Sixty Second Swirl
by Brent Lello – Yass Valley Times Wine Columnist
The team at Shaw Wines know what it takes to consistently produce high quality and award-winning cool-climate wines. They focus on producing the finest quality fruit they can, so much so that at vintage time, if any of the varietal fruit is not spot-on, they will pass on the production of that wine for that year.
In my view, the 70 acres of vines are really starting to stamp the pedal to the metal. Shaw Wines produce one of the best Merlots racing around and their current release – the Shaw Wines Merlot 2019 – is this week’s “swirl”.
This Merlot is a deeply attractive, dark crimson colour with bright flashes of purple. A swirl reveals to me aromas of mulberries, dark plums and roasted red capsicum sprinkled with a good shake of classic cool climate white pepper spice.
On the palate, it’s smooth and mellow with fleshy ripe plum and dark berry fruit flavours with a dollop of vanilla and fine tannins leading to a lingering, mouth coating finish.
We enjoyed our bottle with a Chateau Lello special – panko and parmesan crumbed, free-range chicken breast schnitzel with mushroom gravy, but would go fantastically well with any barbecued meat or game dish.
My bottle was included in my cellar club member dozen, but you can buy online for $30.
It is an exhibition of sculptures by local and internationally renowned artists set in the rolling paddocks at Shaw Wines in Murrumbateman.
There will also be an exhibition of small-scale works on display around the terrace of the Shaw Wines Cellar Door. This adds another dimension for visitors to enjoy.
Also, there will be helicopter Joy Flights on those weekends for those who want to view the exhibition from above.
Go to https://sculptureatshaw.com.au/ for further details and ticket sales.
