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Given how much I enjoyed the match with the chicken, I could easily go a half-dozen (at least). The problem is how to reorder. Logging in to the Members Only section of the website eventually revealed the secret. The Autumn 2010 Wine Club Tasting Pack Notes proclaim it to be a SPECIAL MEMBERS ONLY RELEASE. Presumably that means that it's an opportunity to sample the wine before it gets a release for the general public/ unwashed masses/ whatever.

But when (if?) it DOES go on sale, you'll need to be quick. Hughesy'll be down for (at least) a half dozen...

Coolish winter nights might be more suited to big reds, but when circumstances combined to produce a chicken dish with a vegetable accompaniment (actually, it was a case of I need to use this, and this side dish looks the way to go, so what does it accompany?) saw me looking for a dry white, and a bottle of 2008 Marsanne (RRP $17 Wine Club $15.30) happened to be sitting in the door of the wine fridge.

As noted repeatedly elsewhere Tahbilk sets the benchmark when it comes to Marsanne in Australia, but having said that I'd happily go back for another go at the Pfeiffer 2008. Pale straw yellow in the glass, hints of honeysuckle on the nose and fresh on the palate with a dry finish, it was a tasty drop that could well be interesting with a few years' bottle age.

When it comes to that bottle age factor working in that $15-$20 range, I'd probably be heading towards some of the Tahbilk web specials ('07 $13.45, '06 $14.35, '02 Museum Release $17.95), which would deliver that bit of maturity at around the same price point.

That's not to put the kibosh on the 2008 Pfeiffer, however. If there's a reorder from this tasting pack, (as in when that Chardonnay is available) the Marsanne will definitely be in the mix. Otherwise it'll all depend on the rest of the box.

And the rest of a reorder box could well include a couple of bottles of the 2008 Carlyle Cabernet Merlot (RRP $18.50 Wine Club $16.65) which went rather well with that favourite sugo alla bolognese. Definite notes of mint on the nose, along with enough other elements to keep the I'm getting a bit of mob quite happy. I didn't hang about sniffing too long, however, since the first sip revealed a rather elegant wine with plenty of berry fruit flavours, well integrated oak and a long finish. Nice.

2008 Carlyle Shiraz is another one to add to the reorder list. Deep, opaque red in the glass, pepper and spice aromas that leap out of the glass alongside ripe berry fruit and a rounded mouthfeel. Very enjoyable, and if I was forced to choose between it and the Cab Merlot it'd be a case of tossing a coin.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon’s another of those wines that don’t reach out and demand attention. Nicely rounded, plenty of cabernet character and quite reasonable drinking, but there’s nothing there that made me stop and enthuse. You could do far worse than this. It ticks all the boxes, works very nicely in the glass and will go well with a bit more bottle age. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the same Wow factor I’ve noted in a couple of recent samplings..

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