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The Dark Horse Who Bucked to the Top


By David Ellis from Vintnews

HORSES whose careers put them out there in the public eye, can generally be considered to have a pretty short future if they continually buck their owners at the most inappropriate of public moments.

Such was the case with a steed named Adlai who – whilst considered the most-handsome in the Victorian Mounted Police at the time – unfortunately bucked overboard his commanding officer once too often, and with exquisite timing.

Instantly condemned to the knackery, Adlai was saved by Judy Rymill of Rymill Coonawarra fame who rescued him for a song – and responding to a female’s touch, he went on to become a champion in dressage, show jumping, high jumping and 3-day events here, as well as representing Australia in some events at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Although Judy and Adlai have both passed on, Adlai is now being commemorated in a wonderful new 2013 Rymill Cabernet Sauvignon ‘The Dark Horse,’ a wine with an as-lively a character as Adlai himself, and loaded with blackcurrant, mulberry and dark cherry flavours, rich chocolaty undertones and hints of mint.

The Dark Horse Who Bucked to the Top

As lively a character as the dark chestnut thoroughbred it is named after.

At $23.95, reminisce about Adlai over this wine with roast duck and a cherry sauce.

ONE TO NOTE: FIANO is a crisply dry white hailing from the Campania region of Southern Italy, and while not widely made in Australia it’s loyal following is growing appreciably amongst fans of labels made here in mainly South Australia and Victoria.

Family-owned boutique, Fox Gordon has an enticing Fiano it makes from fruit from the Adelaide Hills, and with white peach, nectarine and citrusy flavours coupled with interesting minerality, is a joy with – what else – such Italian dishes as pan-fried garlic sardines, or gnocchi alla Sorrentina… gnocchi with basil, Mozzarella and tomato sauce.

The Dark Horse Who Bucked to the Top

Gaining popularity and ideal with pan-friend garlic sardines.

A great drop at $22.95 from select premium liquor outlets.

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