Delatite Dead Man's Hill Gewurtztraminer, Central Victoria, 2010

The wine of the week in today's SMH Good Living section is the 2010 Delatite Dead Man's Hill Gewurtztraminer from Central Victoria.

Huon Hooke writes:

Delatite gewurtztraminer has for years been one of Australia's best; grown and made at the Ritchie family's Mansfield vineyard, which recently took on the Vestey family as a business partner. It's a  restrained style but delivers surprising richness as well as delicacy. The floral and spicy aromas have more detail than the pungent but simple, bath-soapy styles I so often see. Refined yet intense, juicy yet clean-finishing, with terrific line and length. The farewell is a lasting impression of richness, harmony and style. Drink now to 2016, 12 per cent alcohol. 93/100

Food: Salade composee of assorted leaves, grilled scallops, lychees and avocado. Or any grilled or fried fish with hollandaise or beurre blanc.

Head Wines Head Red Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley, 2010

The wine of the week in today's Good Living section of the SMH is the 2010 Head Red Shiraz Viognier from Head Wines in the Barossa Valley.

Huon Hooke writes:

Alex Head, who worked in Sydney wine retailing and auctioneering previously, hit the ground running with small-quantity Barossa reds.After four vintages, he's established quite a name and is showing some established Barossa identities how to suck eggs. Entry-level Head Red delivers astonishing value. The 2010 is a modern Barossa shiraz, with a glowing purple-red colour, violet, black fruit and cool-smelling spice aromas. It is medium-bodied and proportioned elegantly, with soft tannins and a rounded shape, helped along by succulent fruit. A lovely wine. Drink now to eight years. 14 per cent alcohol. 91/100.

tFood: All mature hard cheeses, especially parmesan, pecorino, cheddar, manchego and older beaufort and gruyere styles.

Also mentioned today ...

Alkoomi Sauvignon Blanc, Frankland 2010 - bargain of the week

Heemskerk Coal River Valley Riesling, Tasmania 2010 - for the cellar

Veuve A. Devaux "D de Devaux", Champagne NV - best sparkling

Louee late Picked Nullo Mountain Riesling, Rylstone 2010 - top Aussie white

Elderton Command Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2007 - indulge yourself

Longview Red Bucket Shiraz Cabernet, Adelaide Hills 2009 - top Aussie red

Phillip Shaw The Idiot Shiraz, Orange 2009

The wine of the week in the Good Living section of the SMH this week is the Phillip Shaw The Idiot Shiraz, Orange 2009.

Huon Hooke writes:

Phillip Shaw's second ranked shiraz turned heads earlier this year in the Sydney Royal Wine Show when it won three trophies, capped by best red wine of the show. It was a shock as the wine is $20 and its big brother, the No. 89 Shiraz 2008 ($50 and marketed two years older), is arguably a better wine. The Idiot is a little beauty: light-to-medium bodied with superbly silky texture thanks to light, supple tannins and a gentle hand on the barrels. It's fruit driven, with a spicy, meaty personality, intriguingly complex and entertaining to the last drop. Best now to six years. 13.7 per cent alcohol. 95/100. The just released 2010 is also excellent, a shade lighter, more peppery and with similar drinkability.
Food : Veal saltimbocca, brie-style cheeses.

No need to cellar this for too long before you open and enjoy it.  

John Duval Plexus Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre, Barossa Valley 2009

The wine of the week in today's Good Living section of the SMH is the 2009 John Duval Plexus Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre from the Barossa Valley.

Huon Hooke writes:

John Duval seems able to weave more detail and elegance into Barossa reds than most and this is an exemplary GSM style. Being shiraz-driven, it's darker and more powerfully structured than many of its genre, with dusty, earthy and savoury spice aromas, a hint of meatiness and suble black fruits.

Intense, deep and layered in the mouth, it has a lovely core of fruit sweetness and a clean, dry and very long finish. It's concentrated without being overdone and is not a Barossa blockbuster. Delicious. Drink now to 2025.

Food: Most red meats, especially casseroled beef cheeks, ossobuco and stews; and hard cheeses such as asiago, gruyere and beaufort.

Sounds like a great winter wine! And one for the wine cellar.

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay, 2009

The wine of the week in today's SMH Good Living section is the 2009 Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay from Margaret River.

Huon Hooke writes:

Playing second-fiddle to the most famous chardonnay in the land hasn't always been easy but the Prelude has improved enormously in recent vintages. With the '09, it's breathing down the $96 Art Series Chardonnay's neck. A rich bouquet offers roasted hazelnut and toasty aromas together with lemon juice, grapefruit and fresh herbs. It's full-bodied, rich and deep, combining fruit sweetness with lively acidity, lots of power and palate impact. This is great value chardonnay. Drink now to 2016 onwards. 13 per cent alcohol. 93/100

Food:  Ripe brie cheese; prawn and saffron risotto; cold prawns and mayonnaise; scallops with rocket salad.

This is a wine to cellar.