GRANT SAYS:
Kilikanoon Kelly 1932 Grenache.
Clare Valley 2015
ABV 14.5%
RRP $120
Yes, the Kelly 1932 is a ‘special occasion’ wine; one only to bring out to impress and indulge in during the most memorable of occasions. But that needn’t necessarily mean an expensive dinner at a classy restaurant for a milestone birthday or the like. I brought this bottle on an impromptu camping trip to Lake Eildon with an old friend that shares a similar love of all things wine. On a mild March evening, next to a campfire and mobs of kangaroos nearby, the moon shimmering on the glassy lake; we threw seasoned steaks on the grill, a simple side salad and cracked this grenache and it went down an absolute treat. If you don’t like this wine, you don’t like grenache. It’s exactly what you’d come to expect from this ever reliable variety. We solved the world’s problems, laughed till our cheeks and bellies ached and broke down every aspect of this wine and everything we loved about Kilikanoon as a producer. Neither of us will forget that wonderful weekend. We didn’t set out to have a ‘memorable occasion’, but with a little help from this faultless wine, we’ll struggle to forget it. If you have a few ‘special’ wines sitting around just waiting to be opened for that perfect moment, I’d urge you to bring it forward to the very next time you celebrate an impromptu moment with your nearest and dearest. Special memories can be created at any moment.
Pair with: you guessed it, flame grilled seasoned eye fillet steak and a dressed leafy salad.
RICHARD SAYS:
2021 Pikes (traditionale) Riesling 11.5%
Clare Valley, South Australia RRP $26
Riesling again? Yes, since the rapport of quality and value is extreme. Pikes keep over-performing with this wine, with winemaker Steve Baraglia in peak form, preserving the beautiful Riesling fragrances and allowing the wine to express its origins.
Pale in colour, it’s fresh, bursting with citrus – especially lime – passionfruit, and red apple. There’s a fine talcy texture that accompanies a soupçon of fruit sweetness, and we’re well into the realm of hedonism! Thankfully, not a brute-force wine, but one of finesse that provides lip smacking, sublime enjoyment. Double your budget and the Pikes Merle Riesling is in prospect, with a scintillating future.
Conclusion – with warm evenings, this wine is a standout match for takeaway fish ‘n chips (my latest favourite is barramundi). But there’s merit in a roast chook too, or dishes with ginger as this wine will easily cope, and leave one refreshed and eager for more. That’s a proper role for wine!
