Wine Talk, September 2006 - Spring Into Spring

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Fresh Vibrant Wines To Awaken And Delight The Senses.

Isn't it just a great time of the year? Spring has come and with it delightful weather that makes us feel fresh vibrant and good to be alive. With that, we shake away the cobwebs of Winter, cease hibernating and instead utilise any and every opportunity we can to catch up with acquaintances and bask in the Spring sun. So what a better way to celebrate the new Season than with some invigoratingly good wines. A toast to Spring!

De Bortoli Shiraz Viognier 2003

A gorgeously fresh vibrant purple inky crimson. Beautifully blended resulting in an aromatic spice filled nose. Blueberries and ripe plums abound. A certain elegance to its presentation ensues with the gloss created by the addition of the Viognier. Quite seamless with integrated oak and a satiny finish of ripe fruit that lingers long. Drink 2006-2010. Around $12. This is really good drinking! Try it with roast lamb.

Cape Mentelle Marmaduke 2004

This Shiraz Grenache Mataro red blend from this quality West Australian wine producer is very nice easy drinking. A youthful crimson purple, it is vibrant and fresh in its aromas. Uplifting black fruits, hints of pepper and lashings of raspberry, mulberry and spicy plums. It is distinctive and deep in structure with a concentrated intensity. Smooth silky tannins provide a well rounded finish with a savoury edge. Drink 2006-2011. A bargain at around $17.99.

Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2005

A gloriously lemony yellow coloured wine from this Hunter Valley producer who has sourced the grapes from the Beechworth area in Northern Victoria. Quite aromatic and complex with tropical fruits, peach and melon, citrine and wild yeast essences. Generous and well rounded with a soft and subtle smoothness on the palate with a lingering nature. Try it with sautéed crab. Around $30. Drink 2006-2009.

Miceli Iolanda Pinot Grigio 2005

A delightful pale copper straw white from the Mornington Peninsula. Delicate light, minerally, a hint of pear and citrine - this is very young tight and elegant wine. Long lemony citrine flavours along with ripe pears - quite rich and succulent with lingering lively acidic finish. Easy drinking and a good food wine to try with baked yoghurt chicken. Drink 2006-2009. $19.95.

Tempus Two Copper Range Wilde Chardonnay 2005

This is a new Chardonnay label released from a new Copper range of wines from this Hunter Valley producer that has just celebrated its 10th vintage. Made by winemaker Liz Jackson, it is a well crafted quite elegant yet lusciously smooth eminently drinkable Chardonnay. A glorious mid yellow, it emits classic varietal peach melon essences beautifully and delivers the goods with a beautiful mouthfeel of fruit flavours that lingers long. A great food wine to have with Pad Thai noodles. Drink 2006- 2010. Around $20.

Water Wheel Vineyards "Memsie" Shiraz Cabernet Malbec 2005

This quality Bendigo producer keeps coming up with the goods in terms of very good wine at very good prices. This Shiraz dominant red blend is no exception. Deep dark blackish purple. Brooding and intoxicating in its aromas with dark black fruits abounding - blackberry, dark currants, liquorice, dark chocolate and a hint of dried herbs making for a savoury ample bodied style of red. Seamless oak, well crafted and blended delivering a smooth silky fine tannin laden finish. Drink 2006-2012. Great value at around $15.

D'Arenberg The Last Ditch Viognier 2005

This is a lovely easy drinking white wine sourced from the McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills regions of South Australia. Mid lemon yellow in colour, it is lusciously aromatic and spice driven. Touches of lemon, peach, honey and apricots with a hint of leesy character. Well rounded and smooth on the palate, it also has some lively acidity, making it a good food wine. Try it with mushroom risotto. About $19.95 but can be found for less. Drink 2006-2010.

De Bortoli Gulf Station Chardonnay 2005

This is good folks real good. Go out and buy some if you enjoy complex Yarra Valley Chardonnay at a very respectable price. A beautiful pale lemony yellow. Classic wild yeast lees aromas imparted in a stylish way. Varietally Yarra Valley in structure. Impressive vibrant fruit emanates - polished and distinctive in nature. Fresh crisp acidity ensues. A serious Chardonnay with seamless oak and a long crisp finish - minerally, green apple and lemon zest with lime - Drink 2006-2012. Around $20.

Hungerford Hill Merlot 2004

The Orange region of Central NSW is producing some serious wine. This Hunter producer has sourced this good example of a Merlot from Orange. It is an elegant yet fruit driven style. Purple crimson and youthful in colour, this is followed by gorgeous and quite luscious fruit. Intense and spicy on the nose, an ample bodied drop ensues that has a combination of sweet dark ripe fruits and good oak. This has produced a well rounded wine with smooth tannins and black cherry and violets, with a touch of earth on the finish. Try it with lasagna. Drink 2006-2008. About $28.

Maxwell Wines Verdelho 2006

Step into spring with this lively fresh aromatic and vibrant Verdelho from this McLaren Vale wine producer. Stylish and quite elegant in its presentation, you get fragrant slightly sweet tropical as well as spicy musk fruit driven aromas wafting from the glass. Polished and pure fruit emanates in line with some soft balanced acidity. Long in length with hints of pineapple, honeysuckle, passion fruit and melon on the finish. A lovely easy drinking fresh style of Verdelho. Try it with stir fried pork noodles. Drink 2006-2008. $16.

Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2005 (NZ)

This comes from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. A deep purple crimson with fragrant deep red cherry aromas. Along comes a touch of forest floor and truffles to add to the aroma's complexity. Sweet and ripe fruit with a well roundedness on the palate. Accompanying this is fresh and lively acidity and a good structure. Lovely and easy to drink with cherries and raspberries on the palate. Drink 2006-2010. Try with spinach and lamb curry. Around $15 ish.

Parri Estate Rose`2005

A fresh gorgeous salmon light pink colour. Quite dry at first then the fruit opens up with lots of strawberry, raspberry and violet fragrances. An elegant wine that has quite a sweet yet dry nature. The ripe fruit flavours come through but they are imparted in a dry lively crisp acidic finish. A really good food wine to try with Pad Thai noodles. Around $16. Drink up now.

Ra Nui Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) 2005

Watery white to pale straw. Young, light and delicate. Passionfruit, light tropical fruits and a hint of gooseberry and dried herbs. Firm fresh crisp acidity follows. Long full flavours ensue. Good length on the palate, lingering with a crisp finish. A nice easy drinking wine. Drink 2006-2008. Try with stir fried King prawns. Around $22.

Paul Ippolito writes about wine for publications across Australia, overseas and the Internet. He speaks on radio and writes a free monthly wine newsletter for consumers. Paul can be contacted by email at Paul_Ippolito@hotmail.com where you can also request to be placed on his mailing list for his newsletter. or visit his website at: www.paulippolito.com.au