TINTARA’S 150 YEAR TREASURE HOUSE OF TRADITION

Wc08Oct12

GENEROSITY of flavour make this one ideal with rack of lamb.

David Ellis

ITS history goes back 150 years to when it was a pioneer in putting the wines of South Australia’s McLaren Vale on the tables of the world.

Today Tintara combines what is literally a treasure house of tradition with the latest in new-age winemaking technologies, and its just-released 2009 McLaren Vale Shiraz is testament to its recognition of the past and embracement of the present.

Nestled between the Gulf of St Vincent and the Mount Lofty Ranges, McLaren Vale enjoys conditions akin to the Mediterranean, the Tintara 2009 Shiraz reflecting this in its somewhat bold style coupled with intensity of fruit flavours and silky fine tannins.

Right to the fore are delightful suggestions of blue fruits, fruitcake spice and chocolate, coupled with acid balance and a persistent finish – everything to look for in a top Shiraz. Pay $24.99 and enjoys this one’s generosity of flavours with an equally generously-flavoured rack of lamb.

SUPER idea with scallops browned in butter and sautéed with mushrooms and shallots.

ONE FOR LUNCH: AN excellent vintage in 2011 allowed Western Australia’s Brookland Valley winemaker, Peter Dillon to do what he couldn’t from the restrictive 2010 vintage – get his Chardonnay out into the market place, rather than having to contain sales of the few cases he had to the cellar door.

Located in the Wilyabrup sub-region of the Margaret River, Brookland Valley enjoys a quite distinct micro-climate influenced by the Indian Ocean just 2km away. Peter’s 2011 Estate Chardonnay has a wonderfully rich palate with nice citrus notes to the fore.

Priced at $37.50 it’s one of those somewhat special-occasion wines to enjoy with such Springtime seafood delights as scallops browned in butter and sautéed with mushrooms and shallots.

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