Howdy all
If you have a healthy interest in wine - you buy a few bottles here and there, visit cellar doors, wine expos etc - then along the way you've probably made it onto numerous wine-related email lists.
Or perhaps you have been talked into one of those 'wine club' deals (possibly when under the influence of what seemed like a particularly good drop at a quaint cellar door), and get sent a mixed case of wine 2-3 times a year, only to find that there's only a couple of bottles that really tickle your tastebuds, while the remainder really aren't much chop.
The majority lure you in with the promise that you 'can send anything back you don't like, and we will replace it free of charge.' Yep, sure, but what's the chance the replacement is going to be any good either? And who is really going to be arsed packaging up a half-consumed bottle of paint stripper, schlepping to the Post Office with it, to no doubt face a mini-interrogation as to the contents, before parting with some hard-earned cashola to send it on its merry way. (And all this effort for a bottle that has done nowt to get you in a merry way!)
In the electronic age, it doesn't take long for an Inbox to get overwhelmed by an avalanche of wine-related emails spruiking "Great Offers!," "Cancelled Exports!" and "Halliday 5 star Rated Winery Half Price Cleanskins!" It's very easy to get confused by all of this information and downright tempting to delete the lot. However, the trick is to pick the wheat from the chaff, as there are some great websites and offers out there.
The problem I have found with a lot of the so-called Wine Clubs (apart from getting locked into a seemingly life-long contract, which is harder to escape from than Alcatraz), is that the wines overall can be so damn bland and uninteresting. I have often wondered if these are just bin ends or zhuzhed-up cleanskins (that they've slapped a benign-looking label on as an afterthought). There never seems to be any 'wow factor' to any of them, and if there has been one that I've been vaguely impressed by, I have a near impossible time finding it anywhere other than through the wine club - which seems a bit suss to me... but anyways I digress...
However, in recent times I have had the pleasure of discovering a fabulous website called Secret Vines (www.secretvines.com.au). Secret Vines is a boutique wine business based in South Australia's McLaren Vale, run by Tim Althaus (who just happens to be Marion from Masterchef's other half!).
Tim puts together some seriously drinkable six-packs, comprising top-notch hard-to-find local drops, and also little beauties from further afield. To date I've purchased three different cases from Tim, and have been absolutely stoked with the contents of every one. He's even managed to make me reconsider my thoughts on riesling with a lovely example from Western Australia!
The beauty of these packs is that you have choices: 'straight white,' 'straight red' or a mix of both, and usually in two different price points. Also, you are not locked into any contracts so can just buy whenever your personal stocks are depleted, or you're in the mood for a bit of wine discovery session.
It's a great way to explore new varieties and regions in the comfort of your own home and Tim is always more than happy to discuss drops that you particularly liked (or alternatively, didn't) and suggest others that may seduce your senses and put a smile on your dial. He's also very flexible and will customise the six-pack to your liking - i.e. if you dead-set HATED chardonnay (although I can't imagine anyone would) you could replace that with a variety that didn't induce dry-retching :/
So, I sincerely recommend checking out this website and sampling some of the more-ish vinous treasures contained therein! And tell Tim I sent you!
Yours in Plonk
The Plonker x
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Forget Bieber Fever...
...because this Sunday, at a big green bottle store near you, when the clock strikes 1:00pm, Grange Rage is going to descend!
This may well resemble an adult version of the recently-witnessed, and completely baffling, frenzy induced by a baby-faced, asexual, strangely-tressed, singing Canadian tweenager, on his recent visit to our shores. Oh to be a hysterical, hyperventilating, completely obsessed 13-year-old again. Or not.
However, come Sunday May 2nd, it's going to be Survival of the Fittest at Dan Murphy's Alexandria. Expect to encounter hordes of wine-savvy individuals lining up from the wee hours for a taste of Penfold's latest vintage of Australia's most famous wine, the Grange. (Cue appropriately-intense organ music here.)
The first 100 punters in the queue will be lucky enough to taste Penfold's 2005 super premium shiraz (probably worth around $20/taste, even in a teeny, tiny measure!). Definitely worth camping out for!
However, if you happen to have a life, or just play baseball on a Sunday, then do not despair.. all is not lost.
Between 1pm-5pm this Sunday, a veritable Shiraz orgy will be taking place in the hangar-like room adjacent to Dan's retail space. Over 70 different shirazes (is that the correct plural form, hmmm...) will be available for tasting from all over Australia, including super premium labels, and all this for NIX!
From previous experience, this Shiraz Expo will be well worth checking out, as you can literally take a vinous trip around the country, without racking up any air miles. It's also a fantastic chance to compare shiraz from different regions, and also suss out whether the really exxy bottlles - that you may not normally take a punt on - are worth shelling out your hard-earned pennies for. What's not to like?
One word of advice though - and unfortunately this also comes from experience - please, PLEASE, try to avoid rocking up with a hangover. I know this will be difficult, given that it is a Sunday, and you'll want to celebrate the Swannies latest victory the night before.
But trust me, there is nothing - I repeat, NOTHING - worse than gazing glassy-eyed at $150 bottles of red wine that you have coveted from afar for eternity, hoping and praying for the day you may get the chance to taste the goods inside, then that day actually arrives and BANG! - with it comes a foggy head, dry mouth, and involuntary gagging at the smell of even a wine gum.
I implore you. Avoid the Sunday hangover at all costs. The eternal regret is just not worth it.
So, there you have it. I'll hopefully be down at the big green barn from 2:30pm come Sunday. Hope to see y'all there for a spot of shiraz sampling - save some for me!
Yours in Plonk
The Plonker x
This may well resemble an adult version of the recently-witnessed, and completely baffling, frenzy induced by a baby-faced, asexual, strangely-tressed, singing Canadian tweenager, on his recent visit to our shores. Oh to be a hysterical, hyperventilating, completely obsessed 13-year-old again. Or not.
However, come Sunday May 2nd, it's going to be Survival of the Fittest at Dan Murphy's Alexandria. Expect to encounter hordes of wine-savvy individuals lining up from the wee hours for a taste of Penfold's latest vintage of Australia's most famous wine, the Grange. (Cue appropriately-intense organ music here.)
The first 100 punters in the queue will be lucky enough to taste Penfold's 2005 super premium shiraz (probably worth around $20/taste, even in a teeny, tiny measure!). Definitely worth camping out for!
However, if you happen to have a life, or just play baseball on a Sunday, then do not despair.. all is not lost.
Between 1pm-5pm this Sunday, a veritable Shiraz orgy will be taking place in the hangar-like room adjacent to Dan's retail space. Over 70 different shirazes (is that the correct plural form, hmmm...) will be available for tasting from all over Australia, including super premium labels, and all this for NIX!
From previous experience, this Shiraz Expo will be well worth checking out, as you can literally take a vinous trip around the country, without racking up any air miles. It's also a fantastic chance to compare shiraz from different regions, and also suss out whether the really exxy bottlles - that you may not normally take a punt on - are worth shelling out your hard-earned pennies for. What's not to like?
One word of advice though - and unfortunately this also comes from experience - please, PLEASE, try to avoid rocking up with a hangover. I know this will be difficult, given that it is a Sunday, and you'll want to celebrate the Swannies latest victory the night before.
But trust me, there is nothing - I repeat, NOTHING - worse than gazing glassy-eyed at $150 bottles of red wine that you have coveted from afar for eternity, hoping and praying for the day you may get the chance to taste the goods inside, then that day actually arrives and BANG! - with it comes a foggy head, dry mouth, and involuntary gagging at the smell of even a wine gum.
I implore you. Avoid the Sunday hangover at all costs. The eternal regret is just not worth it.
So, there you have it. I'll hopefully be down at the big green barn from 2:30pm come Sunday. Hope to see y'all there for a spot of shiraz sampling - save some for me!
Yours in Plonk
The Plonker x
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hunter Gatherer
Well, it has been a long time between blogs for this Plonker, and, coincidentally, a bloody lifetime between trips to the Hunter Valley for myself and the lovely Mrs Plonker!
