Thursday, 7 October 2010
Best Value Selection April 2010
Thanks to the wonders of on-line bank statements I had a pretty fair idea, as we set out to stock up for the approaching weekend, that we'd be filling in some space in the wine rack as well, and as I lugged the case across to the car I was struck by the fact that it might well be the last time I collect a Wine Society Regular Tasting Dozen from the Post Office.
As noted elsewhere, I'm having trouble keeping up with the things I'd like to buy from wineries we've visited. Eventually, something's going to have to give, and when it does it's probably going to have to be The Wine Society dozens.
The Wine Society sets a financial threshold that delivers shipments to the door freight free for the next twelve months, so whether I decide to continue will depend on my ability to find enough excuses over the next three months to get the total over the threshold, which, in turn, means that if it's going to happen it'll be down to the contents of this box and whatever's in the next two monthly magazines....
There wasn't anything in the April edition that was leaping off the page screaming "Buy me!"
I started with the Woolshed 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (TWS $10.99 Reorder $9.34) from Red Cliffs in north-western Victoria, though when I went to investigate on line it seemed that the winery was based in Mudgee. Regardless of where they're based, they’ve come up with a rather interesting little parcel of warm climate Sauvignon Blanc. Maybe not quite up with the fondly-remembered Oxford Landing a few years back but an impressive number nonetheless.
I went looking for the website because of a vaguely-remembered reference to a hybrid yeast being used with warm climate Savvy Blanc which apparently had a bit to do with the quality of the product that was being turned out at very attractive price points.
The wine had plenty of the expected herbaceous notes without the cut grass and cats pee characters that are associated with the Kiwi version, which are things I can quite happily do without. A nice, refreshing, light-bodied wine that went down rather nicely. Refreshing and rather tempting. We shall see....
The number of very good Rieslings we've had the opportunity to sample recently means the McWilliams Select Series 2009 Riesling (TWS $9.99 Reorder $8.49) never really stood a chance, very nice though it is. A nice pale yellow, exactly as you'd want a Riesling to be, ticks the boxes on the nose and across the palate, it's exactly as the brochure with the dozen states a great food wine at an affordable price and eighteen months ago I'd probably have been lining up and champing at the bit. But with over three dozen varietal Rieslings from Jim Barry, Holm Oak, Brook Eden, Thorn-Clarke and Grosset on hand, do I really need a dozen of these as well?
Unfortunately, I suspect that I don't.
More...
