BILL’S RICHLAND BRINGS RICH REWARDS

David Ellis

BILL Calabria and his team at Westend Wines in the NSW Riverina have created a ripper Shiraz in their 2010 Richland label – a wine with forward ripe berry-fruit flavours, smoky oak and nicely recognisable varietal spicy black pepper.

Westend’s premium commercial label, Richland is dedicated to Bill’s parent’s, Italian migrants Francesco and Elizabeth who founded Calabria Wines in 1927; Bill changed the name in 1974 as the company expanded and diversified its range.

This is a Shiraz to enjoy now with rosemary scented lamb and balsamic vinegar, or in deference to Bill’s Italian heritage, with penne arrabiata.

Or at just $12.99 a bottle, to put a case in the cellar for a few years to develop added complexity.

TWO TO NOTE: WEST Australian Ferngrove’s Leaping Lizard range includes a nice 2012 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc crafted from fruit from a number of vineyards across the State’s growing regions, and is good value at $16.99.

Chief Winemaker, Kim Horton has created a delightfully light-bodied wine in this one, with zesty kiwi fruit, passionfruit, lime and tropical fruit flavours balanced by a zippy acidity.

Enjoy it with chicken and salad or a seafood platter.

VICTORIA’S Stanton & Killeen have released a 2009 Rutherglen Durif that shows why this region is gaining such respect for the variety: at $35 this one’s luscious and juicy with ripe fruit flavours that immediately fill the mouth, structured tannins, and a finish of chocolaty cherry ripe flavours.

Durif was first planted in Rutherglen in 1908 but it’s only in the last decade that so many lovers of this variety have come to appreciate just how good the local drop is.

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