However, with the recent four-day holiday in celebration of all things egg and rabbit, the opportunity had arrived for a mosey up the freeway to check out NSW's most famous wine region.
No matter how many times I make the journey north from Sydney, I never fail to be amazed at how close the Hunter actually is. In just over two hours you've left behind the city's manic drivers, grid-locked traffic, and smelly city fumes for meandering country roads, lush fields of grapevines and a seemingly endless array of cellar doors.
Goodbye stress, pollution and frustration, and HELLO tasting glass(es)!
One of the great things about the Hunter Valley wine region is the array of varieties it produces. There is no disputing the fact that the Hunter is synonymous with Semillon (try saying that after a few!) and considered Australia's best producer of this variety. However, Hunter shiraz is also highly prized, with distinct regional characteristics.
With the Hunter classified as a hot climate region, the shiraz originating from here is in stark contrast to those from cool climates such as the Yarra Valley and Canberra.
Hunter examples can be complex and opulent with earthy, leathery aromas and concentrated savoury flavours, i.e. a lot of these guys are BIG and in-your-face; certainly not your shy and retiring types! Some wine wags have even gone so far as to describe the taste of Hunter shiraz as similar to licking an old boot. But frankly, if the boot fits...
Of course, it's personal preference as to which style pumps your nads - however, 9 times out of 10 I'd opt for a big, bold, gutsy, leathery, essence-of-cow-shed drop of Hunter shiraz as opposed to a more restrained and elegant cool-climate example. Maybe that's a reflection of my personality, but hey, let's not psycho-analyse it, right?
There is an almost overwhelming number of cellar doors in the Hunter Valley and you won't manage to visit them all, even setting aside a week. If time is of the essence, I would suggest your first port of call be the Boutique Wine Centre on Broke Road, Pokolbin. www.boutiquewinecentre.com.au
These guys sell wine for a range of Hunter wineries not big enough to have their own cellar door, including Meerea Park, Chateau Pato and Glenguin. There are generally 2-3 reds and whites available to taste from each producer - the beauty of this being that you can compare one variety (eg semillon) from different regions within the Hunter.
The range of wines you can sample at the Boutique Wine Centre is extensive both in variety and price point, and in my 10 year experience of going there, I have always found exceptional value for money.
Their 'big guns' are the Meerea Park 'Hell Hole' Shiraz and the Meerea Park 'Terracotta' Shiraz (both $55). The 2007 release of Hell Hole was rated 95/100 by Gary Walsh, and the Terracotta 94/100 from no other than the great James Halliday!
However, if its Semillon you're into, there are 3 options available (rated between 93 and 94 from James) priced between $20 and $25/bottle.
If you have the good fortune to encounter Brett at cellar door, you will be in for a treat. This man really knows his stuff, and is uber enthusiatic about what he's pouring. I defy you to be out of the place within an hour and/or taste less than half a dozen different drops! If you do meet Brett, let him know I sent you there, bat your lashes a lot and you may even get a nice discount on any purchases.
Once you have finished up here, and still have any room in your boot (and money in your bank account!), I would recommend checking out De Iuliis Wines further up Broke Road for some moreish chardonnays and also some kick-arse shiraz. The cellar door is picturesque, the welcome warm and the selection of drops of very high quality.
Tintilla Estate on Hermitage Road was the last place we visited (www.tintilla.com.au). Their cellar door is absolutely gorgeous, situated in a old barn in the middle of beautifully landscaped grounds and grapevines. The wine range was extensive - with some interesting varities on tasting including three different red blends where the Italian grape sangiovese was the star. It would be worth making the trip for the tasting glasses alone - huge Riedel goblets, which, for a stemware-obessive like me, took this particular tasting experience to a whole other level. Swoon.
OK, so that's a very quick trip of the Hunter Valley through my eyes. However, there are many many many more places to explore and discover, and in fact, I've made a new rule to go to at least two new cellar doors each time I visit. Although at this rate, that's really only 10 a decade. (Just a wee dig there to Mrs Plonker that we should get up there more!)
So, for those of you inspired to make a trip north soon - go forth and procure!
