Miles From Nowhere 2010 Verdelho. Source: AdelaideNow
TONY Love reviews wine from around Australia.
LIVELY CHARACTER
$14
MILES FROM NOWHERE
2010 Verdelho
Margaret River, WA
www.milesfromnowhere.com.au
***
$14FROM the new biz of former chief exec of Evans & Tate, Franklin Tate who, with young winemaker Jodie Opie, accesses a diverse group of vineyards and puts together a great batch of good-value regional wines with a modern look, plenty of zip and a definite aim to celebrate lively fruit character. Here, their verdelho leads with tropical blossom and fruits, limes and lemons squeezed over it.
Value: Very good
Food: Vietnamese pork rolls
A PURE JOY
$20
HENTLEY FARM
2009 Dirty Bliss Grenache Shiraz
Barossa Valley, SA
www.hentleyfarm.com.au
****
FROM the proud northwest sector of the Barossa the Greenock subdistrict shining here two of the region's great varieties come together. The meld is joy in the glass, the earthiness of the grenache showing itself alongside its cherry sweet fruit and darker plums of the shiraz. This wine is ripe and warm,
full of life via a little bit of cola and blood lip as well as a fine minerally underlayer adding class and table manners.
Value: Really good
Food: Smoked smallgoods and pepperoni pizza
INTRIGUING NAME
$26
SOUMAH
2010 Savarro
Yarra Valley, Vic
www.soumah.com.au
****
THE variety behind this intriguingly named white is savagnin, previously known as alborino, but here given one of its Italian synonyms, savarro. Grown here in the Warramate Hills of the Yarra region, it's an extraordinarily good drink for the first offering from a new producer, showing subtle blossoms a citrus tree grove and terrific lemon crush meets pink lady apples tastes, and a faint, residual sweet lift in the finish.
Value: Great
Food: Crispy skinned snapper
PARTY ANIMAL
$20
AUDREY WILKINSON
2009 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Hunter Valley, NSW/ Marlborough, NZ
www.audreywilkinson.com.au
****
FORGET the traditional rivalries between New Zealand and us: This wine brings two regions together in the spirit of, well, having a good drink. The semillon and Hunter are perfectly matched, while Marlborough and sauvignon blanc is a global lifestyle tsunami. Together they make a very slurpable wine lemon crush sweetness with just a hint of herbaceous sauvignon blanc character leading the way.
VALUE: Decent
Food: Thai chilli dishes
GENEROUS FLAVOURS
$25
KAY BROTHERS
2007 Amery Vineyards Cabernet Merlot
McLaren Vale, SA
www.kaybrothersamerywines.com
***
A REVERED name in the McLaren Vale district with a great history of creating classic premium shiraz and fortifieds Block 6 from 100-year-old vines the most famous Kay's blend here isn't necessarily a regular Vales marriage but has worked a treat in this outing. Allow a little breathing and its generous warm blackberry cream aromas start swirling. While it's still a tight and muscly red at the moment, an hour in a decanter lets a little licorice flavour be revealed.
Value: Fine
Food: Slow-braised lamb shanks
BODY & SOUL
$45
SHADOWFAX
2006 One Eye Shiraz
Heathcote, Vic
www.shadowfax.com.au
*****
SHADOWFAX is based in Melbourne's west at Werribee Park but sources grapes from several Victorian regions and beyond. This is from a range of three Heathcote block bottlings, the single One Eye vineyard shiraz defining a specific style from winemaker Matt Harrop. It's developed a wonderful aromatic sense at 13.5 per cent and showing subtle maturation in the process. An all-round pleasure to drink.
Value: Good premium spending
Food: Steak and bearnaise sauce
Have your say
Add your comment on this story