Katnook Prodigy Shiraz 2012 - Coonawarra

A REALLY VERY SPECIAL OCCASION SHIRAZ

David Ellis

WHEN you are one of just 65 wines listed as "Excellent" in Langton's #VI Classification of Australian Wine – considered the ultimate guide to local fine wines – you certainly know you are doing something right.

And Katnook Coonawarra have definitely proven just how right they have done that something with their now-released Katnook Prodigy Shiraz 2012, a wine crafted from small parcels of grapes off low-cropping Coonawarra vineyards renowned for fruit of consistently outstanding depth of flavour, plus excellent colour and firm tannins.

Planted in the mid-1990s these vineyards are meticulously managed with hand-pruning, bunch-thinning and shoot-removal to result in this most remarkable Shiraz.

Winemaker Wayne Stehbens says he considers 2012 to have been one of Coonawarra's finest vintages, its grapes of wonderfully generous pure-fruit flavour, with underlying liquorice spice, finely-grained tannins and plenty of length of flavour.

With no change out of $100 a bottle, this is one to offer for very special occasion long and leisurely enjoyment with brioche, hard cheeses, paté and quince paste, or a main course of richly gamey venison that will play beautifully to the wine's flavours.

10 Apr 17

[] DEFINITELY rewarding from one of Coonawarra's finest vintages.

The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren Winery Mudgee

Blue Wren, nestled amongst the vines and situated in one of New South Wales premium wine regions –Mudgee in Central West New South Wales- has recently launched its new boutique homestead accommodation, The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren.

Offering guests unique, country hospitality, coupled with a contemporary and luxurious style, The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren provides guests with an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Central West’s thriving wine region.

To celebrate the launch of the latest addition to the stunning boutique winery, The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren has just released special Autumn Accommodation Packages starting from only $170.00 per night.

Guests can stay overnight from Sunday in the one room suite for a reduced rate of $170.00 per night, with a complimentary Cellar Door experience in the Tasting Room @ Blue Wren. Or choose to stay at The Farmhouse two room studios for a reduced rate of $190.00 per night, also with a complimentary Cellar Door experience.

Or for a luxurious weekend getaway to NSW’s spectacular country side stay a Friday or Saturday night at The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren in the one room suite for a reduced rate of $280.00 per night, including a complimentary Cellar Door experience. Or choose to stay at the two room studios for a reduced rate of $300.00 per night, also including a complimentary Cellar Door experience.

Situated three-and-a-half hours’ drive from Sydney, Blue Wren is only a few minutes from the heart of the Mudgee Township - where guests can explore and discover the small town that offers plenty of old world charm and ambience. In recent years the region has grown into a thriving wine and food producing district - with award-winning wineries, first class restaurants and stunning views of the NSW country side.

Guests can take the opportunity to dine at the Chef’s Table @ Blue Wren, located at the winery’s recently refurbished intimate restaurant. They can dine as Head Chef and owner Kip Harris showcases first-hand, an innovative menu using only the finest produce matched with Blue Wren’s latest wine releases, ranging from the new Verscato, to Rose and even a White Port to end the night.

Limited to only seating 20 people, guests are invited to dine either at an intimate table in the restaurant, or positioned at an exclusive place at the Chef's Table. Here guests are open to discuss every part of their culinary journey with the Chef – making it a truly memorable and engaging dining experience.

Guests can then finish their night nestled at The Farmhouse offering a delightful mix of luxurious country accommodation, paired with stunning views of the vineyard from the five-bedroom boutique property. Each room offers an individual contemporary design, featuring king beds, quality linen, and deluxe bathroom amenities.

The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren is the perfect location for your next visit to Central West NSW. A showpiece in the region with its outstanding boutique accommodation and first class restaurant – the accommodation is ideal for corporate travellers and individuals, couples, groups and extended families & friends.

The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren Wines is quickly becoming the ‘must stay’ destination for those wanting to explore regional New South Wales.

For further information please visit: www.bluewrenwines.com.au

Neil McGuigan just back from Canada

GAME BET WITH A BOTTLE OF RED

David Ellis

WINE consortium Australian Vintages Limited that embraces McGuigan Wines, Miranda, Nepenthe, Tempus Two and Passion Pop, has plenty of reason to raise a glass or three to vino enthusiasts in Canada,  because last year those enthusiastic Canadians downed a whopping 2,340,000 bottles of AVL's wines.

McGuigan Wines Chief Winemaker, Neil McGuigan who's just back from a visit to Canada, says that's a 128 per cent increase on sales of five years ago. And Canada overall is now Australia's fourth biggest wine export market after mainland China, the United States and the United Kingdom, with sales of a near 50,000,000 cases in the twelve months to September last year worth AU$190,000,000.

Interestingly our reds outsell our whites in Canada two-to-one, being matched on the table as Neil McGuigan found, with some interesting offerings. "Australian reds are generally popular matches with lamb and beef wherever you go," he says. "But in Canada where game meats are so abundant, you'll actually find these wines equally popular on restaurant and home tables with such options as reindeer, boar, moose and rabbit.

"And if you are visiting Canada and want to try some of those game meat offerings, which you really should do, and have an Aussie red with them, a Cabernet Merlot such as our Black Label is a good match and quite readily available.

