- Silverstone's previous recommendations

Greg Norman Estates, Australia

Best of a Seasonal Bunch

Padthaway Reserve Shiraz 2000 (approx $39.99)

Ah! Now back to this masterpiece. The vineyards in this region of South Australia make superlative Shiraz and this one is as good as it gets. Matured in oak, painstakingly nurtured in the cellars by Andrew Hales, this is the spoilt child of the portfolio. But not a brat, rather a well behaved, good mannered, proud family member. Dark, deeply intense, multi faceted flavors, aromas and heavily berried fruits linger on the palate bringing some chocolate and spice to the equation. This is most definitely my favorite wine of the 21st century thus far. And you can quote me on that. This Shiraz is so smooth it would make Cary Grant and Dean Martin seem like caffeine wired

buffoons. A silky soft, palate caressing, smile across the face beauty! I singled it out from the pack of samples I took home from lunch, because it was mesmerizing and spread sunlight across my bleak terrain of wine weariness. I've been asked by many people why I favour inexpensive wines, and my answer is: "because expensive doesn't mean good". It also means my bank manager won't harass me for taking excessive liberties with my overdraft. But I can tell you, from the bottom of my wallet, expensive can, on occasion, be justified. And this wine is money well spent.

Greg Norman Estates' wines are just like small white balls that head straight down the fairway and tumble, effortlessly, into the hole .... in one!

They have the distinctive mark of a champion.

Cheers!

For more information: www.shark.com/gnestates

I had lunch recently at one of my favorite Philadelphia restaurants: Panorama (14 N Front St. 215 922 7600). I chose this restaurant because the marketing folks at Greg Norman Estates (yes THAT Greg Norman, the golfer) invited me to meet the winemaker Andrew Hales and the winery's US PR guru Sheri Ketchum. They wanted a "wine friendly" environment and Panorama is so wine friendly it's almost indecent. Andrew Hales was on a cork popping whirlwind tour of the US, from Downunder, and I was flattered to be his only reason for stopping off in our neck of the woods. I never look at the menu at Panorama, I simply start with smoked salmon and follow with gnocchi in creamy spinach sauce. Ideal accompaniments to whatever nectar is

brought to table by the visiting winemakers, and if the wine is disastrous I'm always guaranteed a superb lunch. In this case, the wines were so historic, I almost didn't notice the food.

Andrew is a soft spoken, passionate winemaker. One sip and you know you are in the company of a master craftsman. Greg Norman's own passion for wine, inspired a range of wines with his name to reflect what the world would expect from his moniker on the label: Class! And believe me, they've got it.

The good news for me just kept getting better. Andrew and Sheri were catching a flight up to Boston, so they sent me home with half a dozen

half filled bottles, the remains of our lunch libations. Some wines fade from memory once the cork is slipped from the bottle's neck while the true champions of the wine world, like the battery operated bunny, just keep on going. And so my weekend was spent in the company of several Greg Norman wines, but in particular, the 2000 Padthaway Reserve Shiraz kept on going. But more on that shortly.

During the 1981 Masters Tournament Aussie Greg Norman was called "The Great White Shark". Given his subsequent golfing victories exceeding 90 titles including 2 British "Opens", this man was more like a Lion - a king in his domain. Norman's passion for wine inspired him to launch his own

range (excuse the pun) of wines: Greg Norman Estates. The wines in the portfolio have been produced in Norman's native Australia but he is now expanding the collection to include wines from California. Since he lives with his family in the US (Florida), this all makes perfectly good sense. Winemaker Andrew Hales is doing a phenomenal job with the nectar from Downunder. Andrew has had some nifty winemaking experience around the world including stints in France, Italy and Moldova! After honing his art at various wineries in Australia and New Zealand he joined Greg Norman in 2000, and all I can say is "hone sweet hone"!

Here are 4 Greg Norman wine suggestions for your Holiday shopping list.

Limestone Coast Shiraz 2003 (approx $15.99)

The Limestone Coast, in the south eastern corner of South Australia, is a cool maritime climate with mild temperatures which create grapes - and ultimately wines - with delicious, fresh fruit. Norman's garpes are grown in several Limestone Coast vineyards and this is a stunner. Just look at the color - a rich, intense, full bodied , bold and beautiful wine. Some maturation in oak barrels gives the complexity we lust after when opening an Aussie Shiraz. It delivers the goods at a most generous price.

Limestone Coast Cabernet/Merlot 2002 (approx $15.99)

This one's got the marriage made in vineyard heaven. Cab/Merlots from Downunder produced by a super talented winemaker can be among the best in the world. No disputing the Greg Norman version on that point! Andrew Hales again matured the wine in wood, blending these two magnificent grape varieties into a drink which has all the characteristics you'd expect. The spicy berry flavors will compliment turkey, ham and just about any cheese your heart desires.

2004 Victoria Chardonnay 2004 (approx $14.99)

Produced from grapes grown in the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia, the wine has an almost light straw color and delicious summer fruit perfume leads to the text book creamy, nutty flavor only the world's finest Chards can deliver. Although the finest ones would struggle to do so at such a modest price!

These 3 wines are all "listed" and available through regular PA wine stores. The Shiraz I raved about recently can only be found in "Specialty" stores, such as Ardmore, Devon and Bryn Mawr. A few more thoughts on that wine: