavours of the fruit itself to spin its magic.

And with these fully-forward fruit flavours, supported by a more-ish, creamy smooth finish, its given a wine that begs to go on the table with a cold seafood salad before winter has us thinking heavier meals and heartier reds.

Severine, who graduated from both Toulouse and Orleans Universities in France, joined Watershed after jetting between Australian and French vintages for over a decade; her work included with such prestigious French labels as Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour and BRL Hardy’s Domaine de La Baume in Languedoc, and in-between with leading makers here that included Brown Brothers, Sandalford, Houghton and Rosemount, before becoming Watershed’s Head Winemaker.

Snap up her 2006 Watershed Margaret River Chardonnay at $16.95.