SUCCESS OF DOING THINGS BY HALVES

NOT only does Hamish MacGowan make a ripper red for those who like
their steaks big and rare, he's one of the few makers with the
foresight to put his wine into both regular size bottles, and also
into "halves" for solo diners or couples who simply don't want more
than a glass or so.

Its five years since Hamish launched his inaugural 2002 Angus the Bull Cabernet Sauvignon, and over those years he's not had a vintage that's
disappointed. And his 2006 continues his philosophy of selecting only
the best of fruit, no matter how difficult this can sometimes be, with
that for 2006 sourced from a half dozen-plus vineyards across Victoria
and South Australia.

This is a big wine for a big steak with Potatoes Dauphinoise and a red wine and mushroom sauce. Its generous palate follows through on the ripe black fruit, rich dark chocolate and vanillin aromas, and is
coupled with firm tannins and a boldly savoury finish; the 750ml
bottle costs around $20 and the 375ml "calf" $12… what a shame more
makers don't think about doing similar.

ONE FOR LUNCH: MOST of us don't need much coercing to pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly, and a special occasion bottle that's worth putting on the ice comes from our leading sparkling wine region, Tasmania. Arras 2002 Pinot Noir Chardonnay from Bay of Fires sparkling maker, Ed
Carr is an elegant, full-flavoured bubbly that's refreshingly dry with
an almost-sherbet lemon finish. Well worth the $43 price tag to enjoy
on its own, or with a celebratory Lobster Thermidor (lobster meat
tossed in Béchamel Sauce, packed back into the shell, topped with
Parmesan, and browned under a griller.)

BUY OF THE WEEK: FIFTH Leg's 2007 Western Australia Rosé is a nice
balance of Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon that's got plenty of
zesty Rosé zing about it, and with its almost cheeky cherry pink
colour looks as good in the glass as it tastes. Pay $20.99 and share
it on the Sunday table with Mediterranean cheese and herb frittatas
topped with tomato and balsamic jam. Oh yeah.

………………………………….

Photo captions: ANGUS the Bull: ripper red for those who like their steaks

big and rare.

GO Mediterranean with Fifth Leg's 2007 Western Australia Rosé – ideal with cheese and herb frittatas.