23 April 2009
From time to time you get too much of a good thing.
It happened in the wake of 'Er Indoors' departure for a five week jaunt in her homeland, and the initial stages of the surfeit were more or less unrelated to the departure. Bowen in mid-March is still warm, and I was disinclined to restock the wine rack and clear off for a week with the house closed up. I'd run the stocks down pretty well, anticipating that I'd restock after I came back from seeing Madam off.
Since we're talking everyday drinking wines here, the first move was to phone The Wine Society to order something along those lines.
The then-current monthly newsletter had good prices on Richland 2008 Pinot Grigio ($8.99) Tahbilk 2007 Marsanne and D'Arenberg 2007 The Stump Jump GSM (both $9.99). Dozen of each please.
I was inclined towards investing in the Brown Brothers Easter Latest Release Pack and I could blame Foxy for tipping me over the edge when he expressed an interest in one, but I was almost certain to pick up a couple anyway.
When I'd phoned Rockford to stock up on the Alicante Bouchet I'd been advised to call back at the end of March if I was interested in the Basket Press Shiraz, so I did. Not that I was holding my breath, but when I learnt that they could let me have three bottles the need to fill out the rest of a dozen meant that things in the wine rack were getting crowded.
And an earlier than anticipated Pfeiffers C2 Club dozen and a not entirely unexpected TWS Value Dozen meant that when the latter arrived, we were at the assorted cartons on the floor 'cause there's no room in the rack stage.
Which means that where under different circumstances there are a couple of wines below that'd warrant very close consideration, there's probably not going to be much action on the reorder front.
And a note on the prices mentioned. RRP is according to the Best Value Selection flyer. TWS is The Wine Society "list price" and Reorder is TWS minus 10%, effective till the end of the quarter or until stocks run out.
With a pale lemon colour, a pleasant citrus nose and tropical fruit with a lingering finish Chatto 2008 Hunter Valley Semillon is perfectly acceptable, but, as stated, the wine rack's full. Despite the RRP $22 TWS $12.99 and a reorder price of $11.04, I don't think I'll be reordering. Still, there's another bottle left to change my mind.
The back label of the Angove 2008 Artist Series Sauvignon Blanc refers to a zingy easy drinking style which is pretty much on the money. From the first sniff it's definitely sauvignon blanc, and a taste brings forth the regulation fruity/citrus characteristics. A wine that does not disappoint but, at the same time, doesn't stand up and demand to be bought by the dozen. RRP/TWS $12.99 Reorder $11.04.
Right in the style I like though, of course, your mileage may vary, the Zilzie 2008 Selection 23 Chardonnay looks good in the glass, comes in well on the nose and the fruit flavours with a touch of oak give a long finish that's remarkably good value at the price. RRP $11.49 TWS normal price $8.99. At a reorder price $7.64. I just might, though lack of space in the rack creates a problem, particularly given the likelihood that stocks may not last.....
On the red side of things the deep red Firebox 2006 Victoria Shiraz has plenty of spicy fruit on the nose and the palate and is a pleasant drink now style that isn't likely to tempt a reorder under the current circumstances. RRP $12.99, TWS $11.99 Reorder $10.19
I could be very tempted by the Society 2007 Blackwood Valley Cabernet (RRP TWS $12.99 Reorder $11.04), fruit driven, with berry flavours on the nose and a rich and rounded mouth feel but under the circumstances...
Similarly, the Reorder price of $9.34 (RRP $11.99 TWS $10.99) for a soft, medium bodied wine like Lindemans 2008 Premier Selection Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon could, under other circumstances, have some appeal. Plum coloured, spice and fruit on the nose and soft tannins in the glass it's a perfectly acceptable wine. It's just that the rack doesn't have space at the moment to accept any.