Half of the cherry bounty
Slept in til lunchtime, went out to blue hills orchard in Wandin, in search of delicious new season cherries. We ended up with 5 and a bit kilos of the buggers, two shopping bags almost chock-o block. Now, we just need to work out what to do with them. I recommend the experience, not for cheap cherries (entry is $7 and they’re $7 per kg – supermarket is $10-$12atm) or outstanding quality, it’s just kinda relaxing and in a strange way, fun. Not to mention the opportunity to cook with something you picked. That doesn’t happen all that often for me. I would someday like to have a big vegie garden though, perhaps grow some grapes too. But for now, the grapegrowing is best left to professionals. I’ll just worry about selling the stuff.
Which is what I’ve done for a while now. Sold the stuff. I’m approaching my sixth vintage, and beginning to wonder where it’s all going – where to next. I’m getting tired of seeing the same wines year in year out, tired of delivering much the same speel year in year out. I wonder sometimes, what’s wrong with me.. Some of the people I work with have been at it almost all of their professional lives, yet they don’t seem to be terribly bothered. They don’t seem to mind that they’re selling the sixteenth consecutive vintage of a particular wine. Either they aren’t fussed, or they’re better at hiding it than I.
In an effort to counter this (for lack of a better word) fatigue I’ve been facing, I’ve been searching for wines that offer some sort of excitement, but perhaps in a different mould than the norm. Not wines for the masses, but wines for someone who feels like they need a change. I found one on a recent trip to the Mornington Peninsula, Principia’s delightful ‘07 Pinot Noir. I’m also quite the fan of their 07 chardy – I’m infact drinking one as I type. I didn’t blog about the pinot, because work decided to sell it. After an about face on their colour in pinot policy. Also, the last thing I’d want to do with a glass of wine like that infront of me is sit infront of a keyboard or with a pen and paper and write notes. I’d sooner be equipped with a knife and fork, or lazing about on a couch with a decent stereo playing something nice. It’s a Pinot beyond pontification.
Anyhow, post strawberry pick and in search of food, i got sidetracked. We were in the unfashionable southern side of the Yarra Valley, within minutes of a couple of wineries. Seville Hill was the first sign I saw. I think Seville Hill’s Cabernet was the first wine I tasted as a sample and decided I must have for sale in the shop. This was very early on in my days at Mayerling cellars. I treated it like a baby, gave it a good spot on the shelf and recommended it to everyone who looked at Cabernet. I was mighty chuffed when I sold one, moreso when someone came back for one. These were the days prior to my education under Nick. I’d love to see some of the wines I tried and loved back then, now, just to see what the hell I was on about. Anyone got some ‘02 Chalambar Shiraz? ‘98 Browns of Padthaway Brigstock?.. Stepping Stone Stonehaven Shiraz, Cabernet & Chardonnay..? I think they were early 2000s.. maybe some Cheery Giant Red? Six Foot Six Pinot Noir, Shiraz Viognier?..
I sidetracked again. Seems the day for it. At Seville Hill was the delightful winemaker John D’Aloisio. Humble and informed, yet not pompous, down to earth. A good human deserving of the praise he seems to earn around the trade. Anyhow, I went for booze, not for friends, the news is, I found what I was looking for. Seville Hill’s reds are idiosyncratic and a tad obscure, yet immensely appealing. I scribbled some quick sniff swirl spit notes;
2005 Seville Hill Merlot; translucent crimson; lifted aromatics; berries and forest floor, spice. ripe lively palate, pristinely clean and fresh, though light in body, powerful flavours linger. immaculate balance. a merlot i would drink? wow!
2004 Seville Hill Cabernet Sauvignon; translucent purple crimson; black fruits, spice, earth, cedar on the nose. medium bodied, spotlessly clean, lively and fresh; blackcurrant dominates and persists through booming finish. remarkable length. perfect balance. superb.
2005 Seville Hill Reserve Shiraz; near opaque black crimson; lifted nose; blackcurrant, raspberry, cedar, herbs, white pepper spice, touch of stalk. racy and lively palate, medium bodied, flavours reflect the nose, crisp and crunchy acidity, integrated tannins support. fans out on finish like pinot.
Nice wines. All light, all with a few years in bottle, but all with years to go. Power to weight ratio most exciting. They almost verge on refreshing.
A quick drop into Whispering Hills on the way out, the 08 Riesling and Vine dried cabernet the stars of the lineup.
Food was required, so we made our way back towards civilisation.
Pane di Casa - Principia Chardonnay - Mussels & Prawns in Blue Cheese, Chardy & Cream.
All this time in the valley had me craving a Hoddles Creek Chardonnay, unfortunately, I couldn’t find one. So I gladly settled for the girlfriend’s Principial, and cooked up some mussels and prawns, in white wine, shallot, garlic, blue cheese, and light cream; a delicious 1 pan dish, that requires only some nice, fresh, crusty bread for soaking.
A nice day. If you’re looking for big gun, overblown reds, stay away from Seville Hill. If you’re looking for something different, here’s a clicky.
In 1857 the Prince Albert vineyard became the first Australian vineyard to be planted exclusively to Pinot Noir, and it existed as such until 1882. In 1975 someone discovered this fact, and replanted the vineyard – Oblivious to the fact that good Shiraz and Grenache vineyards exist elsewhere in Australia from a period long before then. One wonders why it took 90 something years to replant. If it was on the money to begin with, why rip the buggers out? Perhaps it was that stupid bug, Phylloxera..? Anyhow, I digress.
