South West Life

 My last article on Xanadu Wines shows just how great the Cellar Door experience can be, and that the new Xanadu are putting out some fantastic wines that are regionally and varietally expressive, and excellent value for money. Here is my take on just two of Xanadu’s latest offerings from their Next of Kin Range – the 2009 Chardonnay, and the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Xanadu Next of Kin Chardonnay 2009

Chardonnay can be a tough sell these days.  You either love it or you hate it, and if you love it, there are those that either want no oak treatment at all, or love that exceptionally oak-dominant, creamy, buttery Chardonnay style.  The Xanadu Next of Kin Chardonnay fits nicely right in between these two styles.    Stick your nose into the glass, and you find a mélange of fruit characters – some citrus, peach and pear notes, with delicate hints of tropical fruits just in the background.  A touch of oak sits there giving the wine a touch of complexity, but is only playing a supporting role in this performance.   On the palate, the fruit follows through, with a delicately creamy texture.  The great aspect of this wine is although there is some subtle oak treatment, this chardonnay is quite lean and structured, with a mouth-watering minerality and acid structure to ensure a well-rounded and balanced wine.  Great value for money, this Chardonnay is well worth having a look at to get you back on the Chardonnay train. RRP $18.00

Xanadu Next of Kin Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

I love a good Cabernet Sauvignon, and Margaret River does this variety exceptionally well.  If a glass of this wine was to be served to you without having seen the label or the price, you would be surprised to find that it is such an inexpensive wine.  Rich ruby in colour, this wine has deep, rich red berries on the nose, reminiscent of compote of raspberries, blackberries and plums.  A dustiness and hints of coffee come through on the nose… almost a perfect winter’s breakfast in a glass!   The luscious raspberry, blackberry and mulberry fruits on the palate are harmonious with the bouquet, with the addition of a hint of spearmint coming through.   Emery tannins give structure to the wine, and are well balanced with toasty oak and an acid spine, which gives the wine lift and vibrancy.  Although this wine is fantastic to drink now, you can lay this one down for a few years and see some additional complexity when you open it down the track.  The Next of Kin range of wines does show excellent value for money, and at this price, you can’t go wrong.   RRP $18.00

The Next of Kin range is available only in restaurants and hotels, not from retail outlets. Look for it on the wine list next time you are out for a meal, or pick some up at Xanadu's cellar door in Margaret River.