ANDREW’S BARBERA TEMPTS ONLINE

WITH its Italian heritage, enjoy with meaty lasagne or beef stroganoff.

Wc02Apr12

David Ellis

MARGAN Family Winemakers’ latest Limited Release wines are now available, an exceptional half-dozen from a number of Hunter Valley vintages, all in small quantities only and available through Cellar Door, online or at select restaurants.

The range includes a 2011 White Label Chardonnay, 2007 Semillon, 2009 Reserve Ripasso, 2009 White Label Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2007 Shiraz.

And one of the most interesting, a 2010 White Label Limited Release Barbera, made from fruit off the first-ever Barbera plantings in the Hunter and derived from canes planted in Mudgee from original Italian stock.

Winemaker Andrew Margan has created a great food wine in this 2010, a drop that’s medium-bodied with earthy beetroot, bitter cherries and spice dominating the nose and palate – enjoy it, naturally, with a meaty lasagne or beef stroganoff.

PERFECT match with creamy chicken dishes or crab cakes.

Or at $30 put it away for anything up to ten years to develop further. To order phone (02) 6579 1317 or get onto www.margan.com.au; save 10% by the case.

ONE FOR LUNCH: McWILLIAM’S Senior Winemaker, Andrew Higgins calls them “the one percenters,” tiny parcels of fruit from diverse regions that go into the company’s Hanwood Estate Chardonnay to give it that extra dimension, and make it one of Australia’s most popular Chardonnays.

The bulk of fruit for the just-released 2009 came from the NSW Riverina and ten percent from the State’s Tumbarumba (one of Australia’s flagship Chardonnay regions,) Andrew and his team then adding individual under-two-percent parcels from such widespread regions as the Alpine Way, Margaret River, the Hunter Valley and Hilltops to get that “extra something.”

At just $12 this is a wine that over-delivers in all aspects, with nice white peach, citrus and rockmelon flavours to enjoy with creamy chicken dishes or crab cakes.

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