As we head into winter, naturally our thoughts turn to comfort foods.
WITH JON HELMER (CORKS CREW CELLARS)
Rich, casseroles, maybe osso bucco, lamb shanks and the like with red wines to match. Wines that are elegant, sophisticated, complex and layered through to the more substantial, deep, dark, and riper styled reds that are big on flavour .
Our region is well known for producing outstanding cool climate Pinot Noir and Shiraz and below I’ve chosen some great examples that proudly wear their regional and varietal characters on their sleeve and make for a rather comforting companion over the winter months ahead.
Hat Rock Bellarine Peninsula Pinot Noir 2010 ($32)
Another great effort from Hat Rock down near Portarlington that was awarded a gold medal at last year’s 2011 Geelong Wine Show from an outstanding line up of 2010 Geelong Pinot Noirs. This is a beauty showing that lovely elegance and finesse that you only get with pinot noir as it opens up and evolves in the glass. The ripe and aromatic dark cherry fruits are forward and ‘sweet’ yet there’s a whole otherworld of delights at play here with layers of undergrowth/forest floor complexities lurking underneath the dark fruits and perfumed spice that are seamlessly soft, and supple in texture.
Oakdene White Label ‘Peta’s’ Pinot Noir 2010 ($32)
Wow, now this is Gold Medal class and dead set sexy! Oakdene have produced a gorgeous pinot noir from a terrific vintage that oozes intoxicating perfumed pinot complexities with silky mouth feel and finish. The abundant flavours are bright cherry/plum fruits balanced alongside more earthy/undergrowth/mushroom nuance, and will go on to flesh out more and more as this wine develops further.
Brown Magpie Shiraz 2010 ($27)
It’s so great to see a new winemaker making a name for himself in Chris Sargent down at our local surf coast producer ‘Brown Magpie’. With this wine, his first vintage with Brown Magpie, they won the 2011 Kauri NZ Trophy for “Best Shiraz” & the 2011 Williams & Jackson Trophy for “Best Wine in Show” at last year’s Geelong wine Show. The Shiraz class was very strong considering the quality of the 2010 vintage with some great wines on show. This wine however, carries the classic regional traits of rich, ripe juicy black fruits to the fore with a background laced with hints of pepper and regional spice and supple mouth feel.
Bannockburn Shiraz 2007 ($45)
Winemaker at Bannockburn Vineyards, Michael Glover is known for his creative approach when crafting his wines and this latest release Shiraz is probably the best I’ve seen from this vineyard for quite some time. It’s always been a wine that is more about black olives, raspberry, white pepper and spice with the ability to age and soften beautifully. The 2007 is all this and more yet slightly lighter in body but with a heightened perfumed intensity due to the heat of the vintage, which has also brought forth more earthiness, savouriness and a grittiness and vibrancy that is really appealing.
