The Sound of Music (and the taste of cowshed)

Yo winos!

Today I'm just going to talk about one wine, but Oh! what a wine!

Just to really mix things up, its a Coonawarra red.. I know, I know, but at least I'm consistent in my favourite drops (though I suspect some would substitute the word 'blinkered')...

Majella Wines is owned by the Lynn family; the vineyard is situated in Coonawarra's famed ‘Red Strip’ which is renowned for its rich terra rossa soil and porous limestone.

Majella produce some outstanding wines: the shiraz and cabernet sauvignon are faultless and retail for around $30 per bottle.

However, for almost half this price, grab yourself a bottle of their Cabernet/Shiraz blend, nicknamed 'The Musician.' This drop comprises 70% cab sauv and 30% shiraz and is an absolute stunner, and a complete steal at $16.70 (from you-know-where).

This wine is a tribute to Matthew Lynn (son of the owners) killed early in 2005 in a hit and run accident. A 20-year-old who wanted to make music his life, hence the name, and it is a fitting tribute.

Here's the winemaker's description of this drop: vibrant, unmistakably Coonawarra to smell and taste, bursting with flavours of blackcurrant, mulberry and herbs, and fine, elegant and juicy in the mouth.

My own idiosyncractic interpretation of the nose and palate of this wine is to describe it as 'cowshed.'

This is the (admittedly quite strange) term I use for jammy, mouth-filling, kick-arse, earthy, down 'n' dirty, gamey, full-bodied, muscled-up reds that you can enjoy almost as much by just inhaling (kids, don't try this at home). And this Musician is definitely cowshed born-and-bred!

I absolutely Luuurve this wine, and in terms of value-for-money, it gets 10/10.

So, in summary, I highly recommend you gather up a few Musicians and start making some sweeet music with someone very special.

Yours in Plonk

The Plonker

More bargains than you can poke a stick at - but hurry!

Howdy wine-lubbers. Today's blog will be short and sweet... to get straight to the point, there are some ripper drops going at ridiculous prices at my local bottle-o. Some of the wines I have talked up in previous blogs, some are new, but all are incredible value for money.

The prices are valid from 10th-17th September, but be warned, I have unfortunately learned from experience that they often sell out within the first few days.

I have separated these bargains out into varieties, giving you an everyday drinking option, and also a 'splashing-out' option.

So, whether you're after a bargain weeknight quaffer, a nice crisp savvy for sipping over lunch, or a kick-arse red to wash down that plump piece of wagyu, there should be a little something for everyone.... here we go:

'The Ned' Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Marlborough, NZ) $14.60 per bottle ($13.90 in any 6)
Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Marlborough, NZ) $26.90 per bottle ($25.60 in 6)

Wynns Coonawarra Chardonnay 2006 (Coonawarra) $10.90 ($10.40)
Devils Lair Chardonnay 2006 (Margaret River) $28.90 ($27.50)

Annies Lane Shiraz or Cabernet Merlot (Clare Valley) $9.90 ($9.40)
Penley Estate 'Phoenix' Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra) $16.70 ($15.90)
Cape Mentelle 'Trinders' Cabernet Merlot 2005 (Margaret River) $20.90 ($19.90)

So get your skates on and get amongst it peoples!

Yours in plonk,

The Plonker

Champagne - what's not to like?

Howdy all

Today we're going to talk about Champagne. Even the name sounds romantic! It conjurs up all sorts of images - of extravagance, of jubilant celebrations, of fine stemware, of smoked salmon and caviar canapes, of long walks on the beach... oops, getting a bit carried away there...

Let's regroup.

Only bottles that are produced in a designated area of the Champagne region in France can be labelled 'champagne.' All bubbles made elsewhere must go by the rather less-appealing moniker of 'sparkling white wine.' Although, there are of course variations on the theme. Some companies 'sex up' their labels by adding the words 'methode champenoise' or 'methode traditionelle' or, rather more bluntly: 'brut' (which, quite frankly, doesn't have quite the same ring to it as 'champagne.')

I long considered champagne a tipple reserved solely for the rich, the famous, gangsta rappers and movie moguls (and certainly out of the reach of a mere plonker like me!) However, in the last few years prices dropped significantly and you no longer have to take out a second mortgage to obtain a bottle (or three).

I have found the following drops regularly available for less than 50 big ones (not bad considering you can easily drop $40 for some of our better domestic bubbles). These are all non-vintage (NV) champagnes, which means a blend of grapes were used, from different years (or vintages). You will generally pay around $30 per bottle more for a 'vintage' champagne, in which 100% of the grapes used came from the same year, and that year will be shown on the bottle.

• Lanson Black Label NV
• Piper Heidsieck NV
• Charles Heidsick Mis en Cave Brut
• Moet et Chandon NV

This week you can pick up the Piper Heidsieck from my local bottle store for $39.90! So, what are you waiting for? Jump into a blinged-up Hummer with your homies, grab a well-chilled bottle (or three!) and get amongst it peoples!

Yours in plonk,

The Plonker