Wine Lesson 170

Sun Herald

Sunday July 27, 2008

Sally Gudgeon

Australia loves a Rhone-style red

French reds from the Rhone Valley have long inspired Aussie producers. The northern Rhone produces small quantities of some of the nation's top wines based on syrah (shiraz): Hermitage and Cote-Rotie, both powerful wines of great longevity. Other wines of note come from the grape-growing areas of St-Joseph, Crozes Hermitage and Cornas. The southern Rhone, by contrast, makes large amounts of hearty quaffers such as Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Ventoux. The best is Chateauneuf-du-Pape, made from up to 13 varieties (including some white) but usually based on grenache, mourvedre and shiraz. Our best southern-Rhone-style wines come from the Barossa, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale in SA. Look for Charles Melton, Schild Estate and d'Arenberg. Sally Gudgeon

Clos Petite Bellane Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2005, $17

This classic southern Rhone wine is a blend of grenache and shiraz. Lively fruit aromas lead onto a tight, savoury palate. Available from Vintage Cellars. Match it with a beef casserole.

Domaine des Martinelles Crozes Hermitage 2004, $30

This 100 per cent shiraz from the northern Rhone is fresh and vibrant with notes of

briar and plum. It is savoury and juicy with bright acid. Available from Vintage Cellars. Serve it with lamb chops.

John Duval Plexus SGM 2006, $37

Some of the Barossa's

best old-vine, low-yielding shiraz, grenache and mourvedre fruit is used in this rich blend. It's powerful but still elegant. Try it with eggplant parmigiana.

All wine prices are approximate

© 2008 Sun Herald

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