Featured Wines for January – 2011 St. Kilda Chardonnay, Southeast Australia & 2010 Coriole Sangiovese/Shiraz, McLaren Valley, Australia

2011 St. Kilda Chardonnay, Southeast Australia    $10

St Kilda Chardonnay is named after a beachside suburb of Melbourne, Australia. St Kilda’s Chardonnay is crisp and fruity. This is not a California style Chardonnay (buttery and heavy.) The St. Kilda Chardonnay drinks well above the price point.  This wine is light and tangy with notes of apple, lime, and apricot. It  has a nice minerality, which follows closely with the nose.  The finish is long for an inexpensive wine with a nice acidity. The St. Kilda Chardonnay pairs nicely with food, particularly chicken or game birds. Alcohol: 12.5%

2010 Coriole Vineyards Sangiovese/Shiraz, McLaren Valley, Australia    $14

Coriole Vineyards was established by the Lloyd Family in 1967. The earliest vineyards date from 1919, in the “Seaview” sub-region of the McLaren Vale Wine Region in South Australia. The main variety is Shiraz, followed by Sangiovese and Chenin Blanc. In this this popular blend Shiraz adds an attractive warmth and richness to the leanness of Sangiovese. Both the Sangiovese and Shiraz for this wine are sourced from Coriole’s estate vineyards. This is a wine that shows the best characteristics of both varieties. Some richness and lushness comes from the Shiraz with the Sangiovese imparting a savory, structural edge. The nose shows red currant, cherry, dark chocolate and earthiness. Hints of licorice and spice lead into a medium bodied, juicy palate that displays dark berry and red fruit. This is a great wine for hearty pastas and other rich Italian dishes. Alcohol: 14%