Sunday, February 12, 2012

2010 Riound Two Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Circles on the label. Kym Teusner is the winemaker.

Veuve Clicquot

2011 Tscharke Girl Talk Marananga, Barossa Valley, Savagnin

Savagnin, according to Janice Robinson's 2006 Oxford Wine Companion, is a 'curious' variety, but nevertheless 'fine'. Although a search on the web tells me a number of Oz wineries make or use this grape, it is rare to see it as a single variety on a label. It has gotten mixed up with Albarino in Australia. But here it is as a very drinkable, lightish, mildly tasty but elegant and understated wine that you could bring out for or recommend to friends and not be ashamed, particularly if it's a lovely warmish arvo, early autumn let's say, and then you'd savour it and admire yourself for your sophistication. The Tscharke is in a rounded, heavy, dark bottle with the label sitting in two parts at the bottom, so it's distinctive. The tree blown so sideways it looks like a long-fingered hand, though, kind of doesn't do it any favours. Not sure what 'girl talk' is about, although I wouldn't mind claiming it as a distinctive wine for discerning women. It's around the $20ish mark.