Sitting down for a meal the question will inevitably come up, the decision around the wine for the meal. Food types will scream in one direction or another; steak/shiraz, lamb/cabernet sauvignon, chicken/chardonnay and all of these can be debated, and more. So, best to keep your options open.
St Hugo has been largely known for producing stunning red wine; sensational Cabernet Sauvignon from the Coonawarra and gorgeous Shiraz from the Barossa. Their Shiraz was so impressive that it was awarded the EFTM Best Drop award last year. This year, St Hugo has added two new wines to their list, an entirely new red wine and their first white wine, one you’ll need this summer.
St Hugo Riesling 2017
This Riesling is being sourced from Eden Valley and is the definition of “fresh” when it comes to wine. That might be because it had only been bottled four weeks ago but the flavour was the real reason. Served cold, around 8 degrees, into a glass you’ll find some real floral notes and hints of lemon zest that’ll make your nose tickle. A sip will bring some of that lemony lime to life with an intense flavour that lingers on nicely. It has an acidity that will cut through the flavours of your meal just enough to compliment it. We enjoyed this Riesling with kingfish and they paired perfectly.
St Hugo Legacy Collection – Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
The Legacy Collection is a new range and currently has a line-up of one. The first in the range is named The Last Letter. There are two things to discuss here; what the collection is about and … a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barossa? Firstly, there is a story behind the name and it’s a bit of a tear jerker. In 1938 there was a tragic plane crash which saw the death of three major winemakers, one of which was Hugo Gramps. The days before that flight Hugo sent a letter to his son who was in boarding school in Adelaide. His son went into the common area in the evening where the news was playing, which is where he heard the news of his father’s passing. The next day, the letter arrived.
The bottle has some of the letter printed on the label, if we’re honest, it’s hard to read it due to the style of writing but what matters once you twist the cap is what’s inside. On the sniffy sniff you know you’re in the Barossa and not the Coonawarra, plenty of berries and some spice. Take a sip and you’ll experience some ripe fruit flavours with some dark chocolate yet some strong tannins. This is a good thing and will see it age very well. This wine will pair marvellously with a typical lamb roast, side of mash potatoes and the sprig of rosemary.
