EVER EVOLVING, NEIL’S BIN THERE, DONE THAT

Wc05NOV12

IDEAL with a simple chicken casserole or quickly grilled white-fleshed fish.

David Ellis

WHEN you’ve been making wine in the Hunter Valley for 140 years or more and are simply continuing to grow – expanding into such other regions as the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley to name just a few  – you should be well-content in the knowledge that you are doing things right.

But McGuigan Wines’ Chief Winemaker, Neil McGuigan while no doubt content with what he can see behind him, is forever looking to the future, crafting better and better wines and creating new labels to reflect new approaches to his ever-evolving skills, whilst ensuring only the best continues to go under existing labels.

A favourite of ours is his value-priced Bin 7000 Chardonnay, the 2011 vintage a stand-out medium-bodied wine with a creamy mouthfeel and one that’s delightfully fresh and crisp. Its powerful aromas are all about tropical fruit and lovely citrus overtones – and yet it’s priced at just $12.99.

Definitely not being in the Not Another Chardonnay camp – we still consider the variety amongst our top three white favourites – we’d suggest enjoying this one now with a simple chicken casserole, quickly grilled white-fleshed fish or creamy pasta dishes, or putting it aside for more rewarding drinking in three to five years time.

SLIGHTLY sweeter than usual and lower in alcohol, enjoy with a pork stir-fry.

ONE FOR LUNCH: IF you are into pork stir-fries, a nice wine to enjoy one with is a New Zealand Riesling from Giesen in the famed Marlborough region.

Their 2011 Estate Riesling that’s now available nationally is slightly more sweetish than most drier Rieslings, which is why it will go well with that pork stir-fry… the palate has flavours of tangelo, and touches of honey. It’s also got a slightly lower than usual alcohol content at 10.5%.

Pay $18.99 and go forth and enjoy.

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