S C Pannell 2011 McLaren Vale Tempranillo and Touriga

The Clunes Wine Store also has a S C Pannell 2011 McLaren Vale Tempranillo and Touriga which is wonderfully peppery on a beautiful palate, with red berry in the perfume, and a fab royal crimson or dark blood in colour. $25.00 is probably a very fair price to pay for a good Temp.it comes in a medium-heavy bulbous bottle.

Fairbrossen Margaret River Blanc de Blancs sparkling Chardonnay

The Clunes Stores has a Fairbrossen Margaret River Blanc de Blancs sparkling Chardonnay (stelvin cap) I bought for $25 in commiseration of a recent diagnosis of terminal cancer for a friend of one of my sisters. In a gorgeous sparking light gold, it smells of honey, and on the palate it is very, very dry with sharp citrus. Elegant, even severe. You would never disappoint friends with discerning taste by bringing them this sparkling. It's a kind of lemony delight, just dry enough to keep you sensible and adult, not mad and hyper. It's on the verge of fizz and sherbet, but doesn’t tip over. This sparkling would be good with food: fish, surprisingly. Salmon. A sharp, salty cheese. Some snack with preserved citrus.

 

Tempus Two 2012 Copper Series Wilde Chardonnay

The wild ferment Chardy is a mid-gold in colour. On the palate it's like apple and creamy pear perhaps, with a touch of almonds. It smells of citrus, but perhaps a lemony apple we have in or home orchard. It has sweetness in a long palate of under-ripe apricots, followed by acidity. This wine is one you'd be proud to take to a dinner of serious Chardy drinkers – neither simple or cloying.