What to drink ... at a long lunch
If you are planning to sip your wine well into the afternoon, choose zingy, bright styles and nothing too heavy.
UP TO $25
Punt Road Chardonnay 2012 $25
Kate Goodman makes wines at several price points and under various labels at Punt Road in the Yarra Valley but there is a common theme: all are delicious. Take the chardonnay 2012. It's a fantastic wine balancing stone fruit, leesy richness and texture with fine, soft acidity and subtle ginger spice. There's nothing overworked or overly complicated with this wine, it's just a terrific drink. And not being heavy means it's a chardonnay that will last all day at a long lunch. Well, providing there are enough bottles to share. From puntroadwines.com.au.
UNDER $30
Hauner Salina Bianco 2012 $29
Salina is one of the Aeolian Islands off the north-east coast of Sicily and it is there that Hauner makes astonishing wines, especially from the variety malvasia - its sweet passito is nectar of the gods. But Hauner also produces very good table wines such as this bianco - a blend of inzolia and catarratto, it's as zingy and fresh as a sunny day. It's a perfect lunch wine because it's light but snappy, with natural acidity alongside a lemony tang. A lazy long lunch featuring seafood would be just the thing for this moreish bianco. Try vinoitaliano.com.au.
UNDER $50
Pooley Coal River Valley Pinot Noir 2012 $45
Full-bodied or big reds can induce sleepiness during the day so opt for something lighter or more restrained such as this pinot noir. This single vineyard wine from Pooley in Tasmania is exquisite because it has depth and complexity yet clarity and elegance. It's pretty on the nose with a heady aroma of raspberry and cherry fruits, loads of spice and earthy sous bois. The ripe tannins meld with fresh acidity before a long finish. Just the drink to match with squid ink pasta or braised pork. From pooleywines.com.au.
SPLURGE
R de Ruinart Brut Non-vintage $100
What's a long lunch without champagne? Boring, in my humble opinion. Champagne, or any good sparkling wine, can be more than an aperitif and, depending on the style, will match well with food. But I do love champagne to keep the palate lively between courses and R de Ruinart brut is perfect for that. A fragrant nose of red fruits with some fresh pear too and more citrus nuances on the palate. There's a flintiness and toasty character and an endless fine bead matched to a persistent finish. From Prince Wine Store.