On the Bench #11

Wandin Valley Estate Pavilion Rose' 2009 ( $18) v Gundog Estate Rose' 2009 ($18)


I've been fortunate enough to try Matt Burton's wines ( Wandin Valley Estate) for a few years now and they've always been good. Not showy, but honest (not in a damning with faint praise way) and with drinkability to the fore.

I found a bottle of his rose' in the pile tonight, and just happened at the same time to see another rose' from Gundog Estate, a brand that I had never heard of before. A moment of investigation and, lo and behold, I find that Gundog Estate belongs to his parents.

So what a perfect opportunity to pit a family against each other in a vinous, Canberra v Hunter Valley, last man standing, smack down. Lets not mention that Matt makes both wines, it spoils the story!

Actually, it is a pretty clear win to mum and dad, although if your personal preference is for a more full fruited style the Wandin Valley may be more your go. But the Gundog Rose' is a really classy wine, restrained and savoury, pale in colour with a touch of barrel work adding a textural factor. It is drying and quenching at the same time, oh so easy to drink and great with summer foods like fish and chips, salads and antipasto.

As mentioned, the Wandin Valley wine is brighter, with more primary, youthful red fruit flavours- really fresh and lovely summer drinking but in this case, art imitates life because Mum and Dad (again) get the last word.