Toolangi Chardonnay - Rosemount Estate’s MV Collection 2012 Shiraz

TOOLANGI PROVES THE JOY OF CHARDONNAY

David Ellis

PREMIUM drop to enjoy with simple roast chicken,
grilled lobster or barbecued veal chops.   

THE Yarra Valley has garnered an enviable reputation over the past couple of decades for Chardonnays out of makers like Toolangi who planted their first vines there back in December 1995.

And as the latest release from this small family-owned operation, their 2012 is a veritable explosion in the glass of what Chardonnay is all about, with predominantly citrusy grapefruit flavours to the fore and quite extraordinary length (how long the flavour lasts in the back of the throat after swallowing.)

Owners Garry and Julie Hounsell went in hard with the secateurs for this wine, pruning back heavily to maximise fruit flavour and quality as Yarra Valley vines, with the climate they enjoy, can be quite prolific producers. And interestingly, after harvesting the fruit was processed at two separate wineries, Yering Station and Oakridge, and the resultant blend put together at Yering Station.

This 2012 Toolangi Chardonnay is nicely priced for a premium drop at $25, and with its full-on varietal flavours makes for an ideal partner with everything on the table from simple roast chicken, to grilled lobster if you're maybe celebrating, or for a  more casual outdoor barbecue of veal chops and mushrooms.

THIS one's a perfect match with a
Sunday beef roast or barbecued herbed lamb chops.

ONE TO NOTE: IF that Toolangi Chardonnay was all about flavour in a white wine, Rosemount Estate's MV Collection 2012 Shiraz is all about flavour in a red wine.

One of four wines released mid-year under the MV (McLaren Vale) Collection label, this one is again a glass whopper that's all flavour, flavour and more flavour – with savoury blackberry to the fore and nice back-up cherry fruit, supple tannins and a long finish, justifying Rosemount's Chief Winemaker Matt Koch's summation that McLaren Vale is one of the company's "most dynamic wine regions."

Pay $25 and match this one nicely with a Sunday beef roast or barbecued herbed lamb chops.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au  in main blog.

                                               

Wc03Nov14

2012 de Mestre Wines Shiraz - Matua Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc

BET YOU'VE NOT HEARD OF THIS ONE

David Ellis

BEST wine from the smallest vineyard
you've never heard of

SYDNEY lawyer-cum-weekend winemaker, Paul de Mestre likes to sum up the fruit of his hobby as "the best wine from the smallest vineyard you've never heard of…"

And while we think he's pretty much right, don't go rushing out trying to find a bottle. He makes just 800 a year, and these can be bought only from his little 16ha vineyard on Sofala Road at Ilford in the Mudgee Region of the NSW Central Ranges, or online. And even then that's if he's got any…

While not officially organic, Paul takes a minimalist approach to his winemaking, trusting nature, as he says, at every turn. The result is delightful cool climate varietals that can vary considerably from vintage to vintage, but which always deliver big on texture and flavour, be they his Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon or Viognier.

His currently available 2012 de Mestre Wines Shiraz at $30 is a corker, coming from a perfect vintage – and by adding a touch of Viognier he's achieved a wine that's nicely fragrant and has forward flavours of plum and black pepper that make it an ideal accompaniment with slow-roasted Greek lamb (how we enjoyed it.) Go to www.demestre.com.au to organise a bottle or six, or to arrange a vineyard visit.

 LABEL helps you choose off the shelf
the style of Sauvignon Blanc
that best suits your palate.

ONE TO NOTE: NEW ZEALAND's Matua that can claim to being the country's first producer of Sauvignon Blanc 40 years ago, has now come up with an interesting concept with the release of three labels that give buyers some extra help in choosing off the shelf the style of Sauvignon Blanc that best suits their palate.

The label of their Matua Smooth describes it as "soft and elegant," and being from the warmer Hawkes Bay region more luscious, juicy and food friendly; a Matua Crisp as "fresh and tropical" with vibrant Marlborough tropical fruit and citrus fruit flavours and fresh, crisp acidity; and a Marlborough Matua Lighter as "cool and fragrant" with tropical passionfruit and gooseberry flavours and 25 per cent less alcohol/calories.

Each of these 2014 vintage wines is priced at $22 through BWS.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au  in main blog.

Wc27Oct14

Lindeman's value Chardonnay - Briar Ridge 2014 Single Vineyard Dairy Hill Semillon

$10 CHARDONNAY'S TRUE VALUE FOR MONEY

David Ellis

GET the conversation going around a seafood
lunch or dinner with this great drop.

LINDEMAN'S Bin 65 Chardonnay has long been one of the best value-for-money Chardonnays in this country (and in international markets too,) one that at a current $10 never fails to satisfy for flavour, toss-it-down enjoyment, and price.

And interestingly while launched onto the market here 23 years ago, it had in fact been in production for six years before that – to supply the Northern Hemisphere that had taken with gusto to the drink's fruit-driven and easy-drinking style, and when eventually released in Australia in 1991 was an overnight equal  success here too.

The current-release 2014 made from fruit sourced across a wide area of South Eastern Australia maintains the tradition, with lovely fruit salad, fig, peach and toasty oak aromas that follow through delightfully on the palate. Enjoy it on its own pre-dining as the conversation gets going, in the party-room, and indoors or out where it makes for a terrific match at the table with all manner of seafoods.

And you'll notice that it's new label's got some changes to it, with a sketch of Dr Henry John Lindeman's 1885 Cawarra homestead set within a triumphal wreath featuring Australian native eucalyptus and gum nuts, and under these the Latin phrase 'Felicitas in Vitae,' meaning 'In Life Happiness' – from Dr Lindeman's own favourite quote "the one purpose of wine is to bring happiness." 

ENJOY this trophy winner with oysters
with Asian sauces, seafood salads or crab.

ONE TO NOTE: THE Hunter Valley's Briar Ridge has just released its 2014 Single Vineyard Dairy Hill Semillon that garnered a Trophy for Best 2014 Semillon at this year's Hunter Valley Wine Show.

A great coup for Chief Winemaker Gwyneth Olsen who joined the company only last year, this is a drop that came from low-yielding vines with wonderful concentrations of flavour, that in turn reward in the glass with elegantly crisp citrus and refreshing acidity, and with accompanying lemon and lime aromas.

At $35 a great partner with oysters with Asian sauces, seafood salads, or crab.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au  in main blog.

Wc20Oct14

Mark Best's Pei Modern restaurant's new wines

Mark Best's new Pei Modern restaurant, recently installed in the space once occupied by The Woods in Sydney's iconic Four Seasons Hotel, is challenging guests' palates with an array of unusual wines to match his bold new menu.

Mark Best's Pei Modern comes to Sydney's Four Seasons Hotel

Think Young Vine Pinot Meunier and Barossa Savagnin to accompany his flavoursome meat and seafood creations.

Read the full report here.

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Rymill Cabernet Sauvignon - Fox Gordon Fiano

AS-LIVELY a character as the dark chestnut
thoroughbred it is named after.

THE DARK HORSE WHO BUCKED TO THE TOP

David Ellis

HORSES whose careers put them out there in the public eye, can generally be considered to have a pretty short future if they continually buck their owners at the most inappropriate of public moments.

Such was the case with a steed named Adlai who – whilst considered the most-handsome in the Victorian Mounted Police at the time – unfortunately bucked overboard his commanding officer once too often, and with exquisite timing.

Instantly condemned to the knackery, Adlai was saved by Judy Rymill of Rymill Coonawarra fame who rescued him for a song – and responding to a female's touch, he went on to become a champion in Dressage, Show Jumping, High Jumping and 3-Day Events here, and represented Australia in some at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Although Judy and Adlai have both passed on, Adlai is now being commemorated in a wonderful new 2013 Rymill Cabernet Sauvignon 'The Dark Horse,' a wine with an as-lively a character as Adlai himself, and loaded with blackcurrant, mulberry and dark cherry flavours, rich chocolaty undertones and hints of mint.

At $23.95 reminisce about Adlai over this wine, roast duck and a cherry sauce.

GAINING popularity here and ideal
with pan-friend garlic sardines.

ONE TO NOTE: FIANO is a crisply dry white hailing from the Campania region of Southern Italy, and while not widely made in Australia it's loyal following is growing appreciably amongst fans of labels made here in mainly South Australia and Victoria.

Family-owned boutique, Fox Gordon has an enticing Fiano it makes from fruit from the Adelaide Hills, and with white peach, nectarine and citrusy flavours coupled with interesting minerality, is a joy with – what else – such Italian dishes as pan-fried garlic sardines, or gnocchi alla Sorrentina… gnocchi with basil, Mozzarella and tomato sauce.

A great drop at $22.95 from select premium liquor outlets.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au in main blog.


Wc13Oct14