Originally published on September 7, 2008.
So this weekend was the first official weekend of fall, at least according to the retail calendar. The wine drinkers in the neighborhood appear to back from their summer holidays and drinking wine with a vengeance! And let’s just say, I was a little bit unprepared. As of this moment we are out of, or 1 bottle away from being out of the following:
- Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc –> go-to NZ Sauv Blanc
- Rain Sauvignon Blanc –> a few bottles scrounged out of desperation on Friday to get me through the weekend. People seemed to like it so it may be added to the permanent line-up, at least temporarily)
- Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc –> between vintages. The 2008 will be here soon, thank goodness!
- Stellina Pinot Grigio –> as good as Santa Margherita for less than half the price and it’s downright painful to be out of stock on this wine because people looooooooooooove pinot grigio!
- Chateau Beau Vallon –> damn good St Emillion for $25 bucks
- Roger Perrin Cote du Rhone –> the current winner in the on-going battle for the CdR space on the shelf
- Terrazas Reserva Malbec –> was moving sort of slowly in August, but the last week, it has zoomed off the shelf
- Sebastiani Chardonnay –> good Cali Chardonnay for less than $15. Fills the creamy/buttery slot for Chardonnay
- Nell Chardonnay –> good Aussie Chardonnay for less than $15. It’s from Yarra Valley, where it gets quite cool, so it fills the crisper/cleaner Chardonnay slot
- Domaine de la Noiraie Bourgueil –> had this open on Friday and it was a huge hit…huger than expected – only 2 bottles left!
- Hirsch Riesling –> fantastic biodynamic Austrian producer. Love this wine
- Ruinart Blanc de Blanc –> $66 may not seem like a bargain for a bottle of Champagne, but after all the recent price increases, it is! If I’m spending my own money on big house Champers, this is one of the few I’m buying
- Julien Meyer Pinot Gris –> blew through a case of this in just over 2 weeks, which is amazing given that it’s one of the wines I always forget to recommend. Doesn’t seem to matter – people seem to know it and realize it’s fantastic stuff at a great price
- Ecchverria Sauv Blanc –> people seem to inhale this one
Well, time to stop typing and get down to ordering…