Wine

Newcastle Herald

Saturday January 10, 2009

JOHN LEWIS

The Taylor family launched its Clare Valley wine operation in 1969

by establishing 162 hectares of red vines. Since 1970 the family has

successfully diversifi ed into whites such as these.

Taylors 2008 Gewurztraminer, $18.95 **** 1/2

Heres a beaut wine for drinking with prawn and smoked

salmon summer salads. It is yellow with pink tints and has

aromatic scents of lychees and lavender. Spiced gooseberry

flavour shows on the front of the palate and grassy, citrusy

characters chime in on the middle palate. Crisp slatey acid

refreshes at the finish. It is made from grapes grown on the

Taylors Clare vineyards and from Adelaide Hills vines.

Taylors 2008 Pinot Gris, $18.95 ****

This is the first pinot gris from Taylors and also comes

from Clare and Adelaide Hills grapes. The wine is olive

green-tinted straw and the nose has spice and rose petal

characters. Smooth pear flavour shows on the front palate

and green apple and lemon sorbet elements join in on the

middle palate. The finish has fresh, flinty acid. Try it with

spring rolls, spinach and fetta quiche or fig, prosciutto,

gorgonzola and rocket salad.

Taylors 2008 Riesling, $18.95 **** 1/2

Riesling was the first white varietal planted by the Taylors

more than 30 years ago and this one has fine structure and

balance. It is pale straw in the glass and has honeysuckle and

lime leaf aromas. Elegant lime flavour features on the front

of the palate and the middle palate introduces mineral and

preserved lemon elements. Steely acid comes through at the

finish. It would be ideal with sashimi, asparagus in bearnaise

sauce or chicken schnitzel and tabouli salad.