Chief Winemaker, Matt Koch and his team have done a fantastic job with their recently-released Rosemount MV Collection of top drops from McLaren Vale, a region that’s been an essential part of the company since the 1980s – and the more-so since it acquired the 100-year-old Ryecroft winery and vineyards there in 1991.
They have four wines under the MV label, a Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2012 vintage and a Chardonnay and GSM from the 2013 – and it was the GSM that really grabbed our attention: here is a wine that absolutely bursts in the mouth with raspberry and strawberry flavours foremost, followed by some spice and nice earthiness to round out to a lovely soft finish.
Matt Koch readily talks-up McLaren Vale as one of the company’s most dynamic regions, producing fruit of regular consistency and quality. And that certainly was the case for this 2013 GSM (Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre,) which came from a particularly hot vintage, but was shielded to a nice degree by a strong leaf canopy resulting from heavy winter rains and a mild spring preceding a hot summer.
A wonderful drop for winter-time red meat or game dishes, and with a good jug on the side of a pepper- or mushroom-heavy gravy. Well recommended at $25.
One to note: Usually thought of as a great slurper on a hot Summer’s day, Rosé in our book is equally one that we like to take along any time of year to share at the table with warm to hot curries at our favourite Indian eateries.
We found a ripper just recently, a 2011 Cherry Tree Hill label blended from Cabernet, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc fruit off that company’s vineyard at Sutton Forest in the NSW Southern Highland. Its flavours are a perfect foil when served chilled with our spread of curry choices. Priced at $18.
