Out Of The Bottle
With David Ellis 2009 Katnook Founder’s Block Chardonnay & 2006 Blue Pyrenees' Reserve Shiraz
Lapsed
devotees of Chardonnay looking for an enticement back to the fold,
should look to Katnook’s just-released 2009 Founder’s Block as good
reason to once more take up a glass of what was once Australia’s
favourite varietal. Because this is a Coonawarra wine that tells
us what good Chardonnay is all about: abundant ripe peach and melon
flavours with a nice hint of grapefruit to it, and a texture in the
mouth that’s delightfully smooth and silky. Fruit for this came
from an interesting vintage, one that was preceded by four days of
record high temperatures, followed by a welcome spell of mild
temperatures and rewarding dry conditions. The latter contributed
to a long and slow ripening period that allowed the fruit time to
develop wonderfully rich varietal character, and while it’s ready to
enjoy now with roast pork or pan-friend Atlantic salmon, it will reward
those with space in the cellar for a case to enjoy through 2013-2014 as
it develops further rich flavour complexity. At $18 a bottle it’s a worthwhile investment. One For Lunch
Blue
Pyrenees’ Senior Winemaker, Andrew Koerner is an unabashed lover of
Shiraz, and for his 2006 Reserve Shiraz looked to the wines of France’s
Northern Rhone for inspiration, adding a touch of Viognier to give that
“little extra” to this special wine. Although that Viognier
component was just two percent, when coupled with the Shiraz off
40-year old vines, it’s resulted in a wine with exotic white and dark
fruit flavours, fine tannins and a typical Shiraz peppery finish. Pay $33 and pair it with a cooler-weather oxtail stew, or herb-grilled tuna steaks.
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