It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…
Sure, it’s 3 weeks away, but this year’s junk delivery windows means it’s time to work out what you’re going to drink for Christmas/New Year right now.
Or is it just me who starts planning this far out?
There’s a dark spot on my Christmas drinks planning this year because I can’t get any 2021 disgorged Primo Joseph Sparkling Red. None. Zero. I’ve hassled the distributor and hunted at retail but it’s sold out from the cellar door out. As you can read here and here it’s one of my Christmas traditions and will feel like a miss.
Beyond that, it’s a smorgasbord of Things That I Need To Open from the cellar, coupled with Things I Bought This Year…
In the previous camp, I need to check on my Raymond Lafon Sauternes 2009 (still plenty in the cellar and it looked a bit chubby and simple last year), my annual bottle of Vietti Barolo 2010 (still achingly youthful in 2020), crack an unopened box of Woodlands Colin Cabernet 2005.
There is an array of bubbles too, including a magnum of Bollinger that came with a thank you note for judging the Wine List of The Year awards last year (this year’s bottle turned up last week too. I need more parties to go to, clearly). Also, there is some Roger Coulon 2012 and a bottle of Krug that always winks at me from the wine fridge.
Among the recently bought goodies there is some Domaine Collier Blanc 2017, Weinbach 2019s and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2017 for a start, plus I’ve just picked up some 2015 Rieussec and some more Morris Old Premium Muscat.
As for beer, it will likely be some Mountain Culture specials, probably a case of BentSpoke Sprocket. I’ve just bought another lot of Bracket Brewing WCIPA too after I liked an earlier release so much a few months back.
So what about you? Have you worked out what you’re going to drink this Christmas? Or am I just jumping the gun and getting too excited?
(oh and the featured image? I will have a mince pie this year, just for old time sake).
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17 Comments
Hi Andrew,
So if the Primo is out of reach do you have a second tier sparkling red that may interest you?
Have you ever tried the Ashton Hills sparkling Shiraz?
Merry Xmas
Colin
The Ashton is good, but it’s not a patch on the primo. Primo… then daylight. I’ll probably just have to look harder!
Nice mix, there.
Well, we finally got around to visiting Attwood’s, twice, and now have quite a few of their wines from across the entire range. Lovely, interesting stuff. And Troy says hi.
Over the Christmas period, Attwood’s drinking will be happening. In those warmer months, especially his Vin de Folie range and pet nat.
Some gin, let’s be honest. Some beer and cider. We’re working our way through the Daylesford/Hepburn offerings, being locals now, and there’s a few! Melbourne Gin Company is still a firm fave in our house, though. It’ll take some toppling / tippling.
So yeah, a hyper local Christmas of drinking for us. It feels like we’re doing it for the community – drinking for town and country.
And, given the challenges of travel lately, my wife continues to spend her frequent flyer points on champagne. A trio of bottles turns up by courier every so often. I can think of worse things.
In that neck of the woods, why wouldn’t you sho very local? If you expand it to a Victorian Christmas you can live like kings (as that means a little fortified action too).
The seppelt show reserve comes a close second to the Primo. They have just put out some more 08 to the market. $90 isn’t too bad, crown seal too.
The 08 Seppelt Show Reserve I found a little too closed. The next day (the teaspoon in the open bottle actually works !!) removed from the fridge and poured and more complexity was evident but perhaps 1/2 shade lacking. It’s the first SSR I’ve tried so I’m not overly familiar with this style. It almost feels like it’s built for an inheritance to my kids?
I like Seppelt Show sparkling, but I like the generosity and width of the Primo much much more…
With a large family gathering planned for lunch, with most who are casual drinkers, Wickhams Road 2020 Yarra Pinot Noir should do the trick. The table will also have opened bottles of Pierro Chardonnay & Katnook Estate Merlot for the wine lovers.
Makes some sense AG following my initial tasting !!
trying my last 2 bottles of Chatto Isle 2019 besides Felton Road Bloc 3 & 5 2019 ….
Interesting comments here. We’re still sussing options for the family.
Did a three wine comparison tonight for Christmas day options
* 2021 Kilikanoon Killerman’s Run Riesling ($17),
* 2020 Voyager Estate Chenin Blanc ($17),
* 2020 Aldi Margaret River Chardonnay ($18).
Voyager won the popular vote, so refreshing and flavoursome at that price point. The Aldi option was pretty decent imo I’ve had far far worse value options out of Margaret river.
As for reds I think it will be … tougher. I suspect it’ll be a mix of Rouleur Pinot ($26) and Wente Zinfandel ($18 I think) on the day. Might see if a bit of beaujolais passes muster too (more research required haha)
Rouleur, always a bargain. And the Aldi whites are nothing to sneeze at either.
My first taste of the Aldi drops tbh and pretty pleased. Has a bit of new(?) oak which the family found obtrusive but I can see that getting integrated more over time and tasted better as it warmed up in the glass more, the oak dimension faded. Well worth a try at that price. This was the 2020 Blackstone Limited Release Chardonnay for anyone interested.
I feel guilty getting a Joseph this year ahead of you, having discovered the wine based on your recommendation a few years ago.
Looks like there might be stock here? https://coledalefinewines.com/product/joseph-spk-red-btl/. Hope you can find a bottle!
John Dickson – how’s the ’19 Isle? I haven’t touched any yet…
I’ll be sucking NV Charles Heidsieck and NV Devaux D (rose) followed by 2012 Clearview Reserve Chardonnay, 2008 Les Amis Grenache, 2010 Clarendon Liandra shiraz and Les Bernardins Beaume de Venise to finish.
Andrew, your Primo dilemma got me thinking and maybe, just maybe, I’ll open a 1998 Lehmann ‘Black Queen’ Sparkling Shiraz instead of the 1990 Pol Roger Brut that I had in mind. Of course it all depends on the food served. Then again maybe the Shriaz for Christmas and the Champagne for New Years. As for the rest it will be based on food and a cellar search.