Cellar Notes with Marc

Gday Tigers and Tigettes, what’s going down in funky town?  So I’ve been getting the wind blown up my sails about this newsletter being late (again), but once again like the Royal Mail I’ve delivered.  So let’s whip right into it shall we?  So today marks the end of the Pillitteri road for Ringo who started at Hillebrand, but on the plus side it also signals the start of the latest and possibly greatest cellar rat, Orion.  He is a college kid who loves fast cars and walks on the beach.  Actually to be honest I never actually asked him about those during the interview, which basically had me walking round showing him the winery, only to say “bugger this, I’m tired of interviews, you want the job or not?”.  Needless to say he jumped at the opportunity to join the ranks of the Pillitteri crew.  So make sure you swing by like Tarzan and come say g’day to our new recruit.  Now we haven’t come up with a nickname for Cellar Rat Orion, so any suggestions are welcome.

What else?  So been getting roped into the whole side of winemaking which sort of makes me want to hide like Gollum in a cave, that is group tastings.  Now sure it sounds like fun, but let’s be honest, even my English teacher in high school had worries about my abilities.  We all know how passionate winemakers are, especially when it comes to wine, and I find that translating that passion into words often involves adjectives which I cant type here due to the Pillitteri Marketing Censorship Board.  Anyway, it all turned out well.  Firstly had the pleasure of hosting the YACA (a bunch of Aussies living in Canada) mob which was brilliant.  Surrounded by my kin with not having to worry about if anyone understands the words coming out of my mouth!  This was followed up by a tasting with Ange Aiello and her iYellow Wine Club which was also sweet.  Even involved some photos and signings!  When did winemakers suddenly achieve celebrity status?  If I’d known sooner I would have insisted upon a red carpet entrance with paparazzi. 

So in the cellar we’ve been busier than Lindsay Lohan during happy hour at the local.  We’ve been bottling to keep you punters happy, including the 08 Gewurztraminer Riesling (again with the Riesling Icewine dosage) and the 08 Cabernet Merlot (an elegant blend carrying ripe berry flavours and a hint of that earthiness which I’m always chomping at the bit for), both of which I’m told by good sources are available at your local bottlo.  Get on board!  And remember when I told you that you better start getting excited like Prince did during 1999, well its time to party cause the 07 Cabernet Franc and 07 Merlot are out of their cages and currently selling like hot cakes at the retail store.  Hang about I hear you cry, where’s that third musketeer?  Funny you should ask!  Well the 07 Cabernet Sauvignon was brought up last week and will be run into bottle sometime during crush, so look out for that one, cause she might just be the cream of the crop.  Full of eucalyptus notes (and if you know anything about Aussies, you will know that we have a thing for eucalyptus!) and ripe cherry notes.  And tasty as all buggery!  Also of excitement is the 06 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (hooley dooley!  I can’t even remember back that far!) which we finally brought up from the depths of the barrel cellar after a sentence served of 33 months!  Yep you heard it, thirty three months!  She’s a beast, she’s a man-eater, she’s like the Lock Ness monster at a Ben Johnson party!  So right now she is simmering in tank, awaiting a time til we can trap her in a bottle for all you crazy cats to experience, and trust me, it will be like a Jimmy Hendrix gig for sure!

Also been getting the cellar ready for (strewth not again!) crush.  Yeah can you believe that it has come round again, much like that record that the eye-patch bloke from Dead or Alive was singing about?  And to top things off, I need tank space, and I need it now!  If anyone has space to store wine, like their kitchen sink, bathtub, or anywhere else, please let me know!

Ok, I reckon I’ve wanked on enough, so its time for me to blaze.  Don’t’ forget Tigers and Tigettes, Grape and Wine Season is upon us which means I have to serve my penance in Monte Park, so swing by for a “howyagoin” if you’re in the area.  This also means it’s once again Grand Final for my beloved sport of Aussie Rules, but it seems this year I will be sitting at the sidelines just drinking as my team got done at the 11th hour to make the finals, oh well, better luck next season they say.  So keep it real my fine feathered friends and slam one down for me. Too easy, marc