Wine for Tasting:

2008 Battle of Bosworth Chardonnay Viognier

Full-bodied white wines are few and far between these days but we need them to complete our wine diet not least because they are the life long partners to serious main course fish dishes. So when busty Chardonnay is upholstered with slinky Viognier lingerie the results are never going to be anything other than crackerjack. Choose your partner wisely when you open this wine and makes that she is dressed accordingly.

2008 Chalk Hill Moscato

How does the biggest bloke in the known universe make such a fairy dust, twinkle toed, fizzy pop wine? It is clear that Jock Harvey is firmly in touch with his feminine side and he wants us all to know it. So grab a bottle, slot it down and ask yourself the question. Are you? I know am.

2009 Gemtree Moonstone

Give your palate a well deserved make over with an indulgent glass of Moonstone. This experience is not like any other because the Savagnin grape variety is a quirky fellow to say the least, with sour greengage acidity overlaid with white pepper, quince and moments of fig.  This challenging wine comes into its own with sushi (especially if you are a wasabi fiend), Thai grub and coconut-drenched, southern Indian delights. Broaden your friends’ horizons with a bottle or two of this wine and they will never forget the experience.

2006 PAXTON James Black Shiraz

I suggest that you jog around the block, and warm up before you attempt to manoeuvre this wine into position. This is about as big as a red wine gets, in my opinion, while still retaining some semblance of balance and control. Brawny, bullish and imposing this is a terrific red wine with masses of character and a regionality tag that screams McLaren Vale. Decant, cook, pour, snooze – result.

2006 K1 by Geoff Hardy Merlot, Adelaide Hills

The Merlot code is a tricky one to crack in Australia and many have a go.  Geoff’s incredible Kuitpo vineyards at 300m up in the atmosphere are ideal for taming this restless red grape.  K1 has a liquid velvet texture with mashed red berries on the nose and a darker, denser core of hedgerow fruit on the palate.  There is no overt muscle here, but a momentum to the fruit which is surprising for this medium-weight grape.  Tackle a chop or three with a ‘cool, not chilled’  glass of this wine on a hot day and you will have nailed a perfect combo. 

Comment on this team's chances:

• Bullet

  Funny how Mr Twinkle Toes making Fairy Dust wines is so the opposite on the touch field…more like a bull in a field of heifers on heat. The rest of the monkeys could better utilise his babysitting talents…or is Tom still practising those skills.

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