A GREAT CANBERRA SEMILLON? SHAW IS

Wc22Feb10

HERE's just the partner for a late-summer prawn
salad with a home-made mayonnaise dip.

david ellis

A ONE-TIME sheep station in the now-Canberra wine region is proving that it's equally at home producing fine wines as it was when it once produced some of Australia's finest wool.

Shaw Estate Vineyard is a 280ha property at Murrumbateman, and with 32ha of this devoted to vines is the largest privately-owned vineyard in the Canberra wine region.

And interestingly its showing that its not just the Hunter that can create some of NSW's best Semillons: a 2009 Shaw Semillon Sauvignon Blanc is a rewarding drop with beautifully intense crisp lemony and passionfruit flavours from the 85-per cent Semillon component, and herbaceousness from the Sauvignon Blanc.

Although planted just over ten years ago, Shaw Vineyard is turning out some rewarding wines, with Graeme Shaw saying Canberra's cool nights help vines retain acidity, while its warm days assist full fruit ripeness and intensity of flavour.

Pay $22 for the Shaw 2009 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and enjoy with an end of summer prawn salad served with a home-made mayonnaise-based dip and warm crusty baguettes.

A TASTE of history to chat over with
special-occasion steak and bacon tournedos.

ONE FOR LUNCH: WESTERN Australia's Houghton has dedicated a 2007 Cabernet Malbec to its late-1800's winemaker, Charles William Ferguson.

And doubtless if he was around today, Charles would be delighted with the compliment, and the quality of the wine: 2007 was a good year for reds in WA, and this one – predominantly Cabernet from Frankland River with the touch of Malbec from Mt Barker – has resulted in a wine with great fruit flavour and  nice oak. At $49 enjoy with special-occasion steak and bacon tournedos.  .

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

Trophy Winners Announced for 2010 Sydney International Wine Competition

Trophies, including the Joy Lake Memorial Perpetual Championship Trophy for “Best Wine of Competition” from the 2010 Sydney International Wine Competition were presented at a seven course dégustation banquet in the Grand Ballroom, Shangri La Hotel Sydney, on Saturday, February 20.

This independent International Wine Competition is unique in that the final round of judging is conducted with appropriate food which, Competition Director Warren Mason says, “offers a realistic consumer guide for matching appropriate wines to diverse food dishes”.

Instead of varietal categories, finalists are categorised according to palate weight: Lighter, Medium and Fuller Bodied Styles. Final judging was done beside food dishes that wines of the given palate weight complement.

All 2010 results have been published on the Competition’s website www.top100wines.com with individual judges’ comments for each Award winner and recipes of all the food dishes presented.

“The International Panel of Judges’ comments clearly show the consumer that we all have slightly different palates, different perceptions about wine” says Mason. “The Competition’s main aim is to encourage consumers to make up their own minds about which wines to choose. It’s built around helping consumers make considered choices, to take full advantage of the vast array of wine styles that are available and to choose what to drink with a given dish with a purpose in mind. We aim to help them become their own, informed sommelier.”

The Competition’s attracts entries from both boutique and large commercial wine companies. “Each wine entered has its own unique story”, says Mason. Some notable examples this year include:

• The Wine Society Perpetual Trophy for “Most Successful Winery or Brand” of Competition went to Westend Estate Wines, Griffith, NSW. Westend took out nine awards from 20 wines entered. Considering only 15% of all entries receive any award, this was a remarkable achievement.

• Against the might of the “big boys” three Red Wine Trophies went to the Young area in the Hilltops GI region, Central NSW. Considering miniscule Hilltops has only three Boutique wineries plus about another five growers, this was a remarkable achievement. Look for Grove Estate and Moppity Vineyards.

• Peter and Margaret Lehmann’s “Margaret” Barossa Semillon 2004 took out the Joy Lake Memorial Championship Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Competition for the second time in three years. A Semillon? From the Barossa? This was a remarkable achievement.

