What a day.. honestly. Possibly my most irritating in my two years at my current employer. First, I was torched by a supplier. A small supplier who shall remain nameless. One whom I have wholeheartedly endorsed, and done absolutely everything within my power – and then some to support – purely because I liked the way he went about things, absolutely fucked me – without warning or consent, and didn’t even tell me after he fucked me. Displeased to say the very least. So much so, it was removed from my “I like” section, off to your right.
Secondly, A customer who I enjoy dealing with, whom can be time consuming but is almost always rewarding, decided today – about 8 weeks after the initial quote, which happened to say (STOCKS VERY LIMITED) rang up to place an order for about $11k worth of wine, but was disappointed when informed that about $7k of that wine he wanted was unavailable. Pissed off to the max.
Two things I care about – both fucked, one because of sheer stupidity – and short sightedness, the other, most likely because he went off checking prices with the competition. Which when you’re spending that sort of coin I can understand. The first fucking, I cannot.
It was with considerable grumblyness that I opened my 2006 Yalumba Coonawarra Estate Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon. Not just my been fucked twice, but the ominous feeling of knowing I was about to type that name again. A local joke, that’s impossible for a broad audience to understand, stamped onto a label by a bored marketing department, perhaps set to disgruntle winelist typists and retaliers alike. Thankfully, the booze is anything but stupid.
This stuff is produced from younger vines planted on the same patch of dirt where Yalumba pull the glorious grapes that make Menzies Cabernet from. That’s exactly how the wine is spruiked too, quiet little inconspicuous ‘baby’ Menzies. Pull the other one Yalumba! Price, packaging and plonk speaks louder than marketing departments, and with an RRP of $30, for Coonawarra Cabernet can mean only one thing. Yalumba are chasing Wynn’s Black Label, which in my book, is good news.. With any luck, the critics will heap praise on the wine, and Yalumba will resist the temptation to sell the wine to the deceptive and kniving lowest liquor prices guaranteed dickheads, that are incapable of selling anything without slaughtering it’s value. Sub $20 Wynn’s Black Label for example.
2006 Yalumba Coonawarra Estate Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Yalumba Coonawarra Estate ‘Cigar’ Cabernet Sauvignon
Pours a super deep purple, with bright purple with a reddish purple hue. At first, the nose squirts out enormous amounts of mint, and blackcurrant liqueur. Time in the glass and some serious agitation sees classic Coonawarra characteristics build. Cassis, blueberry, spearmint and violets, spice spice and more spice, before a slightly cedary, herby, earthy poof of an end note. The palate, much like the latest Menzies, initially delivers an explosion of sweet, ripe fruit, before the wine warms and takes on a more oak driven, savoury tone. Blackcurrant persists, but is overwhelmed by the spice, only to come back with avengence in the third quarter. To better explain it, i’ll use a Soccer score timeline thingy. Team fruit on the left (star performers: cassis, violets, blueberry) Team tannin (star performers: oak and spice) on the right.
10m 1-0 20m 2-0 25m 2-1 30m 2-2 40m 2-3 70m 3-3 90m 4-3
As you can see, the game is close, but for decent periods is dominated by one side. Time will close these gaps I hope. The finish, which is super minty, dry blackcurrant flavours and micro fine, powdery tannins – In some ways reminds me of a fat guy running in a marathon. Just goes on forever and ever and ever. With any luck in 24-36 months, It’ll be a harmonious, vinous bundle of joy, that Menzies would be proud of. Considering the $25 paid for it, it’s a real table lifter. Not to be consumed infront of children, or potential inlaws. 14.5% Alc./Vol. 2.5, 5.5, 8.5. 16.5/20+.
Oh, the prawns were awesome too. Thanks! <3
Ps.. I’d have loved to have used more in the title, but didn’t have bloody room, thanks, less than subtle marketing department!
