MARGARET RIVER BLEND REALLY REWARDS

Wc12Aug13

David Ellis

FORESTER Estate in Western Australia’s Margaret River has released a very delightful 2011 Cabernet Merlot that’s 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and with a 6% splash of Malbec and slightly lower 5% Petit Verdot.

Fruit was sourced from several neighbouring properties in the Yallingup sub-region in the most northerly part of Margaret River, and crushed in small open fermenters to mature for eighteen months in French oak barriques.

The result is a rewardingly full-flavoured wine with identifiable blackberry, mulberry and blackcurrant fruit, hints of cocoa and a long dark-chocolaty finish. A lovely drop now, it’s also showing all the potential to develop even further over the next five years.

Pay $23.99 and match it with penne pasta and a meaty tomato sauce.

ONE TO NOTE: WE confess to a particular love: Indian cuisine matched with a chilled Rosé from Andrew Margan in the NSW Hunter Valley. 

His latest release, the 2013 Margan Shiraz Saignee Rosé is a grand drop to take along to your favourite Indian eatery, with aromas of fresh strawberries and candyfloss bouncing forth as it pours into the glass, and beautiful candied red fruit flavours and a soft dry finish on the palate. Great value at $18 for that next Indian nosh-up. 

ANOTHER ONE TO NOTE: AN enjoyable and nicely priced white is a 2012 Margaret River Barking Tree Sauvignon Blanc Semillon that’s recently been released through the Local Liquor Stores of Independent Liquor Retailers.

With nice full-on tropical fruit and zesty lemon flavours and a fresh crisp acidity, at $14.99 this is a rewarding drop to enjoy with fish and salads, or if you like a bit of fire, with Thai chilli prawns. Local Liquor Stores have over 250 members mainly across Eastern Australia; to find a store hop onto  www.localliquor.com.au/storefinder

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