It’s that time again. Time to fill me in on what you’re currently drinking, what you want to drink, or what you have drunk in the last 4 weeks. And not just wine either – beer, particularly, but spirits, cider, RTDs. Tell me all of it.
This month, I’ve sent more wines off to auction, with the intention that I’d fill my suitcase in Portugal. Sadly, said suitcase never made it to Portugal properly, so I ended up just idling through hypermarkets for interest. Sigh.
What did arrive this month was my case of ’17 Raymond Lafon Sauternes, which I bought ages ago. Yum. Now I just need an excuse to open one.
Meanwhile, in the beer department I’ve emptied a few cans of the new Mountain Culture Electric Dreams WCIPA and now want cases of it. Pallets! Such a joy to dive into a proper beer with flavour again after a steady diet of throughly industrial Super Bock during my Portuguese foray…
During my idle moments this week I’ve also pondered whether I should be getting on the Wendouree list, as opposed to simply drinking other people’s bottles. If I’m pondering mailers, I’d also consider Bindi, because I love drinking those wines without exception.
What about you? What have you been buying, drinking and toying with purchasing?
You might also like
9 Comments
Bought – Torzi ’22 Frost Dodger (betterFew pinots too – Eastern peake, Chatto Intrigue (was exceptional at Pinot Palooza) and Moondarra (wild wild wines) to share with family
Drinking –
– Nomad’s Garden saperavi (great little project by Eldorado Road stocked at summerhill, good value imo, those tannins are teeth-staining as hell though!);
– Terre a Terre Crayeres Sauvignon Blanc ’15 – delightful drop. Feel like you could age it for longer still, and such stark contrast to your typical Kiwi fare it’s not funny
– San Lorenzo Verdicchio ’20 – 12 months on lees and delicious; Marche region definitely great value, Ciu Ciu do some great wines from there too (particularly a Monte/Sangio blend)
Interesting to hear your thoughts on your own potential purchases. For me Bindi seems to be getting more and more in that exxy range of Australian wines I find tough to buy much (if any of).
Fair play to their success but just seems to get tougher over time to justify.
I like Bindi. Sure, the prices are now up there, but it’s a blue chip experience – a bottle of Quartz is always great, few exceptions. I can’t afford the wines on a writer’s wage, but I’d buy them if I could.
Winter shipping conditions always seem to bring the credit card out…
2021 Ravensworth Velo (Rose), Sangiovese and Riesling
2020 Piona Gavi di Gavi
2021 Dappled Appellation Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
2019 Passopisciaro Rosso
2019 Querciabella Chianti Classico
2020 Canonica Langhe Nebbiolo
2019 Olek Bondonio Roncagliette
Always like Olek’s wines. Not ridiculously expensive either
Hey Andrew, fair comments on Bindi. I guess I’m just being a bit trepidatious given entry-level drops are getting $70+ but I take your point. When you find wines at a certain level they are definitely worth it and even a comparative bargain sometimes.
I don’t begrudge it happening with the boutique guys I guess it just means you have to hunt for them before they make it big so to speak haha.
Enjoying the Sonnen (Tas) 2021 releases
Andrew, Have been loving Raymond Lafon Sauternes since I was introduced to them whilst tasting in Sauterne in 2010. My fave was the 2009. Other good stuff I’ve been lucky enough to drink recently:
2016 Sailor Seeks Horse PN
2016 Chatto White PN
2016 Serrat PN & many more PNs
2018 Serrat Shiraz V.
2010 Woodlands Margaret CS
2015+ Yalumba Signature
2020 SC Pannell Montepulciano
2016 Castagna La Chiave
2021 Tyrrells Stevens Semillon = just stunning with seafood.
Counting my blessings!
Being UK don’t see the range you do of Aussie wines, but some recent lovely wines:
– A bit of an oddity but really lovely is Topper’s Mountain Wild Ferment Tempranillo 2013. Wears its age well with lovely tertiary character, first bottle blind was almost aged Otago Pinot Noir.
– Rather more pricey for special occasions Domaine Naturaliste Artus Chardonnay 2019 and UTOPOS Cabernet (2017, 18 and 19).
Europe wise I would recommend Perrin Vinsorbres 2018 at £10 as a great ‘house wine’ and love the Muga Selección Especial Reserva 2015 (the 2016 is much inferior).
I enjoyed your piece on what its like to judge at an international sparking wine event, your point “or fights breaking out among judges about what is ‘good brett’” rings some bells and made me smile.