Tasting notes
LARK HILL GRÜNER VELTLINER
Grüner veltliner comes from Austria, where it grows alongside riesling on the steep slopes by the Danube. So it’s no surprise that both succeed on Lark Hill’s equally precipitous site. This wine features aromas of lemongrass and honeydew melon, with a bright palate and a zesty, acid-defined finish. Enjoy it with scallop sashimi.
HELM PREMIUM RIESLING
Ken Helm’s daughter, Stephanie, crafted this fragrant gem, the pinnacle of Helm’s five highly individual rieslings. Its lemon-pith and white-peach aromas, mouth-filling texture, generous citrusinfused flavours and scintillating acidity are well suited to a smoked-trout salad.
CLONAKILLA SYRAH
Inspired by the concentrated syrah of the Rhône’s Hermitage appellation, this is Tim Kirk’s “Yang” to his shiraz viognier “Yin”. It’s deep and brooding, opening up in the glass to reveal an abundance of dark berries, a noble structure and decisive tannins. Roast beef with horseradish cream, please.
MOUNT MAJURA VINEYARD TEMPRANILLO
Frank van de Loo takes inspiration from the Iberian Peninsula with this tempranillo (as well as his touriga and graciano). Black cherry and wild raspberries partner with a whiff of aniseed and mace. The 2015 vintage is quite robust, with the power, depth and length to match a lamb tagine.
RAVENSWORTH SHIRAZ VIOGNIER
Bryan Martin makes an eclectic array of highly slurpable drops and his shiraz viognier is a wine of grace and finesse. Raspberry and red-cherry aromas mingle with star-anise and dried thyme. It’s lithely framed yet very flavoursome and its gentle tannins would be ideal with an Asian crisp pork-belly dish.