Wine with Winsor – 235

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French treat

Grand Sud 2012 Merlot

A French wine in a one-litre bottle for a bargain basement price rang alarm bells for me but this merlot from the Pay d’Oc region is a nice surprise; a fleshy and very drinkable red, supple and uncomplicated with dark cherry flavours.

It is streets ahead of many Australian wines made from the same variety.

Grand Sud wines are available at Chambers Cellars and Porters Liquor outlets and are perfect for pouring into a carafe, pairing with rustic dishes and enjoying with friends.

$12.

 

Hunter winner

McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant 2007 Elizabeth Semillon

Hunter Valley semillon is a wine style with a split personality; unoaked, fresh, crisp and refreshing in its youth and soft, honeyed and slightly toasty as it gets older.

This is an aged release from one of the best semillon producers, re-launched at seven years of age.

From a very good vintage, it has gorgeous green aromas leading to a citrusy palate with some fleshiness, still with bright acid, and a certain richness.

A delightful companion for richer poultry dishes.

$22-24.

 

Barossa beauty

Teusner 2013 The Riebke Shiraz

Balanced Barossa reds that let the fruit do the talking and weigh in at under $20 are not always easy to find, but this new release is a ripper.

Made from fruit grown by the Riebke brothers at Ebenezer, this is unmistakeably Barossan – full of serious dark fruit flavours and spicy notes with oak taking a back seat.

Soft and mouth filling with real generosity on the palate, this is a terrific winter warmer and would be great with casseroles and pot pies.

$20.