Out Of The Bottle
With David Ellis 2007 Tintilla Reserve Shiraz & 2008 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay
When
you get hot, dry drought conditions in the Hunter Valley, you can bet
you are going to get low-yielding, wonderfully-flavoursome fruit from
the Shiraz vines they simply thrive under these harsh circumstances. And
such was the 2007 vintage, giving Tintilla Estate's James Lusby just
what he wanted for his iconic Tintilla Reserve Shiraz. "If you could
not make a good wine in 2007," he jokes, "you shouldn't be in the
winemaking game. "I love the subtleties of Hunter Shiraz," he
says. "And with our Reserve Shiraz we aim for a flavour-based wine, not
dominated or inhibited by high alcohol, a wine that will age well." And
that's certainly what he achieved with the 2007: a wine with wonderful
plum, blackberry and blackcurrant flavours, complemented with typical
Shiraz black pepper and spice."
At $30 this is a cracker drop to enjoy with such wintry fare as sweet and spicy beef short ribs and mash. (You
can try this wine, along with others, at Tintilla's Cellar Door,
Hermitage Road Pokolbin during the June Hunter Valley Food and Wine
month.)
One For Lunch
At its inaugural launch, the late Len Evans described Penfolds’
Yattarna Chardonnay as "a step forward for Australian Chardonnay,"
referring to it being all about respecting the character of the
individual sites from which its fruit originated. The
latest
Yattarna, the 2008 vintage, continues this philosophy with fruit for
this 14th release coming from across Tasmania and the Adelaide Hills –
"our best fruit, from our best barriques for our best white," says
Winemaker, Peter Gago. A truly special occasion wine (at $130) to enjoy
with marron or butter-grilled lobster, or classic Italian veal Vitello
Tonnato; available cellar door only, see www.penfolds.com
Need a drink?
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