Pim has gone a further turn of the corkscrew with this month's collective wine review event, Wine Blogging Wednesday, with her chosen theme of Wacky-name wines . My choice, a local wine, the 2001 Swagman's Kiss Chardonnay .
The swagman is the chief character of our semi-official national anthem Waltzing Matilda and the wine's maker Clairault Winery is without doubt one the finest wineries to stop at in the Margaret River region of our South West. What we see on the label is clearly informed by the myth of Narcissus and we feel for our vagabound friend as the cooling waters of the billabong touch his parched lips and automatically associate with the cooling glass of Chardonnay over lunch on a hot day.
I always think of itinerant 19th century farmworkers. The coarse rub of an unwashed woolen shirt outdone only by the rough stubble and breath notes of cold mutton fat and 'baccy in a time when dental hygiene was unheard of. A kiss from a man whose last partner is affectionately referred to as Baabara which he may have gotten or given syphilis. The roughened hands sent a rovin' by a warm bottle of ale. I could go on.
Tasting
Tasting gets off to a promising start by it being pre-openedly dubbed "Swagman's Piss" by fellow pool surrounders. Off we go then. Substantial straw colour and then indistinct lemon whiffs on the nose. Leather strap smoothness across the tongue with an acid finish to the muted fruit tones. Filled out and interest created by citric highs with oily flats and a pleasing coolness sorely missed as the glass heats.
There we have it, Chardonnay is lager made with grapes and a slice of lemon in it. Nice enough wine, ill chosen name. Now as for the kiss, well how about it swaggy? Hey well fuck you too.
It's on: Go read the roundup . It's a wheeze. Cheers and thanks Pim.