I have just spent the best part of the long weekend attempting some home maintenance. I returned from Bunnings ready to embark on a modest programme of DIY, but rather than fill me with an enormous sense of well being I am left feeling disgruntled and somehow inadequate.
I downloaded a YouTube video which showed me how to apply silicon sealant and it all looked straightforward enough. But after I had finished, the bathroom looked as though I had had some sort of fit whilst squeezing a tube of toothpaste. Sealant everywhere and in wiggly lines. Although I smoothed the join using washing up liquid (as instructed) my efforts looked nothing like those demonstrated by the chap in overalls in the video. And that was only the first of many jobs that went wrong today.
I downed tools and retired to the kitchen.
To refresh myself I opened the bottle of 2008 Mount Beautiful Cheviot Hills Riesling that arrived last week. A light, pretty stone fruit nose, white nectarine and just ripe apricot and some florals too. The palate is light textured, with citrussy, mineral acidity balanced by a touch of sweetness. Not too much alcohol, delicately textured with a chalky, lime peel finish. A bit of an inbetweeny wine; not in the "nz riesling masquerading as mosel" style but not dry and powerful either. Still I enjoyed it.
A couple of glasses later, mood restored and dinner on the go, I was ready for something with a bit more stuffing.
I unscrewed the 2009 Reserve Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc without noticing it was the Reserve. An immediate whoosh of passionfruit, red capsicum, fresh nettle. The palate is dry, with a lovely balance between fruit sweetness and zesty acidity.
Mood restored.
I liked the wine a great deal but wondered if it was worth the premium over the regular label. But a look at the latest supermarket mailer has it on offer this week for $11.99 which seems pretty sharp to me. Let's hope the consumer is wise to deals like this, that offer wines of integrity at keen prices. They represent much better value than the plethora of 2008 virtual labelled sauvignons still flooding the shelves.
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