Thanks to the smashing success of a few huge Australian wineries, American wine drinkers have acquired a taste for the juice from down under. But in recent years, we have seen a growing number of wines arrive from small-scale estate producers. Philip Shaw has one foot on either side of this divide, as the legendary winemaker behind the remarkable Rosemount Estate line and the owner of his small high-altitude vineyard in New South Wales.

From these small vineyards comes Philip Shaw’s Chardonnay “No. 11,” made in a decidedly European style, an Aussie riff on the Puligny-Montrachet theme. Taut with high-wire citrus tang, its fruit qualities veer toward apple and peach on the palate filigreed with a classy French oak veneer. Drier than most cheap and cheerful Australian chardonnays, its firm mineral backbone provides that degree of food orientation so often lacking. Try this supple beauty as a partner for mild cheeses or sautéed shrimp, sesame chicken or grilled salmon.

Image, courtesy of Philip Shaw

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under What to Drink, Wine & Spirits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted by Marnie Old on 1/15/08 in What to Drink, Wine & Spirits