30 November 2009
Even if we hadn't (allegedly) brought the heat-wave with us when we returned from the Ry Cooder concert in Brisbane the end of November was always going to be time to make a few plans about what we're looking at for summer drinking over the 2009-2010 holiday period.
There are a couple of givens in that regard, so it's a matter of how much of each? rather than which ones? After all, there's no way I won't be looking to Rockford Alicante Bouchet and Pfeiffer Gamay as part of a predictable Rose and Riesling theme. Things were complicated slightly when the bar fridge decided to kick the bucket just before we headed off to Ryland, and while we were able to transfer the contents to the main fridge in the interim, that was never going to be a long-term option.
We made our way back home on Thursday night, headed off to Coyotes to solve the no food in the fridge issue, and were out round the electrical retailers on Friday morning. Once we had the replacement unit in situ the need to restock the larder deferred summer drinking considerations, so it wasn't till Monday morning that I sat down to address the issue.
The PO Box was crammed when we checked it on Thursday night, and there was also a need to consider the contents of various wine-related mailings before the order went in.
I'd already received the Spring 2009 order form from Jim Barry Wines before we left, and a free freight offer expiring on 30 November meant two cartons from Jim were always likely to be an ingredient in the mix.
A carton of whites and one of reds was a predictable formula. I figured that four 2009 Watervale Riesling ($15), along with three of the 2008 Lodge Hill Riesling ($18) and the 2008 Silly Mid On Sauvignon Blanc Semillon ($18) and two bottles of older The Florita Riesling (2007 $40 and 2005 $45) looked about right on the white front.
Summer isn't the ideal time for non-refrigerated reds, but I figured four bottles of the 2005 Three Little Pigs Shiraz Malbec Cabernet ($18), three of the 2007 The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon ($18) and the 2007 Lodge Hill Shiraz ($18) along with singles of the 2005 The First Eleven Cabernet Sauvignon ($55) and 2005 The McRae Wood Shiraz (four gold medals) ($50) seemed about right.
The top range wines will be having a rendezvous with the wine fridge, but I figured the rest would more than likely be making their way through the bar fridge or joining us if we retreat to Southport later in the summer.
The October 2009 Pfeiffers C2 Club Dozen didn't include the 2009 Gamay (RRP $17, C2 $15.30) but I'm willing to take it on trust, given our enjoyment of earlier vintages.
Given the weather conditions prevailing on our return, I decided that alternate days cooking and reheating the leftovers seemed like a reasonable strategy, so I'm anticipating summer dining that's heavy on the curry and chilli. We're pretty right on the Riesling front, what with the Jim Barry order and a recent purchase of the 2008 Paulett Polish Hill, so I'm inclined towards the Pfeiffer 2009 The Carson Gewurztraminer (RRP $16.50 C2 $15.30) as an alternative, and after sampling the 2009 Ensemble Rose I'm inclined to throw that into the mix as well.
Previous exposure to the Carlyle Chardonnay Marsanne (RRP $16.50 C2 $14.85) suggests another non-Riesling alternative, so I'm inclined towards three of each, though sampling the Seriously Pink (500 mL RRP $19.50 C2 $17.55) might induce a slight revision. There's a bottle sitting in the door of the bar fridge and the shelf it's on is just the right size for a further supply.
The Pfeiffer Wine Club gives you free freight year round, so there isn't the same urgency that applies with Jim Barry.
After an anxious wait the latest issue of The Rockford Rag was sitting in the PO Box when we got home, and that means an order for the 2009 Alicante Bouchet ($17) will be going in ASAP. The only question is what's going to accompany it.
I'm leaning towards the 2009 White Frontignac ($15.50), a nice option when you're looking at the spicy end of the tucker spectrum and the 2008 Frugal Farmer ($19.50), an interesting red blend.
We're also due for a Brook Eden Tasting Pack around now, and it'll probably include the most recent Riesling, Pinot Rose and Waters Edge Pinot Noir, so we'll have to adopt a wait and see approach before we look at reorders. In any case, it looks like we'll have enough to be going on with.
And that's without heading towards Brown Brothers for some of the Tarrango and Cienna. Tomato-based pasta dishes go well with the Barbera as well....
Hmm, decisions, decisions....