"Also with Canada having some of the best seafood in the world, a white like Bin 9000 Semillon that's also widely available across Canada, makes for a great match with the wonderful British Columbia salmon."


[] PERFECT match, British Columbia salmon and white wine at The Pines, Jasper. Diners and wine buffs last year downed a whopping 2,340,000 bottles of Australian Vintages Limited wines in restaurants, hotels, cafés and homes across Canada. (Image: The Pines Jasper)

3 Apr 17

Wolf Blass 2014 Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz

REALLY rewarding pairing
with slow-roasted lamb shanks
under a star-anise and plum marinade.

ONE TO NOTE:  WOLF Blass Grey Label wines have a well-earned reputation for being rich and powerful, yet with a wonderful approachability from their time in bottle before release.

A 2014 Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz that's now available is just one such of these wines, good winter rains having set up the vines for a dry spring that was followed by a hot January, much needed rains in February, and then cooling temperatures that slowed ripening for a great accumulation of flavours and tannin.

At $45 this one makes for a really rewarding pairing with slow-roasted lamb shanks under a star-anise and plum marinade.


27 March 2017

Canberra District Wine Week to draw crowds to Yass Valley in April

What's better than celebrating with wine on a weekend? Celebrating wine for a whole week! And right now, the wineries of the Yass Valley are getting ready to take part in the Canberra District Wine Week – a celebration of harvest time from 31 March to 9 April 2017.

"Canberra District Wine Week is the perfect time to visit Yass Valley as the region's wineries offer some great wine events, dinners, lunches, tastings, tours and more," said Sean Haylan, Economic Development & Tourism Manager at Yass Valley Council.

"It's also harvest time which really is a great time to come and celebrate the 2017 vintage with the winemakers of the region," Sean continued.

Canberra District Wine Week is a ten-day program of wine tastings, food matchings, tours and events which will be held across the entire Canberra district including Hall, Bungendore and of course Gundaroo, Murrumbateman and Yass in the Yass Valley.

"The events will culminate with the annual Harvest Festival over the weekend of 8 and 9 April.

"Some of Yass Valley's best wineries and restaurants are really worth checking out over Wine Week. Ewe and Me Restaurant in Yass is offering a degustation dinner on Saturday 1 April, and you can enjoy 'left field' wines and canapes at our famed Clementine Restaurant in Yass on Wednesday 5 April," continued Sean.

Other Yass Valley based events taking place as part of Canberra District Wine Week include a four sangiovese dinner at Four Winds Vineyard Cellar Door, and a 'Taste of the region long lunch' in Yass on Friday 7 April featuring local food and five vineyards.

"Yass has a range of quality accommodation on offer to suit all tastes and budgets, and several of the local operators will also be offering wine week packages, so get in quick to be a part of all the wine action," concluded Sean.

For more information on Yass Valley including accommodation options, visit www.yassvalley.com.au For more information on Canberra District Wine Week and associated events visit www.canberrawines.com.au

Toolangi 2016 Rose - Yarra Valley

ONE TO NOTE:  DOWN in Victoria's Yarra Valley, Garry and Julie Hounsell at Toolangi Vineyards also grow their own premium fruit, and have their wines made for them – in their case by a number of makers who're supremoes in individual varietals.

It's a philosophy that rewards all from grower to consumer as it results in wines of wonderfully unique and distinctive personality. One such that's just been released is their Toolangi 2016 Rosé made from Shiraz grapes off their Dixons Creek vineyard, and crafted for them by Dominique Portet Winery who are wizards with Shiraz fruit.

This is a fantastically quaffable drop when served cold out of the fridge on a warm summer's day: fresh, red berry fruits are to the fore, backed with savoury notes and lemon zest, a hint of spice and zippy acidity. At $28 great on its own, or equally at home with everything from quiche to curries, seafood to sandwiches and wraps.


[] SUMMER quaffer on its own or with everything from quiche to curries, seafood to sandwiches and wraps.

 

Topper’s Mountain 2015 Barrel Aged Gewurztraminer

SMASH-HIT GEWURZ THAT'S TOPPER'S

David Ellis

THE NSW New England is not a wine region we hear a lot about, yet like so many of our other younger, smaller and sometimes off the beaten track hideaways, its one that's full of great surprises for the wine adventurer.

And amongst its many gems is a winery called Topper's Mountain at Tingha near Armidale on the New England Tablelands, one that owners Mark and Stephanie Kirby never cease to surprise with the quality of the grapes they grow in this high elevation (900 metres) cool climate region, and the resultant wines that are made for them by celebrated contract maker Mike Hayes.

Their 2015 Barrel Aged Gewurztraminer is one such drop, an absolutely top-notch Gewurz whose aromatics are all about clouds of Turkish delight, stone fruits, a little honey, marzipan and musk, and which couple on a creamy, fruit-laden palate that's also got gorgeous hints of spice, oaky tannin, acidity and has a lovely crispy finish.

This is a drop that's worth every cent of its $35 price tag, and you could imagine was custom-built to go on the table with Thai and similar Asian temptations.


[] ONE you would think was custom-built to go on the table with Thai and similar Asian temptations.