Out Of The Bottle
With David Ellis Australian Bordeaux Red & 2009 BlackJack Shiraz
It's
best-known throughout Europe and the UK simply as “Bordeaux Red,” a
blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that’s sold by
the millions of bottles annually because of its affinity with a huge
diversity of dining ideas from the more-casual starters to the
most-decadent of desserts.
And now French born and trained
Sandrine Gimon is enticing us with an “Australian Bordeaux Red” that
she’s created as Senior Winemaker at Rymill Coonawarra, a drop from the
2009 vintage labelled simply as 2009 MC2
(Merlot+CabernetSauvignon+CabernetFranc.)
As in France, this
blend goes ideally with almost anything on the table, be it an oyster
platter at Sunday brunch or an Asian duck and orange salad
starter, mains of roast lamb, chicken cacciatore or a creamy
mushroom risotto, or poached pears and decadent chocolate-dipped
strawberries to end.
“As in Bordeaux, there is a wonderful
affinity in Coonawarra between the three wine varieties, with the
Cabernet Sauvignon providing structure, the Merlot softness and fresh
berry fruitiness, and the Cabernet Franc delicate spiciness of cloves
and thyme,” Sandrine says. Pay $19.95 and have a look at www.mc2.com.au
for some nice dining ideas, from casual or the more formal. One For Lunch
Ian
McKenzie and Ken Pollock are doing wonders with their BlackJack
Vineyards in the old apple and pear growing district of the Harcourt
Valley just south of Bendigo, and if you’re one who likes to put a few
bottles away for future enjoyment, look at their 2009 BlackJack Shiraz
: with crops down 25% after the horror heatwave 2008 vintage, this wine
from flavour-intensive fruit is showing all signs of greatness in years
to come.
Ian and Ken jokingly refer to it as being currently
“young and brash,” but don’t be fooled: with lovely aromas of plums and
wild mint that follow through on the palate, it’s a delight already at
$35 with hearty-flavoured meat dishes.
Need a drink?
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