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Fowles Wine 2012 "Are You Game?" Chardonnay, Victoria This wine was made to go with food—literally. Pear drop, crisp apple and lemon linger, but it's the fresh acidity that does the job: it makes your mouth water and keeps you wanting more. John Duval 2012 Plexus MRV, Barossa Valley Highly aromatic, this white Rhône blend (55% Marsanne, 35% Rousanne, 10% Viognier) shows flowers, honey and orange blossom up front before an edge of mineralty and lime. The wine funnels down nicely to a slightly herbal finish. Penfolds 2013 Bin 51 Riesling, Eden Valley A classic style, bone dry with lime and flinty minerality. This beautifully showcases the acidity that makes Eden Valley's Rieslings so austere. Hints of saline and peach skin continue on the persistant finish. De Bortoli 2011 Estate Grown Chardonnay, Yarra Valley A very restrained style, the 12% alcohol manages to keep everything in balance so you can taste all of the pear drop, hazelnuts and vanilla bean with the dust and rocky earth behind it. There is structure and drive while maintaining elegance. True class. The Fowles Wine team (left to right): Charley May, Communications Manager; Victor Nash, Winemaker, Matt Fowles, Chief Executive. On the Move Matt Fowles of Fowles Wine has very specific thoughts behind the food and wine pairings, making the first wine blended specifically to match wild game meat. "The Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch wines are specifically designed to complement the texture and intensity of wild meat, Fowles said, "so there are " very specific things we do in the vineyard, right through to bottle, to ensure the quality of the wine complements the meat. " If deer, wild boar, hare or yabbies (Aussie crustaceans) aren't on your menu for the evening, Fowles Wine also makes the Are You Game? wines, also meant for food pairing. "Our Are You Game? wines, on the other hand, are blended for food more generally—we are looking for them to complement food more broadly. For me, this means a fresher acid profile—it cuts the fat and intensity in a lot of food and keeps your palate fresh for the next bite. " Don't let him fool you, though—the Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch wines are also delicious on their own. Yalumba 2012 Viognier Eden Valley Absolute benchmark, with bright nectarine, , dried apricot and honeycomb. Full-bodied and a little spicy. The weight of the wine seems to bounce right off of your palate, making this a clear example of why we turn to Yalumba for Viognier. Shingleback NV Black Bubbles Shiraz, Mclaren Vale Sparkling Shiraz should be on more dinner tables. This one shows a dense core, spicy plum and leather, with the bubbles adding both complexity and lift. Kooyong 2010 Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula Subtle, , understated, and elegant. Aromas of strawberries and roses lead to a perfectly balanced palate of crunchy red berries, tarragon, red flowers and faint chocolate. The mouthfeel is seamless, and the finish is very long and smooth. A stunner. Innocent Bystander 2012 Syrah, Yarra Valley Blueberries and blackberries up front followed by tea leaf, savory spices, a stony minerality and a touch of smoke. There's great intensity here, making this wine powerful without being heavy. Fowles Wine 2011 Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz, Strathbogie Ranges This is what cool-climate Shiraz is about: fresh acidity, dark berries and cool, rocky fruit. Fowles uses large oak barrels and whole bunch fermentation to soften the texture to help it pair with intense wild game like venison and duck, but this wine is also delicious on its own. Jim Barry 2012 The Lodge Hill Shiraz, Clare Valley A tense and nervy backbone of blackberries and currants balances cracked pepper, clove, cinnamon, and spearmint. Powerful and firm without being overbearing, this is a great way to experience quality Clare Valley Shiraz at an approachable price. Jacob's Creek 2010 St. Hugo Cabernet, Coonawarra Heady aromas of Christmas cake and cinnamon with a palate of currants, black raspberries and cassis. This wine is dark and concentrated and is meant to stick around a while. Vasse Felix 2010 Heytesbury, Margaret River Firm and powerful, but still restrained and intelligent. Here it is tempered by Petit Verdot and Malbec, and the finished product is taut and elegant with black fruits, currant, dark turned earth and dried herbs. 75% Cabernet, 15% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec. 92 / the tasting panel / november 2013 TP1113_066-107.indd 92 10/24/13 9:25 AM