Wines Of The Week
Richland Shiraz 2010, Fengrove Leaping Lizard Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2012 & Stanton & Killeen Winery Rutherglen Durif 2009
If you're looking for a wine with ripe fruit-berry flavours, distinctive spicy black pepper and smoky oak then Bill Calabria's team from Westend Wines in the Riverina, NSW have developed a outstanding Shiraz under the Richland label.
Richland is their premium commercial label and is dedicated to Francesco and Elizabeth Calabria, migrants from Italy and Bill's parents. They founded Calabria Wines in 1927. Following the expansion the company and diversification of its range Bill changed the name in 1974.
Drink this is a Shiraz now and enjoy it with penne arrabiata in respect for the Calabria's Italian heritage. Alternatively, it can be enjoyed with lamb scented with rosemary in balsamic vinegar.
If you wish to develop additional complexity in the wine you can place a case or two in the cellar for the next couple of years. It's currently priced as $12.99 a bottle.
A Glass For Lunch
Ferngrove in Western Australia have included an admirable Semillon Sauvignon Blanc to their 2012 Leaping Lizard range. The wine has been made from fruit harvested from a number vineyards across West Australia and is considered good value at $16.99.
Kim Horton, the Chief Winemaker at Ferngrove, has conceived a beautifully light-bodied wine an assortment of tropical fruit flavours including passionfruit, zesty kiwi fruit and lime balanced with a zippy acidity.
It can be enjoyed with a seafood platter or chicken and salad.
The Stanton & Killeen Winery have just released a Rutherglen Durif 2009 demonstrating why this region of Victoria is building respect for this variety. It's juicy and luscious and has ripe fruit flavours that instantly fill the palate and structured tannins. It comes in at $35 a bottle.
The premier planting of the Durif variety in Rutherglen was in 1908 but it's only been since the early 2000's that many affectionados of this variety have begun to acknowledge the quality of the local variety.
