Monday 24 August 2009

TAKE A GOOD CATHOLIC GIRL TO DINNER

Wc24Aug09

david ellis

ONE of the more eye-catching labels to come our way of late is Good Catholic Girl from boutique maker Julie Barry in South Australia's Clare Valley.

The daughter of the late and legendary Jim Barry, Julie says that being born into a Catholic wine family, it meant that in vintage her fate was sealed, and only natural that she develop an interest and love of wine from an early age.

Just two wines are bottled under her Good Catholic Girl label: one is a Shiraz from her own Limerick Vineyard that was planted in 1997 with cuttings from her father's famed Armagh Shiraz vines just across the paddock (and certainly a great a head-start in the Shiraz-making stakes.)

The other is a Riesling from fruit she sources from two vineyards at Penwortham – the original settlement in the Clare.

We found her 2008 Teresa Clare Riesling (named after her mother) really something, with dominant cassis and lemon flavours, coupled with hints of lime and fresh Granny Smith apples – all-in-all a refreshingly succulent drop ideal with seafood such as crabmeat fritters and salad, or roast pork.

Julie made just 108 dozen; if it sounds appealing its just $25 a bottle plus freight. Order on 0419 822 909 or email enquiry@goodcatholicgirl.com.au

ONE FOR LUNCH: VICTORIA's cool-climate Blue Pyrenees' "Varietal" range certainly live up to their claim of value-for-money for premium quality wines at consumer-friendly prices.

The 2006 Blue Pyrenees Varietal Shiraz is one in particular to look out for if you like flavoursome reds: made from low-yielding, big-on-flavour vines, this one's got nice sweet blueberry fruit flavours that give way to hints of chocolate and varietal spice; pay $18 and serve with barbecued kangaroo steaks and whole foil-roasted buttered potatoes.

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


PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] INVITE this Good Catholic Girl to a seafood or roast pork dinner

[] LIVING up to its claim: value-for-money premium quality red

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