Out Of The Bottle
With David Ellis 2008 Winemakers Selection Cabernet Merlot & 2008 The Scholar Cabernet Sauvignon
Canberra's
Shaw Vineyard Estate’s Winemakers Selection may be its cheapest label
at just $16 a bottle, but it certainly comes up trumps when it comes to
value for money.
The just-released 2008 Winemakers Selection
Cabernet Merlot is particularly interesting because Graeme Shaw excels
when it comes to Cabernet – in fact he believes it’s the best fruit in
his cool-climate vineyard – and this Cabernet Merlot blend was made in
a year in which those Cabernets really stood out.
So good were
they that Graeme produced his first-ever Reserve Cabernet under the
Merriman Label, and then blended part of the remainder with Merlot to
create his more-budget Winemakers Selection blend.
It’s a wine
of dominant blackberry and spice flavours with balanced oak; certainly
exceptional value at $16 from a great vintage to enjoy with saucy
pastas, or if you prefer, to end the meal with strong cheeses. One For Lunch
Western
Australia’s Capel Vale The Scholar label wines are made from grapes
hand-chosen from only the best of select rows in the vineyard, and then
blended in the company’s best-available barrels to produce
limited-quantity wines of outstanding quality.
“They’re the most
labour-intensive and exquisite wines that we can produce, and only
released in years that we think are worthy,” says CEO, Simon Pratten.
“In fact for our 2008 The Scholar Cabernet Sauvignon we made just 200
cases,” he adds, and which doubtless explains the $75 price tag.
But
for a special occasion, this wine is a stand-out, full of mulberry and
plum flavours and chocolate-like overtones. Enjoy it on that special
occasion with Moroccan-style slow-simmered lamb shanks with garlic,
cumin, coriander, harissa and dates, served with a side of couscous or
mashed potatoes.
Need a drink?
We're archived on vintnews.com
 More Food &
Wine Reviews
|
