On The Grapevine

with David Ellis

A Sero-ously good drop - ciao

Just the drop for a creamy pasta: De Bortoli's new Sero Unwooded Chardonnay.

De Bortoli Wines has paid tribute to it's Italian heritage with the release of two new wines under a De Bortoli Sero label, and both are ideal partners to Italian-inspired dishes at home, or to take to the local Italian BYO.

And although the company is based in the NSW Riverina, these wines are from its extensive King Valley vineyards in the 'High Country' of north-east Victoria, an area at the foothills of the Great Australian Divide whose warm days and very cool nights produce ideal fruit for premium wines.

Strictly, the Sero name comes from a Latin word meaning 'series,' but it also has connotations with the Italian 'sera' for evening and 'vero' for true.

The 2004 De Bortoli Sero Unwooded Chardonnay is strong on peach and fig fruit flavours, and grassy and melon fruit aromas; match it on the table with creamy pasta dishes, or try it with grilled fish and mango salsa.

The 2003 Sero Cabernet Merlot is also very fruit-forward, with ripe berry fruit flavours coupled with earthy characters, and very rich berry fruit aromas; this one's ideal to go with tomato-based pasta dishes or beef and eggplant rolls.

Pay $12.99 each.

One for the cellar: The oddly-named Fifth Leg from West Australian maker Devil's Lair is a captivating blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz that's in keeping with the somewhat fun character of this label. Simply called Fifth Leg Red 2004, it continues the funky theme of a cartoon character dog, this time playing the bongo drums (previous labels have included surfing dog, or fishing, eating and jamming dog) and is the product of one of the great years for reds in the West. It's loaded with fruit flavours and soft tannins and if you can resist drinking it now at $18 a bottle, it'll peak in about five years.