Wines for a friend’s house

Finding good quality Burgundy wine at a “reasonable” price is hard to find in Australia due to the taxes and the distance the wine has to travel. But saying that I have found a great wine courtesy of Swanbourne Wine Cellars. The 2008 Philippe Colin shouts out “Burgundy”from the glass. It has aromas of butter and lemon on the nose with a touch of stone fruits and on on the palate you can taste that slight leaness and minerality coupled with refreshing acidity and a long length. So enjoyable I don’t mind spending $35 a bottle on this.

If you’re looking for a wine a bit cheaper and love Sauvignon Blanc, Australia and New Zealand offer a variety of Sauvignon Blancs:

totara (in lower case) Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 – this does as you would expect at $18/$20 – stone fruits with a hint of nettle on the nose follow through on the palate. I had it with pizza on Friday and found it very enjoyable. (Available at Old Bridge Wine Cellars)
Wignalls Sauvignon Blanc (Albany) 2011 -Liquor Barons in Mosman Park. For about $20 for the bottle (I can’t remember the exact cost), this wine did not disappoint. Passion fruit and melon were obvious on the nose with necatrine and grapefruit on the palate. I agree with the description on the bottle of a luscious texture and I would say a good partners with chicken dishes.
The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2011 – I can’t remember where you can buy this wine from but it doesn’t cost more than $25. I find it delivers what is quintessentially New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at this price point. Nettles, high acidity and aromas of asparagus spring from the glass with similar flavours on the palate. I would try this with fresh prawns – it could be great as an aperatif – just make sure you keep the wine chilled!