Sun 10 Jul 2005
Lately i’ve been turning into a bit of a wine nerd. Because the price of a six pack at the moment gets you a pretty fine wine. And if you forget it’s there, it gets even better left on the shelf! So being the Melbourne winter, a lot of heavy reds and merlots have been drunk to keep the belly warm on the cold Fitzroy nights. But the other day I decided to pull a bottle out we got from the cellar at Trentham Estates on the Murray River. A 2002 Petit Verdot.
Petit Verdot is an old school French Variety of red that a few Vic and South Australian wineries are starting to put out. Where my girlfriend generally wont drink a full bodied red, like a Grenache or a Shiraz. The Verdot is more silky with the tannins and a little bit more like a desert wine without being sickly sweet, or being as soft and fruity as a merlot. So it still goes well with a meal. It kinda goes well with a lighter roast, game meats, or even substitute your Pinot Noir and have it with cheese and crackers. Who knows it could convert a lot of people who aren’t red drinkers, probably from drinking too many must Cabernet blends.
The Trentham Estates Petit Verdot is available from everyday joints like Dan Murphys for $15-$20. I’ve found a Kingston Estates Verdot the other day for well under $15 but haven’t sampled it. Having tried a few other Petit Verdots, it’s something well worth adding to the Palette and the wine collection.
Anyway, there’s plenty of good alternatives to the staple Merlots and Shiraz out there, and as I discover more I hope to hear what you guys think also.
One thing i’ve also found too is that I just don’t like (wooded) Chardonnays. That oaky taste just doesn’t do it for me. So what’s the alternatives? If you like a nice citrusy, dry white though there’s always the Goundrey’s Unwooded Chardonnay from Margaret River in Perth. About $15 a bottle. Also a repeat purchase is the Tahbilk Marsanne. Marsanne is similar in palette to the unwooded Chardy, but more the old school and a lot more special. Goes great with vego lasange or Chicken. Alegedly, the Nagambie region has some of the oldest Marsanne grape varieties on offer. But because it’s not so popular, it’s a good drop at a highly reasonable price.