Packages

Good things come in small parcels. They also come in big parcels. As we saw today at a farewell function for The Little Aussie Battler. It was a rather fun and very nice affair as we toasted her as she was about to embark on a new stage in her life. The Drama Queen and Not Budgie were there along with all her good friends. She's a little package, but big in heart.

The Little Aussie Battler had never sabraged a bottle of bubbly before, and it's a process that works well on magnum bottles. Off came the top of a Deutz Marlborough Cuvee - in magnum. The wine was delicious. Soft bubbles, some intensified autolysis characters and a damn good sparkler to start the proceedings.

Then after another bottle of Cava, came a 2005 Ata Rangi 'Craighall' Chardonnay. Fully mature, rich and dense and packed full of sumptuous meal flavours on a lovely textured palate. Air time saw it get better and better. It was only a little 750 ml bottle. It should have been in 1.5 Litre packaging.

The piece de resistance was a magnum of 2003 Quartz Reef 'Bendigo' Pinot Noir. Rudi makes these wines to last, because that's what the grapes tell him to do. The wine is normally tight and unyielding. But this was perfect. Still fresh, it had primary and secondary notes. Red and dark berries, Some herbs and forest floor. Beautiful lusciousness from the acidity. SWMBO led the charge and pronounced it outstanding. We all concurred. The Little Aussie Battler has a special connection with Rudi, so it was most appropriate to open this wee beastie with her!

A lovely big package for a lovely little package.