A public tasting of all Trophy and Blue-Gold Award winning wines will be held on Saturday, 20 March 2010, The Menzies Hotel, Sydney: White Session 10:00 am to 12 noon; Red Session 2:00pm to 5:00 pm. Tickets can be booked online at www.top100wines.com Click SIWC Events on Menu.

HIP NEW AUSTRIAN WINE IS GRU-VEE

Wc15Feb10

david ellis

WE don't know of many wine buffs who go in search of the juice of the grape from Austria, but Hesketh have released an Austrian Gruner Veltliner that – if it follows overseas trends – could prove to be something of a new fashion statement here.

Both an any-time and food-friendly wine, the crispy 2008 Hesketh "Perfect Stranger" Gruner Veltliner was made by Berthold Salomon from fruit sourced along the steep hills bordering the Danube River, and made at the company's historic circa-1792 winery.

Salomon and other makers are enjoying a new-found popularity with this varietal that's actually been around since Roman days, and not only in Austria but from London to New York: younger patrons of trendy bars and clubs in these cities have dubbed it "Gru-Vee," in keeping with its hip new popularity.

And while a style for any-time enjoyment, if you want to try it with a meal you'll find its fresh peppermint, lime citrus and green apple flavours an ideal match with Thai soft-shell crab; if not into seafoods, enjoy it equally as well with fresh-cooked asparagus. Certainly excellent value at $24.95.

ONE FOR LUNCH: After a couple of not-so-good vintages weather-wise in Western Australia's Margaret River, 2008 returned to the exceptional conditions for which the region is known, and Evans & Tate lost no time in turning out a super 2008 version of their benchmark Classic Red.

A great blend whose dominant Shiraz component has given beautiful fruit sweetness and a fleshy texture, its Cabernet Sauvignon input has added even more fruitiness plus a touch of elegance and a generously long finish.

You'll find the Shiraz component in particular makes it a rewarding match with most barbecued red meats, and the $19.99 price is again excellent value.

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



PHOTO CAPTIONS

[] SOMETHING different out of Austria.

[] CLASSIC Red is classic Evans and Tate.

CLASSIC MCWILLIAM’S FOR CLASSIC OCCASIONS

Wc08Feb10

david ellis

McWILLIAM'S have released their 2005 flagship 1877 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, a classic wine for that classic very special occasion or celebration.

Labelled 1877 after the year that Samuel McWilliam planted his first vines at Corowa in the NSW Murray Basin, this latest release has been created from premium fruit from some of the best vineyards at Heathcote in Victoria, Hilltops in NSW and South Australia's Coonawarra.

First crafted in 1998 in homage to six generations of winemaking at McWilliam's, the wine's had extraordinary success on the show circuit, in its brief seven-year history notching-up eight trophies and 56 gold medals.

The 2005 is wonderfully rich with blood plum, black spice, mint and cassis from the Cabernet Sauvignon component, and softness and a beautifully savoury finish from the Shiraz contribution.

Worth the $85 price to make that very special occasion all the more memorable.

ONE FOR LUNCH: WE'VE long been unabashed fans of Lillypilly's unusual Red Velvet that was launched by Robert Fiumara and his late brother Dominic in 1985 – a time when eyebrows were raised at the mere suggestion of an Australian-made red that was both slightly sweet and (horror of horrors) intended to be served chilled for quaffing at summer parties or barbecues.

And even more adventurous was the blend, not one or two varieties brought together in the bottle, but an amazing twelve that many had never even heard of: Merlot, Carignane, Ruby Cabernet, Zinfandel, Saint Magaire, Tarrango, Durif, Touriga, Mondeuse, Chambourcin, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2009 is as good as the blend's ever been, a light quaffer to enjoy chilled – or even with ice cubes and soda water – and its only $13.50. Give it a try.

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


PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] CLASSIC wine to make a classic occasion all the more memorable

[] CHILL this light red for party of barbecue quaffing

GRABBING VICTORY FROM FROST AND DROUGHT

Wc25Jan10

david ellis

FROST and drought don't really seem to be in the equation when you are growing grapes for hopefully premium wines on what is pretty ordinary soil.