Yours in Plonk
The Plonker
x
However, with the recent four-day holiday in celebration of all things egg and rabbit, the opportunity had arrived for a mosey up the freeway to check out NSW's most famous wine region.
No matter how many times I make the journey north from Sydney, I never fail to be amazed at how close the Hunter actually is. In just over two hours you've left behind the city's manic drivers, grid-locked traffic, and smelly city fumes for meandering country roads, lush fields of grapevines and a seemingly endless array of cellar doors.
Goodbye stress, pollution and frustration, and HELLO tasting glass(es)!
One of the great things about the Hunter Valley wine region is the array of varieties it produces. There is no disputing the fact that the Hunter is synonymous with Semillon (try saying that after a few!) and considered Australia's best producer of this variety. However, Hunter shiraz is also highly prized, with distinct regional characteristics.
With the Hunter classified as a hot climate region, the shiraz originating from here is in stark contrast to those from cool climates such as the Yarra Valley and Canberra.
Hunter examples can be complex and opulent with earthy, leathery aromas and concentrated savoury flavours, i.e. a lot of these guys are BIG and in-your-face; certainly not your shy and retiring types! Some wine wags have even gone so far as to describe the taste of Hunter shiraz as similar to licking an old boot. But frankly, if the boot fits...
Of course, it's personal preference as to which style pumps your nads - however, 9 times out of 10 I'd opt for a big, bold, gutsy, leathery, essence-of-cow-shed drop of Hunter shiraz as opposed to a more restrained and elegant cool-climate example. Maybe that's a reflection of my personality, but hey, let's not psycho-analyse it, right?
There is an almost overwhelming number of cellar doors in the Hunter Valley and you won't manage to visit them all, even setting aside a week. If time is of the essence, I would suggest your first port of call be the Boutique Wine Centre on Broke Road, Pokolbin. www.boutiquewinecentre.com.au
These guys sell wine for a range of Hunter wineries not big enough to have their own cellar door, including Meerea Park, Chateau Pato and Glenguin. There are generally 2-3 reds and whites available to taste from each producer - the beauty of this being that you can compare one variety (eg semillon) from different regions within the Hunter.
The range of wines you can sample at the Boutique Wine Centre is extensive both in variety and price point, and in my 10 year experience of going there, I have always found exceptional value for money.
Their 'big guns' are the Meerea Park 'Hell Hole' Shiraz and the Meerea Park 'Terracotta' Shiraz (both $55). The 2007 release of Hell Hole was rated 95/100 by Gary Walsh, and the Terracotta 94/100 from no other than the great James Halliday!
However, if its Semillon you're into, there are 3 options available (rated between 93 and 94 from James) priced between $20 and $25/bottle.
If you have the good fortune to encounter Brett at cellar door, you will be in for a treat. This man really knows his stuff, and is uber enthusiatic about what he's pouring. I defy you to be out of the place within an hour and/or taste less than half a dozen different drops! If you do meet Brett, let him know I sent you there, bat your lashes a lot and you may even get a nice discount on any purchases.
Once you have finished up here, and still have any room in your boot (and money in your bank account!), I would recommend checking out De Iuliis Wines further up Broke Road for some moreish chardonnays and also some kick-arse shiraz. The cellar door is picturesque, the welcome warm and the selection of drops of very high quality.
Tintilla Estate on Hermitage Road was the last place we visited (www.tintilla.com.au). Their cellar door is absolutely gorgeous, situated in a old barn in the middle of beautifully landscaped grounds and grapevines. The wine range was extensive - with some interesting varities on tasting including three different red blends where the Italian grape sangiovese was the star. It would be worth making the trip for the tasting glasses alone - huge Riedel goblets, which, for a stemware-obessive like me, took this particular tasting experience to a whole other level. Swoon.
OK, so that's a very quick trip of the Hunter Valley through my eyes. However, there are many many many more places to explore and discover, and in fact, I've made a new rule to go to at least two new cellar doors each time I visit. Although at this rate, that's really only 10 a decade. (Just a wee dig there to Mrs Plonker that we should get up there more!)
So, for those of you inspired to make a trip north soon - go forth and procure!
Yours in Plonk
The Plonker
x
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