A public holiday is reason enough.
14 March 2016
After a morning drive through Mt Macedon Shell decided we should try the wild boar we picked up at Prahan Markets the weekend before.
It should be noted that before the cooking began we stopped for tea and coffee at a location Shell won’t allow me to publish.
Amongst its eclectic little cellar were three bottles of 2002 Henschke Cyril Bordeaux blend. A quick look to the current auction markets showed these selling for between $120-160. Shell grabbed all three for $80 each.
She seems determined to sell them for profit. I am quietly confident I can convince her to drink them.
The “mystery location” is a treasure trove of wine bargains.
Back to the boar ragu…
After much preparation and several long hours of braising the wild boar ragu was ready.
A quick taste test revealed no amount of salt could hide the tremendously hideous flavour of wild boar.
It is now obvious why male pigs are either slaughtered prepubescent or as barrows. The flavour of boar is strong and certainly an acquired taste. Add to the mix that wild pig of any type is even more distinctive and you have one of the most unpleasant flavours I can recall.
A lot of hard work down the drain.
Shell sensing my disappointment suggested we open a bottle of wine and start again with the more predictable beef as the protein.
It is worth mentioning that Shell has taken over the cellar. Not the day to day adding and removing of bottles but the selecting of wines. Those to be drank and when. Those to be sold and when. She has even changed the name of the cellar to her name.
After much reading and indecision she went with an Australian Pinot. A change from the usual Burgundy. I had fears she would tip it down the sink if the wine bore any resemblance to the new world Pinot’s she seems to distaste so much these days.
2012 Stonier Merron’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
Light in colour.
Strawberries, green herbs, sweet spices and a hint of oak that is not overt.
After some time in the glass it opened up showing darker fruits and more vanilla oak. The wine carried it well.
On the palate more dark fruits. A balanced mouthfeel with integrated gripping tannins.
A solid new world pinot with medium term cellaring potential.
Dink now to 2022.
We finished the bottle. A small victory for Australian Pinot. Small steps….