💎 A West Coast Gem? 💎
It’s been a few weeks between issues, and even longer between white wines…so it feels bloody good to be back. We went hunting for something fresh, simple, and cheap enough to make your wallet breathe a sigh of relief. The mission: find a decent white from Margaret River without having to sell a kidney.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.
|
Cheap as Chips, but is it Cheerful? 🍟
🍷 Un Bel Jour Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
We grabbed this one purely on price. At only $6, it felt like the kind of bottle that could go either way - a hidden gem or something best left for cooking. But in the spirit of science (and tight budgets), we gave it a crack.
The label nearly had us second-guessing ourselves. It’s giving “European holiday souvenir” energy more than “Margaret River coastal breeze.” It even says South Eastern Australia on the front, which made us stop mid-aisle wondering if we'd picked up a South Australian bottle shelved in the wrong spot. Not a bad label, just a bit…confused. Like a tourist wearing a beret in Busselton.
For a cheap white, it’s actually not half bad. It’s got that clean, crisp zing you expect from a Sauvignon Blanc, with the smoothness from the Semillon. We cracked it on a cooler afternoon, and it didn’t quite hit the high notes, but something tells us it’d do better under the spring sun, out on the deck, with a light breeze and a bowl of chips in reach.
We had a look at what others thought - turns out this one’s a crowd favourite online, pulling in solid ratings from plenty of happy drinkers. Maybe it’s us. Maybe it’s the weather. But for our taste, it was fine, just not fireworks.
Still, for the price, it’s hard to grumble. It’s refreshing, inoffensive, and easy to knock back. It’s the sort of wine you can pour freely when friends drop in, and no one will suspect you spent less than a Macca’s meal deal.
VITR Official Score: 6.5 / 10
👍 Reality vs Perception: Priced like a budget bottle, drinks like a slightly fancier budget bottle.
👩🎨 Label Aesthetics: Confusing. Looks a little too “Euro trip”.
👴 Comparison to Nonno’s Home Brew: He's probably not trying this one to be honest.
🪩 Fit for an Engagement Party: Maybe after speeches, but definitely not the toast.
🤑 Keep the Change: Plenty leftover with this one. Grab a bottle of red to go with it.
Real Talk
📖 Fake It 'Til You Make It
Clean Finish: Translation, "It doesn’t hang around awkwardly like your mate after the party’s over." Use when a wine doesn’t leave a weird aftertaste
|
|
💡 Sip Tip
Keep It Sideways: If you’ve got cork-sealed bottles, store them lying down. Keeps the cork moist and the wine from tasting like an old leather boot.
|
|
🍿 Sip & Snack
Fish & Chips & SSB: Skip the fancy pairing talk. This bottle’s natural habitat is a paper-wrapped parcel of fish and chips by the beach. Bonus points if there’s seagulls judging your life choices.
|
Until Next Issue, Cheers 🍷
An okay drop from the West that punches slightly above its price tag but doesn’t quite land a knockout. Worth a try if you’re hunting for a backyard-friendly white that won’t empty your wallet.
Here’s to the next hidden gem - hopefully one that hits the spot. 🍷
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.
|
