Monday, 23 March 2009

MARLARGO’S ROSÉ A CRIMSON TEMPTRESS


Wc23Mar09


david ellis

WE've long sung the praises of Rosé as a companion to Asian dishes – particularly those with seafood at their heart – and a label we came upon for the first time only recently, exceeded our expectations in every regard.

It was Marlargo's McLaren Vale Cabernet Rosé, a brilliant-crimson wine with a temptress-look label that alone was enough to have us taking it off the shelf.

But it was winemaker Goe Di Fabio's skills that completed our enthusiasm after we'd grabbed our bottles: on opening, aromas of fresh-picked raspberries and black cherries burst out, while the dry-style on the palate was bounteous with fresh berry fruit flavours, black cherries and citrus.

A silky finish made this wine one to take to enthusiastically with a first course of coconut-crumbed prawns and a sweet chilli sauce, while the real match was with the mains: sushi-grade tuna wrapped in nori and deep fried in a light tempura batter, with an accompanying sweet soy reduction, avocado and raspberry sauce.

At $20, this one will have you going back for more.

ONE FOR LUNCH: FATHER and son winemaking team, Robert and James Lusby have come up with a ripper 2008 Pebbles Brief Chardonnay from their Tintilla Estate Vineyard in the Hunter Valley.

This gently-oaked wine has more-ish ripe-fruit flavours up front, followed by a mid-palate that's characteristically flinty with accompanying lime and stone fruit, and a clean finish.

At $26 share it with seafood salads, or if you're in a barbecue mood, partner it with seared tuna accompanied by potatoes wrapped in foil with a splash of olive oil and a dab of garlic, and cooked over the coals.   

(NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )

 

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] ONE THAT'LL HAVE YOU GOING BACK FOR MORE

[] PERFECT WITH SEARED TUNA AND FOIL WRAPPED POTATOES


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