by Brent Lello, Yass Valley Times Wine Columnist
With the potentially fickle nature of our region’s cool wine grape growing climate, over the years our winemakers have developed a nifty bag of tricks to help them overcome the seemingly increasing number and intensity of the challenges that are thrust upon them by the weather. The challenges of grape ripening seasons that are cooler, warmer, drier, wetter or frostier than normal all need to be overcome in order to optimise the quality of the end result and keep us wine loving punters happy. One technique that is often employed is to blend wine from grapes from different regions into the final bottled product. A great example of this is the subject of this week’s “swirl” – the McKellar Ridge Shiraz Regional 2022 – with 15% of the fruit sourced from the Hilltops region around Young, adding fullness and richness to the 85% estate grown fruit.
McKellar Ridge Shiraz Regional 2022
This Shiraz is a vibrant, cherry red colour in the glass with a bright purple edge. A swirl reveals aromas of blackberries, deeply dark cherries with a waft of fragrant, dried rose petals and a crack of white pepper. The palate is smooth and voluptuously vibrant, with blackberry, ripe plum and dark cherry flavours with a beautiful balance of acidity, tannin and fruit sweetness. This is cracking stuff.
We enjoyed our bottle with rich, slowly braised beef cheek ragout with pasta, and the combination was truly divine. This would go really well also with any slow roast lamb joint or a top class cut of steak. To try this top drop out for yourself, call into see John and Marina at McKellar Ridge cellar door just off the Barton Highway on Euroka Avenue, or you can buy online for $45 per bottle here – https://www.mckellarridgewines.com.au/
Open Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12noon to 4pm.
Wine and Cheese Tasting selection available at McKellar Ridge Wines
