2013 Jilly FIFO Margaret River Chardonnay

As with all his handmade wines so far, each bottle of Jared Dixon's 2013 Jilly FIFO Margaret River Chardonnay is numbered in a series, in this instance, of 780 bottles. Again with a cloth label as with the reds, but this time marbled to be denim/jeans/flying-clouds-like originally designed by the local, Kylie Bridges. The MR grapes are grown on gravel lime in Upper Wilyabrup. Unfined/unfiltered in French bottles, it's available at the Clunes Wine Store—or when dining at Harvest café, Newyrbar. Its aroma is possibly persimmon, fairy floss or bubble gum, because it has some sweetness, but coupled with some wood and pear. It opens up later with malt and honey, so I wouldn't serve this wine too chilled. On the palate it’s all citrus with something sweet underneath like vanilla, or a touch of malt here too. It’s therefore layered, textured, complex. Dry, minerally. From the bottle now it's not flirtatious or lulling. You have to be alert. It's alert. It would be good with food rather than a standalone drink, possibly with pesto, prawns or tout, or a light meat such as pork in a sweet and sour, with blood orange in a savoury or dessert. It will develop in the bottle, possibly with some 'warmth' and lusciousness.

2013 Jilly New England Tempranillo

 

Jared Dixon, winemaker at the Clunes General Store and Cellars, has his 2013 Jilly Tempranillo for sale right now, barrelled and bottled in a small cellar behind the store. The grapes are sourced from New England's Topper's Mountain Winery where Mark Kirkby, a seriously good viticulturalist, grows fruit that flourishes in New England's high altitude and basalt soil. The 2013 Jilly Tempranillo has aromas of toast and stewed berries, and is matchable with food in its vegetal silkiness of mushroom and potato on the palate, followed by a warm and generous red jube. The Jilly label is a wrap-around cloth in a hessian colour with red and yellow printing, designed by local graphic artist, Kylie Bridges. Jared uses thick glass bottles imported from France.