But Ian McKenzie and Ken Pollock pulled off a coup from just such conditions with their 2007 BlackJack Cabernet Merlot that they've just released – a corker drop to really enjoy now or, at $25 a bottle to pop away in the cellar to develop even more beautifully over the next five to ten years.

BlackJack Vineyards are just south of Bendigo in Victoria's old pear- and apple-growing Harcourt Valley, a place where the cool climate allows the grapes to grow slowly with vintage not until April or May. But in 2007 frost and drought reduced grape crops to below half the norm, and Ian and Ken literally hand-made every drop of BlackJack's '07 Cabernet Merlot from this.

Their efforts are our rewards: this is a great drop with plenty of red berry, black olive and hints of mint – just the choice with an olive-crusted lamb rack and steamed vegies.

ONE FOR LUNCH: We're great fans of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, but Debbie Lauritz at Climbing Wines has blow us away with a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from the Orange region in the high altitude and cool climate of NSW's Central West.

At $21.99 grab a bottle of this wine that's got great tropical fruit flavours, nice citrus and lemon notes, crisp acidity and beautifully soft on the palate. You'll really enjoy this with a tuna nicoise salad.

AND ONE FOR FUN: A clever blend of warm and cool climate fruit from areas as diverse as the Riverina, King Valley, Tumbarumba and Orange have resulted in a nice and inexpensive Deen De Bortoli Vat 7 2008 Chardonnay; pay just $12.90 and enjoy the peach and stone fruit characters, nutty complexity and lively fresh finish. A great drop for partying.

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


PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] NO gamble on enjoyment with this Cabernet Merlot from BlackJack

[] CLIMBING high, this Aussie Sauvignon Blanc reaches new heights

Wine Auction for Haiti

HAITI IS SUFFERING from the devastating effects of the recent earthquake and hundreds of thousands of people are dying.

They need our help :: time to roll our sleeves up and pull our fingers out, guys.

PLEASE READ THE BLOG POST and let's do something about it :: LET'S SAVE SOME LIVES!

FORLORN IMBIBER REJOICES AT SEEING THE LIGHT

GETTING the right Balance
of alcohol, fruit and flavour.

david ellis

A mate who ended 2009 somewhat forlornly after being told by his doctor to reduce by a third his propensity for a bottle of red or white with dinner every night, has now begun the new year with surprising enthusiasm.

Its because he's found that rather than having to have a couple of "dry" nights each week, or to cork the bottom third of his nightly choice, he can still actually enjoy his full bottle – while remaining within his doctor's orders. Well, as he says, more or less.

And it's the result of McWilliams working in conjunction with Weight Watchers to come up with a red and a white under a new label called Balance, whose wines are 1/3rd lighter in both alcohol and kilojoules than most regular drops.

Yet at only 8.5 per cent alcohol McWilliams' Balance Shiraz and Balance Semillon Sauvignon Blanc are still both remarkably full-flavoured, food-friendly wines that've not lost anything in enjoyment from their lower alcohol content.

And for those who seriously watch their weight, each has a Weight Watchers' Points value of 1, which means devotees can enjoy a glass of either of the Balance wines with a meal, knowing it equates to just one standard drink.

CLARE classic from Tim Adams
for that next bbq.

Each is priced at $16.99 – and so fruit-forward and flavoursome are they, you'll find yourself wondering how-so when they're so "light?"

ONE FOR LUNCH: BACK in the 1970s a young apprentice winemaker, Tim Adams learned the art of making a great Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend from the late Mick Knappstein at Stanley Leasingham. It's a skill he's never forgotten, and now his own Tim Adams label Cabernet is as much a Clare Valley classic as was Mick's Bin 56; Tim's 2005 Cabernet is a full-bodied, slightly spicy blend of 86 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 14 per cent Malbec to savour at $28.50 with a good char-grilled steak.

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



Wc18Jan10