- Your Hunter Valley Magazine
The Delectable Dozen!
Mount Pleasant Estate 2017 Rosehill Vineyard Shiraz – RRP $50
First planted in 1946 by Maurice O’Shea, the Rosehill vineyard is the epitome of the Hunter. Elegance and power, grace and intensity, these wines are beautiful young but have the backbone to survive for decades. It's from great vineyards that great wines are made.
TASTING Red fruits, cranberry, violets and spice aromatics combine with a supple elegant mouthfeel with beautiful intensity and focus.
FOOD MATCH Perfectly matched with slow cooked lamb, aged beef or with some fine chocolate.
CELLARING Drink now or will reward cellaring for 25 years.
Tintilla Estate
2017 Saphira Sangiovese – RRP $35
First class, hand-picked fruit, aged in French oak barrels for over 12 months before bottling. Aromas of cherries, blackberries and a touch of liquorice, and sweet leather.
TASTING The taste of this wine is firm yet elegant, reflecting the aroma with dark cherries, plums and savoury cranberries – with a touch of spice. Good structure and crisp acidity finish.
FOOD MATCH Great with classic Italian meals like pasta and pizza but will just as easily go with a steak and veggies.
CELLARING Drink now until 2025.
Running Horse Wines 2011 Classic Aged Shiraz – RRP $66
Located in the picturesque Broke Fordwich region, Running Horse Wines produce a range of quality aged wines from small select parcels of premium fruit grown on the property.
TASTING A full bodied, aged classic Hunter Valley Shiraz, dark and vibrant magenta in colour with red hues. A typical spicy bouquet complements the smooth palate of cherries, blackberry and subtle mint, with silky tannins and hints of chocolate and vanilla from 18 months maturation in new French Oak. This superb Shiraz will age for many years.
FOOD MATCH Seared eye fillet of beef, grilled lamb or any game dishes.
CELLARING Perfect to drink now or cellar for 15+ years
Ivanhoe Wines 2016 Prince of Thieves Premium Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – RRP $85
A rich well-made Cabernet that is only produced in exceptional years. The previous release was in 2010. The fruit is grown on 50 year old vines that are low yielding but produce incredible quality fruit.
TASTING This wine has a full palate with a rich tannin finish. Time in quality oak has added to the wine’s strength (16.5% alcohol).
FOOD MATCH This big red wine is fantastic with all lamb dishes, also with Grainge Signature Black Angus sirloin with asparagus and hollandaise or veal cutlets with brown butter, capers and sage.
CELLARING Will cellar well 8 to 12 years.
Ernest Hill 2017 William Henry Shiraz – RRP $75
The William Henry range is only produced in exceptional vintages, made to exact quality standards which ensure wines of character and distinction.
TASTING This wine is full and rich on the palate, with a subtle hint of spice and those traditional Hunter earthy, savoury characters. Maturation in French oak adds a toasty vanillan layer giving the wine a long smooth satisfying finish. Subtle tannins round off a truly memorable wine.
FOOD MATCH Roasted beef and lamb, game such as venison, hare and kangaroo and casseroles with rich sauces.
CELLARING Up to 15 years.
Kelman Vineyard
2018 Kelman Shiraz-Tempranillo – RRP $24
Kelman's first ever blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Tempranillo. The exceptional 2018 vintage enabled them to experiment with these two blends for a delicious food-friendly wine.
TASTING 10 months in seasoned French oak has produced a wonderfully textured wine that shows both red and blue fruits, and the key savoury spice characteristics of both varieties. Well balanced and silky smooth.
FOOD MATCH Charcuterie, richer pasta dishes, duck, chicken and almost everything else on the dinner table! Particularly good with any Middle Eastern food style.
CELLARING An outstanding wine for the next 10 years.
Pokolbin Estate
2009 Phil Swannell Semillon – RRP $60
The colour is straw with a golden hue; a bouquet of buttered toast, honey melon and fresh green limes. James Halliday 96 Point wine gaining entry into James Halliday’s Holy Grail of Wine 2015.
TASTING This wine possesses beautiful aged characteristics – creamy in the mouth with lime and herb aromas with those honey melon and nutty overtones. A beautifully balanced wine with a soothing acidity.
FOOD MATCH Sydney rock oysters with a lime twist, cumin crusted King George whiting with celeriac remoulade.
CELLARING Drinking now, cellar to 2025.
Constable Estate
2014 Premium Semillon – RRP $35
Constable Estate is recognised for producing outstanding Hunter Valley estate-grown wines. The Constable Estate grown 2014 Semillon was handpicked at harvest.
TASTING This Hunter Valley wine has a lovely acid line through the palate; clean and crisp with a wonderful citrus finish. The flinty characters are balanced with a well structured acid backbone.
FOOD MATCH Enjoy with freshly shucked oysters or fresh prawns.
CELLARING This wine can be enjoyed in its youth but you will be rewarded with careful cellaring.
Emma's Cottage Vineyard 2017 Sparkles – RRP $35
Emma’s Cottage Vineyard is a small vineyard producing premium hand-picked estate grown boutique wines from our own carefully nurtured 30 year old vines. Explore Wilderness Road and find the red truck at our gate. Hidden behind the vines you will find our cellar door, gallery, garden and cottages. Enjoy a personal, friendly and informative tasting of the lovely wines made for us by renowned Hunter Valley winemakers.
TASTING A lively combination of Chardonnay, Semillon and Pinot Noir. Crisp citrus and stone fruit notes with lovely delicate yeasty notes.
FOOD MATCH A very versatile wine, this sparkles can be served with anything!
CELLARING Drink now, or cellar for up to 5 years.
Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2017 Reserve Orange Riesling, Biodynamic – RRP $33
From our cool climate, biodynamic vineyard of Borenore, Orange at 860m altitude. 90 Points – Halliday Wine Companion 2019; Silver Medal and 90 Points – Australian Highland Wine Show 2017; Bronze Medal and 85 Points – NSW Show 2017; Bronze Medal – Orange Wine Show 2017.
TASTING Orange blossom and white peach on the nose with a flinty, mineral palate. Refreshing acidity, refined and citrus driven.
FOOD MATCH Scallops, baby radishes and water crest with chilli and lime.
CELLARING 8+ years. Keep away from strong light at a cool, constant temperature below 15°.
Ascella Organic Wines
2014 Reserve Chardonnay – RRP $33.50
The choicest fruit and the most careful crushing technique are used to create Ascella's Reserve Chardonnay using only organic grapes from their vineyards in the secluded Thompsons Valley in Broke Fordwich where culture, tradition and the environment are respected and nurtured.
TASTING Layers of primary fruit characters and creamy notes with extended palate. A zesty elegant Chardonnay with ripe peach and orange blossom lift with spicy French oak.
FOOD MATCH Fish, poultry, pork, pastas.
CELLARING Drink now, or cellar for up to 10 years.
McLeish Estate Wines 2009 Cellar Reserve Semillon – RRP $125
Produced using hand-harvested fruit from the single vineyard planted in 1985. The pedigree of the estate has seen over fifty Trophies awarded to the McLeish Semillon. This 2009 Semillon is rated 96/100 in the Australian Wine Companion, and has received 6 Trophies and 17 Gold medals.
TASTING Displays a light gold with olive green tints and beguiles with scents of jasmine, lemon zest and lanolin. Find vibrant grapefruit flavour on the front of the palate and honeydew melon, sherbet and leatherwood honey and toast integrate on the middle palate. The finish brings in mineral-edged acid.
FOOD MATCH Myrtle-crusted salmon fillets with lemon-buttered papardelle.
CELLARING Drink now to 2026.
