Celebrate good times, Come On!

Oh Lordy! There are some sensational bubbly bargains to be had this week, my fizz-loving friends!

Whether you currently:
(a) HAVE something to celebrate,
(b) HAD something to celebrate, or
(c) Just WISH you had something to celebrate, now is the time to max out the credit card on some fine French bubbly. And yes, I really do mean 'Champagne' (i.e. the real thing)!

And with the Melbourne Cup and the US Elections almost upon us, there's no better time to toast a victory (or commiserate a loss).

So, sod the credit crunch... we all know that everything can be (temporarily) fixed with a flute of this effervescent French elixir.

So, until Weds 5 November you can procure the following:

Moet Brut Imperial NV (non-vintage) $49.90 (Yes, less than 50 big ones!!)
(Note for beginners: you do actually pronounce the 'T' - so its 'Mo-ett' as opposed to 'Mo-way' - however I still think you sound like a wanker going with this option)

Piper Heidsieck NV $39.90
This is a personal fave of mine - goes down nice and smooth - and you can' t miss the bright red and gold label - tidy.

Pol Gessner NV $34.60
It's real champagne, its under $35, what's to lose?


And in reds, I would snap up some of the following (going from 'BBQ' to 'flash dinner'):

Annie's Lane (Shiraz and Cab Merlot) $9.80

Jim Barry 'The Cover Drive' (Cab Sauv) $17.80
(Look out for the groovy, lemon-coloured label on the front depicting an early era cricketer, playing the aforementioned cover drive - a perfect drop for cracking open and slurping while watching the Aussies go down to India)

And finally, to wow that special someone (even if that 'someone' happens to be a nice juicy eye fillet)... you cannot go past:

Orlando St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 $39.90
(You'll find this in the 'Cellar Release' section - i.e. its been soundly sleeping somewhere dark and cool for the past few years, and has only recently been woken.. so open slowly and quietly - then prepared to be seduced!)

That's all for this week kids - happy plonking!

Yours in Plonk
The Plonker

I see red, I see red, I see red!

This week's reommendations for some bargain red, red wine is as follows: (drum roll purlease)....

For BBQ-ing/weeknight drinking:
Hardys Oomoo Cab Sauv 2006 - $12.50 (or $11.90 x 6)
(This one has a fantastically weird name, and a really purty label!)

For a nice dinner in, or out, with a friend:
Penley Estate Phoenix Cab Sauv - $16.70 (or $15.90)

For a romantic dinner in, or out, with a really, really special friend:
Zema Estate Coonawarra Cab Sauv 2005 - $20.90 (or $19.90)

Get busy peoples

Yours in Plonk

The Plonker

Bubbles from the land of the long white cloud(y) bay..

OK, so.... I have previously blogged about champagne - that decadent European tipple... today I am going to point you in the direction of my favourite non-French bubble...


The fact that this wee beauty happens to be conceived and delivered in the same country as me, is, of course, merely a coincidence.


The bubbles in question come from the Cloudy Bay vineyard in New Zealand's Marlborough region (that's in the South Island for you non-sheep-botherers). Cloudy Bay wines are rightly famous for their still wines, including sensational pinot noirs and divine chardonnays. However, they also make an exquisite sparkling wine, which they have named 'Pelorus.'

'Pelorus Jack' was a famous dolphin who, for more than 20 years around the turn of last century, met the steamers crossing between the two main islands of New Zealand and escorted them through the Marlborough Sounds. His descendants abound in the waters of Cloudy Bay and their image has become the symbol of Pelorus.

Pelorus is available in both vintage and non-vintage (with the NV being cheaper, by about five bucks)... Both are delicious, but below are the tasting notes for both, to help you make an informed decision ...

Pelorus NV (RRP $33AUD): a fresh, aperitif-style sparkling wine with apple-crisp flavours, underpinned by nutty yeast complexity derived from two years bottle maturation on lees.

Pelorus Vintage 2004 (RRP $40AUD): Like memories of a late summer picnic, Pelorus Vintage 2004 has enticing aromas of ripe red apples, quince jam and rosehips. The wine has a fine, elegant structure that bursts with flavour ... freshly baked lemon biscotti with a nougat nuttiness and creamy minerality ... leading seamlessly into a long, crisp finish.

The NV is currently available for $24.90 from my local, and at this price, you'd be mad to not grab a couple of bottles. I believe it is by far the best bubble in its price range (outside of the Champagne region.) And, trust me, I am not biased. Baa!

Grab some, get it chilled, and get amongst it peoples!

Yours in Plonk,

The Plonker