TOP Drops... Local Gems

ELBOURNE WINES - 2014 Single Vineyard Shiraz // RRP $55 A 2014 single vineyard, hand picked Hunter Valley Shiraz. 96 Points James Halliday wine companion, with only 200 cases produced. TASTING Generous spice, pepper and ripe fruit nose. Exceptionally well balanced wine rolling beautifully across the palate from front to back. Quality French oak frames high quality red and black fruits. FOOD MATCH A perfect accompaniment to venison, medium-rare with caramelised fig. CELLARING Up to 20 years.

WYNWOOD ESTATE - Old Jack Muscat // RRP $40 An average of 8 year old, barrel aged Rutherglen Muscat. TASTING Caramel, toffee and maple syrup characters. FOOD MATCH Perfect with a square of dark chocolate; soak dried fruits and add them to a pudding or ice cream; or bite the corners off a Tim Tam and use it as a straw. CELLARING It doesn’t matter because you won’t be able to resist opening it!

MISTLETOE WINERY - 2016 “Rosso” // RRP $25 “Rosso” is Italian for Red. This wine is a blend of Hunter Valley grown Tempranillo and a very small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon.

TASTING It is medium bodied, much like a Pinot Noir. The bouquet is vibrant and spicy with dark cherry, tobacco leaf characters. It has lovely balance, and a clean palate showing dark cherry fruit, and smooth tannins from the use of older French oak puncheons and a long soft finish. FOOD MATCH This is an eminently quaffable red wine and teams beautifully with Mediterranean cuisine, especially pasta, pizza and paella! CELLARING Drink now to 2025.

KEVIN SOBELS - 2013 Petit Verdot // RRP $25 Kevin Sobels Wines is a family owned business producing 100% Hunter Valley wines with a 170 year tradition of making wine in Australia. Petit Verdot – meaning "little green one" in French, is a late ripening grape, which thrives in regions with long days and lots of sun and ideal for the warmer conditions of the Hunter Valley. TASTING This is a wonderfully deep coloured and bold wine, with a full-bodied structure and soft tannins in the middle palate. FOOD MATCH Grilled steak, spicy pork, veal, lamb and all types of game. CELLARING This wine will age beautifully. Cellar for up to 10 years or more.

EMMAS COTTAGE VINEYARD - 2015 Shiraz // RRP $30 TASTING This classic Hunter Valley Shiraz is aged in old American oak, has a light fresh medium body and is very fruit driven, with dark berry flavours and light peppery notes with a lovely savoury tannin finish. This wine recently won a bronze medal at the 2017 NSW Small Winemakers Show. FOOD MATCH Slow cooked lamb shoulder or aged beef. The wine is light enough to drink on its own without food, and if you do not manage to finish the bottle save it to put into tomorrow’s casserole – it does the most wonderful things to big tasty casseroles! CELLARING Drink now or cellar for 10 years or more.