With Richard Slater and Grant Foulkes
RICHARD SAYS
2019 Granite Hills Riesling
Macedon Ranges, Victoria
12.5% RRP $25
Riesling is surely the purest white wine variety – no oak is needed, it’s “merely” a matter of preserving fruit expressiveness through the wine-making process. Clare and Eden Valleys in South Australia are renowned for their excellent Rieslings. Within Victoria, Crawford River, Seppelts Drumborg, and occasionally Best’s, wave the Riesling flag. Llew Knight at Granite Hills has expertise and old vines that provide tasting thrills. For Westies – COVID-permitting – cellar-door is just over one hour away finishing through picturesque back roads past Lancefield. Worth a jaunt after the Farmers Market? It’s a pale straw colour, displaying ginger, red apple, and lemon myrtle. The vibrant palate reveals orange blossom, minerals and spices. Concentrated and attractively tactile, it will improve for many years.
Conclusion – lighter bodied but flavour-packed, this wine will suit most stir-fires, any pork dish, and soothe winter woes. Don’t overchill. Use Google to find retail outlets – the hunt is worth it.
GRANT SAYS:
2019 Jericho Fiano
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
13.5% RRP $27
After a long browse at the Seddon Wine Store and chats with the helpful staff, I landed on this little surprise packet. Jericho Family Wines make a precise range from both Adelaide Hills and Mclaren Vale and this Fiano expresses beautifully the versatility available from the cooler, hilly regions of SA. Fiano is indigenous to the north of Italy, but us Aussies have developed a real thirst for it. It’s great to pair with food as it holds a medium palate weight and viscosity but a clean minerality and subtle, dry fruit. Fleshy melon notes and fresh herbs invite the senses. Strong green tea and black tea dominate the palate but give way to a floral and minerally finish thanks to the retention of plenty of natural acidity and time spent on fine lees before bottling. This is an appropriate candidate for a winter white.
Conclusion – Pair with stir fried hokkien noodles with lemongrass, ginger and plenty of chilli.
