COOL APPROACH TO SPICY ASIAN DISHES

NICE drop with Thai and spicy Asian foods

Wc06Dec10

David Ellis

BOUTIQUE cool-climate maker Shaw Vineyard Estate between Canberra and Yass has released a well-priced Winemakers Selection 2009 Riesling that’s a great drop with Thai and other spicy Asian dishes.

Made from entirely estate-grown fruit, the crisp citrus-dominated palate makes it ideal with those Asian foods, and certainly good buying at just $15 to take along to your local BYO.

Although established only 12 years ago, Shaw has already garnered itself a strong following with a nice portfolio of whites and reds from what was once a fine-wool producing property with a history going back to the mid-1800s… enough to give you something to chat about over this delightful Riesling.

BEN Jeanneret is turning heads with some outstanding wines from the family-owned Jeanneret Wines at Sevenhill in the Clare Valley.

TURNING heads: a good choice with pepper steak, or Festive roast goose

A particularly good red to look out for is his 2006 Hummer Merlot, an aromatic wine with a delicious palate of dark cherry, plum and chocolate flavours; at $40 it’s a perfect match with a pepper steak – or if you’re thinking about being adventurous at Christmas, with roast goose.

Ben sources his fruit from a range of suppliers in the Clare, in this case from the vineyards of Jim and Coralie Jones who’ve been growing grapes in the northern end of the Valley for forty years – somewhat of an enviable record.

IF you’ve oysters in mind as part of your Christmas festivities, don’t look past a bottle of Mandala 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from the Yarra Valley to join them.

A somewhat lip-smacking wine with zesty citrus characters and touches of gooseberry and lychee, at $20 it’ll make a great match with those oysters – or if you want to be more expansive, a platter of oysters, fruit and goat’s cheese.

AWW Shucks – you’ll love this one with fresh oysters in the shell

(NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )