Two Hands Gnarly Dudes

2006
Barossa Valley
Australia

I received another cherished glass hand-blown in Romania - thank you Mom for yet another pair to add to the collection.

It is alas, New Year’s Eve. I’ve never been a big New Year’s partier. I prefer to stay off the roads and just be at home, light a fire, play the last of my favorite Christmas Carols, bake some more Christmas cookies and pies, and reflect on my Christmas Tree. And this year, I’m actually finally doing my Christmas cards (on New Year’s Eve). I do also enjoy making a special dinner and partaking in more expensive wine. Tonight we are having a spoon roast (beef is something we RARELY indulge in) and twice baked potatoes, shrimp and Brie. We will be drinking more of the Chateau Saint-Jean Red Rhone The Bro brought last week with our beef as he highly recommends it be paired with beef and pepper. But, for our before dinner wine, we are tasting Two Hands Gnarly Dudes.

A few days ago I went out to get some Kahlua for a couple of trifles I was making. We have plenty of wine at home and I knew I had no need to purchase anything further for the upcoming holiday. However, a new Barossa arrival caught my eye. It was Two Hands Gnarly Dudes and I had to try it.

It is excellent. The Guy and I had it first alone. Then I made some Baked Brie and I warned The Guy when he couldn’t wait to eat it, that it would ruin the wine (Brie is very hard to pair with wine). It actually did not ruin the wine. It did change the flavor slightly, but not in a bad way. The wine tasted more “cherrylike” and less earthy following the Brie. Still very good.

Ironically, I traded trifle and pies (at least I think I did - I have yet to know if they were all even received in good order - they were very fresh when I made them so it would be a damn shame if they were allowed to sit for any lengthy period of time) for wine again this holiday and the wine I received was two bottles of Two Hands - one is Lily’s Garden and the other is Bella’s Garden. Both are Shiraz, but Lily’s is a McLaren Vale which is another favorite Shiraz region for me. As the aforementioned two are much more pricey than Gnarly Dudes, I am very curious to give them a try. I will wait. Maybe one will be tomorrow’s before-dinner tasting.

Gnarly Dudes is an inviting deep purple hue. For me it had a wonderful scent of cherries, and a powerful earth-packed punch of alcohol. The flavor was absolutely bursting with fruit, earth and heat (not too sweet, not too dry – perfect balance). The Guy was very excited to know, upon initial blind tasting, that he was drinking a Shiraz. He guessed it and he was pretty happy about it. But, as he said, “this is in a league above our normal Shiraz range”. I, on the other hand, recognized the Barossa Valley. He can identify it’s a Shiraz, and I know I’m tasting a Shiraz from the Barossa.

I’ve got no original thoughts to post lately – actually too many are flooding me right now, which makes it virtually impossible for me to pin any down. So, as I have always been a huge Dan Fogelberg fan, and he died just before Christmas – losing a battle with Prostate Cancer, I quote my favorite verses from Same Old Lang Syne and toast his music:

We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to now

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness

But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to time

Reliving in our eloquence

Another ‘Auld Lang Syne’...

Just for a moment I was back at school

And felt that old familiar pain

And as I turned to make my way back home

The snow turned into rain --

Dan Fogelberg

9.0 out of 10
15.1% alc. by vol.
$27 / 750 ml bottle
http://www.twohandswines.com/

Altos de Luzon

2004

Jumilla

Spain

Another gem brought by The Bro this Christmas. A dark plum in color, Altos de Luzon is a smooth, full bodied, well balanced blend of 50% Monastrell, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Tempranillo. An ever so slightly bitter blackberry flavor with granite earthiness, this wine lost the slight bitterness and became more smoky with air. I liked it much more the second night than the first (though it was very good the first night as well - it was just better after it had been opened).

Wine Enthusiast gave this a 91 rating; Robert Parker gave it a 90 rating.

From one of my favorite singer-songwriters, one of my favorite songs - because my diamonds are on the inside:

A candle throws its light into the darkness

In a nasty world so shines a good deed

Make sure the fortune that you seek

Is the fortune that you need

Tell me why the first to ask

Is the last to give every time

What you say and do not mean

Follows you close behind

She had diamonds on the inside . . .

Ben Harper, "Diamonds on the Inside"

8.25 out of 10 (The Guy says he'd give it a whopping 9.0)

14.5% alc. by vol.

$15 / 750 ml bottle

The Holy Trinity

This wine plus the following two wines reviewed, and all the other wines brought to us by The Bro to enjoy this Christmas, were all rated 90 or above by Wine Spectator.

2000

37% Grenache, 36% Shiraz, 27% Mourvedre

Barossa

Would love to drink again (and I will because I have another bottle!)

Please Note: I drank this wine with NO FOOD. It had also been several hours since eating. I'd had water and tea, but no food since lunch. I had another glass the following night right after dinner and its flavor was drowned out. I had it again the next night without food and loved it again. Interestingly enough, it is a recommended wine to have with a Moroccan Chicken recipe I have. I am going to try to make that in the near future and open a bottle to pair with the meal. I am interested to see what that does to the flavor of the wine (the chicken has plain yogurt and mint in it).

I like everything about this wine - the name, the design, the color, the smell, and the taste. Awesome. A beautiful dark, yet subdued purple color, the bouquet was sort of an herbed red meat with a hint of black cherry. The taste was an earthy thyme meets steak and Kalamata olives. The lasting finish wrapped up all scents and flavors nicely. As The Bro said "The taste hints that it's about to burst into this big sweet fruit bomb, but then it just subsides." But not without alot of other flavor - it stays more herb-like than sweet, but sort of teases you that it's about to explode in sweetness. The finish is packed with olive and earth.

Christmas night The Guy lined up (5) samples of wine for the Bro and I to taste but placed (6) bottles of wine in front of us for us to guess what was what. Only The Guy knew what was what. We had Fieldstone Reserve Red Table Wine, Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Cloudline Pinot Noir, Kendall Jackson Cabernet, The Holy Trinity and Turning Leaf Merlot. I did well but probably for all the wrong reasons. I got them all right except for the (2) Pinot Noirs which I had backwards. The Turning Leaf bottle was thrown in there to confuse us but was never poured. The first wine I tasted was the Fieldstone (I will be reviewing this wine in a few days) and it tasted weak so I knew it wasn't one of the big power horses. Not only that, but the color is a very light red and that's what I first noticed compared to all the others. I knew it by its color immediately. The Belle Glos I confused with the Cloudline which intrigued me because I really liked both of these wines but I thought I could pull out the Belle easily and that it was vastly different from the Cloudline but it wasn't (though the Belle is $45 and the Cloudline is $17!!!). The KJ I also picked out right away for the wrong reason - it was cold and it had been brought in earlier in the day as a gift for us from a very cold car which it had been in for quite some time. So I immediately tasted the coldness and knew. It was hard to concentrate on any flavor as a result. But The Holy Trinity made me smile the minute I tasted it!! I knew exactly which one it was. It's that unique.

The Burge Family writes the following on the back of the label:

The doctrine of "The Holy Trinity", being the union or coming together as 'one', symbolises the Burge family's migration to the Barossa Valley in the 1850's. The People (the Burge family), the Faith (The Holy Trinity Church, Lyndoch) and the Land (the vines), coming together as 'one', have created a tradition of winemaking in our family for over a century.

I took a picture of this bottle in front of a picture handed down to me from my grandmother who told me it is (a very old) photo of the dirt road that led to one of my ancestor's houses in Australia. They left Scotland with the intent of coming to the United States but settled first in Australia for awhile.

9.5 out of 10

$27.99 / 750 bottle

13.9% alc. by vol.

Arboleda Carmenere and Chateau Saint-Jean Red Rhone

Thank you Pasa Robles for your comments on "The Ball Buster". Your description of your experience sounded much more enjoyable than my own.

A few points up front:

1. The Bro made a great statement last night. He said he's been disappointed with wines because he gets "so in love" with finding new ones that he tends to forget what got him interested in the pursuit of the vine in the first place. This statement came in light of he and I enjoying pairing different foods with the Rhone wine last night.

2. In light of Christmas being in the next couple of days, I have put up a new "Holiday Poll" on what wine readers of this blog might be partaking in (provided you're having ham). I know many people have Roast Beef or Turkey. Ham is a tough one to pair with wine. Like the turkey, Pinot Noir is the favorite of many a wine shop owner as a pairing for ham. I will be drinking Pinot Noir because The Bro purchased a couple of special ones which I will review in a few days.

3. This is a blog that I am acutely aware is supposed to be for those on a budget. I realize much of what I've reviewed recently has not been "cheap". But I have been blessed enough with friends and family who gift me with more expensive wines on occasion. Please don't let that turn you away. Just put the info under your hat for a rainy day when you may find yourself able to spend a bit more on a special occasion. Then, may you remember what was good.

4. Check out The Bro below partaking in the second bottle of the evening. He's making a very poignant point!

5. I like my Christmas music all month long with my dinner wine. I hate my traditional favorites (Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Doris Day, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, etc.) being replaced by the likes of Madonna, Whitney Houston, Run DMC, etc., etc., etc. I tend to stick to the originals and don't like anything new. But Harry Connick, Jr. has succeeded in moving me beyond and has given me a new favorite that feels like an oldie. See the end below.


Arboleda
Carmenere
2005
Colchagua Valley, Chile

Will drink again - This is a deal for the price.

My brother has arrived for the Christmas Holiday and he has brought a case of wine. We first opened the Carmenere late afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it on its own. It's bouquet was of smokey cherry. It was very fruit forward on initial taste and then it heated up a bit before leaving with a slightly creosote-like finish.

The Bro and I agreed that we notice an interesting creosote-light smoke finish on many of the Chilean wines we've had.

Very enjoyable and highly recommended for the price.

8.25 out of 10
$12.99 / 750 ml. bottle
14.5% alc. by vol.

Chateau Saint-Jean
Chateauneuf-Du-Pape
2005
France
85% grenache
15% Syrah

Will drink again.

Tis the season for nutcrackers and chocolate. This red wine
was very good on its own, with freshly cracked nuts, with hot pepper jelly, well aged Cheddar cheese, with our swiss chicken dinner, herb stuffing, and sweet potato, and absolutely awesome with a piece of Hershey's dark chocolate.

The bouquet was very earthy with a hint of berry. The flavor was more of a generic berry followed quickly by earthiness (which I like) and then (for me) sort of a disappointing watered down finish. I don't know why, but French wines just do that to me. They smell like they're going to be great, they can even start out great, but then they finish weak. HOWEVER, once we started experimenting with the chocolate, this wine was great for me. Both The Bro and I immediately tasted chocolate cherry in the wine when it followed the chocolate. I also tasted tobacco. The finish was there when it wasn't before. And it was definitely cherry versus any other berry. Very good and fun to experiment with.

8.5 out of 10
14.5% alc. by vol.
$32.29 / 750 ml bottle

My heart told me once before
To find my dream and search no more
And when my heart finds Christmas
I hope it finds you too

Harry Connick, Jr. (oh! be still my heart)
When My Heart Finds Christmas

Layer Cake Shiraz

2006
Layer Cake Shiraz
Barossa Valley
South Australia

I will drink this again.

Well, I'd been hearing about the "Layer Cake" since the summer and have been looking for it everywhere. Everyone always said the same thing "Oh, it's awesome. I have none here, but more on order." After a few months, I stopped looking for it, even forgot about it. Then, last week, I walked into a recent favorite place of mine after work and there it was! Right smack in front as I walked in the door. He's got three cases, "while supplies last." And he's about $5 cheaper per bottle than elsewhere.

So, after all the hype and looking forward to it, I was disappointed. It smelled great - very fruity, yet spicey. I couldn't wait to have a sip. It tasted of black cherry and black pepper, then alcohol, followed by a warm finish. But it wasn't as tasteworthy as I'd expected. I had it with no food accompaniment.

I saved the rest for a couple of days and I have to say it was better. Interestingly enough, it tasted like my grandmother's house. Not too likely that anyone else will share this experience. My paternal grandparents had the best holiday gatherings. There were usually friends as well as family invited and my grandmother made the best curry dip with vegetables. At six years old, I would inhale her curry dip slathered on fresh broccoli. In addition, my grandfather's, and my own, favorite cheese was Muenster. That on a stoned wheat cracker was fabulous. They had a dry sink located under a fantastic painting of a train winding down hills into a quaint village - the colors were mostly golden as I recall. Very warm and happy. I LOVED that painting. I would stare at it every time we were there. The painting felt like HOME to me. Anyway, my grandfather loved his fine Scotch and he would pour a rocks glass of it along with his appetizers. My first glass of Layer Cake tonight, without food, tasted like all of that together and it was heavenly.

My second glass was from a new bottle that I opened up for a couple of hours before drinking. I tasted more of an earthy and almost chocolate finish. Then I had it with dinner tonight - roasted pork loin with sweet onion, garlic and cumin, and roasted sweet potatoes. It was a great pairing. The flavors of both were accentuated by the other. I also later had a glass with a fresh, warm chocolate crackle cookie and it brought out the slightly chocolate flavor I'd tasted earlier in the wine.

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

Breath of Heaven / Mary's Song
Amy Grant, Chris Eaton, Robert Marshal
1992

8.0 out of 10
14.9% by vol.
$15.99 / 750 ml bottle

The Ball Buster

2005
Tait
Barossa Valley

Will drink again.

Well, I brought this wine home tonight for The Guy partially as a joke because he's always accusing me of "busting his balls". The vineyard owner writes on the back that he wanted to name this wine "Michelle's Block" after his wife but decided against it. When I was in the store I thought to myself that The Guy would probably find it apropos for it to be named after me.

Well, irony of ironies, I "busted" on The Guy that our Christmas tree (that he did go and get over the weekend) was still on our back porch, and I wanted it inside by now. When it became evident that he wasn't going to bring it in for me tonight, I went out and took matters into my own hands and started sawing off the bottom branches in preparation. He came out to take over, frustrated that I couldn't wait, and started sawing away, right over his thumb and part way through his pointer finger. Nothing a trip to the ER and several stiches couldn't fix. He's fine, but feeling a bit of pain now. I feel bad. I do. Actually.

The scent of this deep purple hued wine was meaty and alcohol for me.The flavor was very fruity and peppery, followed by a high alcohol taste and then blackberry Schnapps-like flavor. I liked it in spite of the high alcohol effect.

"There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the chocolate and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives"

Leroy Anderson, 1946, Sleigh Ride
(Actually written during a heat wave in August 1946)

SIDE NOTE: The picture at our house last night was looking less like a Currier and Ives print and more like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

8.0 out of 10
$15.99 / 750 ml bottle
15.5% alc. by vol.
http://www.taitwines.com.au/

Klinker Brick

2005
LODI
Old Vine Zinfandel

Will buy again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Thank you for your Dead Arm comments Paso Robles. I love to hear others' takes on wines I've tried. As I had the Dead Arm without food, I especially enjoyed learning what you served it with.

Before I review, check out this very cool wine glass to be used when one glass of wine just isn't enough:

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/70375.asp

I bought Klinker Brick to have at Thanksgiving before Uncle Bob's Turley for those who wanted red. I had (2) bottles left over and opened one as I never did have it on Thanksgiving. One was very good so The Guy opened the second.

A dark red velvet-like color, this full bodied wine was medium dry with a fairly long, slightly, slightly bitter but enjoyable finish. It's scent was “berry” soaked in oak. The taste was very berry up front followed by slight oak and then warmth going down, followed by a very slight vanilla-ness and allover nice balance.

cable knit sweater
extended then enveloping
a welcome safe haven
troubles fade, no need for coping
life becomes new
as time is transended
but for a few

8.25 out of 10
Alc. 15.5% by vol
$16.99 / 750 ml bottle
http://www.klinkerbrickwinery.com/

The Dead Arm (It needs no other introduction)

2004
McLaren Vale
Shiraz

Would most definitely drink again (on someone else’s tab).

The Gal: I traded Thanksgiving pies for this wine - normally we would not spend the amount this cost on a bottle of wine. My brother recommended The Dead Arm to me last spring and I “fell in love” with the whole “dead arm” story: Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa lata. One half of the vine's arm becomes dead wood. But the grapes on the other side are used to make this wine. As my brother told me, the diseased area actually forces all of the flavor to the other side that remains healthy – the side used to make the wine.

So, I kept it in the back of my mind and would look for it wherever I found myself wine shopping. I found it recently and it was $60. I couldn’t buy it, I just couldn’t bring myself to spend that much for a bottle of wine I hadn’t had before. A short time later, a friend of mine was complaining that he couldn’t find any “new” good wines to taste.
Nothing was grabbing him. I told him about The Dead Arm that my brother had told me about. He ended up buying it and he agreed to give me a bottle if I made a couple of pies in exchange. It was a deal.

I decided to try it when my brother was home for Thanksgiving. I sat in my great, great grandmother’s cherry Shaker rocker by our first fire of the season at around 11:30 p.m. and savored The Dead Arm. It was very, very good – excellent. It’s dark inky color was followed in scent by a slight earthy smokiness (or maybe light creosote). It’s taste was black cherry and "hotness", then my favorite, “minerality”, settled in and was followed by a long slightly smokey finish.I loved this wine. It was very reminiscent of two of my previous favorites: Yangarra Vineyard Shiraz and “Bogle’s” Phantom. That said, those (2) favorite wines were about a third of the price. So, I must conclude that, for the price, The Dead Arm was a bit much, at least for our budget. I truly believe that Phantom and Yangarra, at approximately $20-something, are better buys. But, if money is no object to you, I do recommend the taste of The Dead Arm. I had it without any food pairing.

If you don’t make a move without Robert Parker’s permission, this wine received a “95” rating by him.

"Cold hearted orb that rules the night,

removes the colours from our sight,

red is gray and yellow white,

but we decide which is right and which is an illusion."

Justin Hayward and The Moody Blues

(My brother and I recited this in unison over Thanksgiving - this was from my all time favorite "album" "Days of Future Passed" by the "Moody Blues"and "The London Symphony Orchestra" - thank you to my parents for turning me on to really fine music at a young age )

9.0 out of 10

14.5% alc. by vol.

$55.99 - $68.99 / 750 ml. bottle

http://www.darenberg.com.au/

http://www.darenberg.com.au/files/2004%20The%20Dead%20Arm%20Shiraz.pdf

Callaway Viognier and Dutton Ranch Chardonnay

2000
Callaway Coastal Reserve
Viognier

Won't buy again, will drink what I have and try to pair with other food.

Today was my birthday and I wanted to review my birthday wines even though I know I still have much Thanksgiving coverage and followup to do. In addition, my mom had dinner for me last night and I have two reds to review at a later date.

Today was depressing (my birthday always seems to get me down - another year older and not any farther ahead) and it was just a regular day filled with too much to do. But, I knew tonight after I put the kids to bed, I was going to have a late dinner of Butternut Squash Soup and Baked Brie En Croute with cranberries and almonds. I knew I was going to splurge on a white wine as a birthday gift to myself to accompany my little menu. I just couldn't decide what variety. So I bought two, splurging on one more than the other, and conducted a little taste test with "The Guy". I am reviewing both here beginning with the Viognier:

Disappointing. Very light scent of mustard and lighter color than I expected. It was a pale yellow rather than a nice golden. It was reminiscent of a generic Sauvignon Blanc. Not a lot of flavor. Not much of a finish. I tasted no apricot or peach like the label boasts. It was slightly citrusy with a slight mustard finish. End of story. Any flavor was completely lost with the brie. It retained it's flavor with the soup. I'm afraid it may be headache material. The Guy liked it better than the Chardonnay.

7.0 out of 10
14.5% alc. by vol.
$16.99 per 750 ml. bottle
http://www.callawaycoastal.com/

1999
Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley
Fritz Winery
Chardonnay

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Will happily drink again.

This was also a pale yellow, and it's scent was similar to the Viognier - light and mustardy with a little overcooked broccoli thrown in (I don't know what it is with me always finding broccoli in the wine), and slight stone. But the taste, oh the taste, taste, taste. It was divine. It's what I love in a Chardonnay. It was creamy vanilla, slight toasted oak and . . . my favorite . . . minerality in the finish, and stone. Very, very good. While it also could not stand up to the brie, it's flavor was accentuated following the Butternut Squash soup - nice pairing. (The cranberries in the brie were extremely tart and took over all other flavor on the palate.)

I have been reading a lot about Russian River Valley Chardonnays and was so glad to finally try one, and enjoy it as I did.

Side Note: "The Guy" insisted I have a sip of "Fonseca Bin No. 27" Port following a glass of my Chardonnay. He said the two go well together. He was right. Forget dinner. Pair your wine with Port.

8.25 out of 10
14.2% alc. by vol.
$22.99 / 750 ml. bottle
http://www.fritzwinery.com/

Another year older and I find myself even more unlike my original hero, Florence Nightingale, and all too much like Lemony Snicket. Here are my B'Day reflections:
Searching for Solace,
Within Humility.
Needing to begin again,
To recover Dignity.
Plagued by nightmares,
Willing they not become real.
Finding truth and love intangible,
Under the mask of Illusion.
Longing to finally Heal.

HRM Rex-Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster Cabernet

Non-vintage
Woodbridge, California
Cabernet Sauvignon



Might drink again.

My friend Mike at work (who also recommended the Dynamite Cab) also recommended I try this one as a cheaper every day wine. I finally purchased it, but hadn't tried it yet when my dad came for Thanksgiving. As he came through the door, from behind his back he presented another bottle of HRM Rex-Goliath! I was destined to try it.

I liked the claret color. The nose was a little bit broccoli mixed with a non-disclosed berry and a lot of alcohol. (I recall smelling broccoli previously with a different wine.) The taste was a little woodsey, a little non-disclosed berry, high alcohol, slight earthiness and a small heat finish. No broccoli showed up in the taste thank Heaven.

For the price, this is a good everyday kind of wine to have on hand for casual company. I actually brought a bottle with me to my wreath making gathering the other night and a couple of women commented that they liked it.

Someone said they paired this wine with barbecued pork and it was great. I could see how that just might be.

To everything . . .There is a season
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, A time for peace
I swear it's not too late

Adapted from Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds and The Book of Ecclesiastes from The Bible

7.50 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$7.99 / 750 ml bottle

Solaris Zinfandel

2003
NAPA Valley

I thoroughly enjoyed a glass of this in a restaurant bar this evening spur of the moment with some girlfriends following a wreath-making class. I was totally rushed and put on the spot after returning from the ladie's room. My fellow lady friends had all ordered beer and I had very little time to even look at a wine menu and the waitress was giving me the usual "red, white or beer" routine. She quickly gave me a wine menu and as I tried to concentrate on it, she was waiting for my order. I saw "NAPA Valley Zin" and went with it. Awesome quick choice.

I tasted blueberry for the first time and the finish was earthy and slightly spicey. Very good. I will be looking for a bottle of this in my local wine shop. A glass was $5.95. The internet indicates it would sell for approximately $15.99 / 750 ml bottle.

"Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages."
Louis Pasteur

8.25 out of 10
$15.99 / 750 ml bottle
http://www.solariswinery.com/

Kaelser Stonehorse 2005 Shiraz

2005

Stonehorse

Barossa Valley, Australia

Will drink again.

I look forward to Thanksgiving and having everyone here and then poof! It's over, they're gone and Christmas is on its way. I don't know where the time goes. I tasted approximately (11) wines over the last four days. I can't believe it, and I have no idea where to begin picking up this blog again. I decided to start with what I was drinking this evening and I will work my way back in reviews over the next week or more.

Kaesler was a Thanksgiving gift from my brother, so it was out of my usual price range. I loved it. No surprise - it was from the Barossa Valley. Pure purple in color, it's smell was of cherries, vanilla, oak and alcohol. The taste was warm black cherry, licorice, oak and vanilla and an alcohol finish that warmed the esophagus like Schnapps. But then the cherry flavor came right back after the alcohol. It was very, very good.

Though I have had it at various times these last few days with both sausage pizza and chili, I prefer it alone.

How do you go on, when bad things happen
To innocent people
When someone we love dies, and we still had so much to share
When atrocities and violations occur to helpless, trusting children
Everywhere
Around this world at any given time
When violence doesn’t have to be looked for
It’s always there, somewhere
We can’t always control what happens to us
And life can be so unfair
If you just remain open
Hope is there
It is in the warmth of the sunshine
The trusting grasp of a child’s hand in our own
The first bloom of a long awaited flower
The smell of the sky before the first snowflake hits ground
The heat of a fire upon the hearth
The comfort of bed at the end of a long day
A shared smile with a stranger that hits the heart
A dog’s wagging tail
Advice from someone we’d least expect to have something to say
It’s all in your control, you have choices you can make
Even when you’ve been wronged
Find the hope to make you whole
It’s never too late
To start again
To apologize to someone you’ve hurt
Or to pick up the pieces around you, and move on
You can always make a difference in someone else’s life
You matter, you have purpose
Even when your own life has been so full of strife
Don’t give in
Choose life
Start now, begin again.

8.25 out of 10

15.5% alc. by vol.

$29.99 /750 ml bottle

http://www.kaesler.com.au/

Dynamite Cabernet Sauvignon

2003
North Coast
Sonoma County, California

Mikey D. - I do like your Dynamite. We do have similar taste. This is a little drier than I normally go for, but the flavor is very good. It's woodsey, smokey and blackberry. It is my wedding anniversary tonight and we never have red meat. But The Guy loves steak, so I bought the good stuff - no antibiotics, no hormone-fed cattle. Top Round steak it was and the Dynamite accompanied it well. Nice pairing. The Guy felt it tasted more expensive than its price.

I have no photo available, but the label by Stephen Ward is of Lake County's "Diamonds" - an Indian Chieftain is illustrated grieving over volcanic stones. The story on the back of the label goes like this: "According to folklore, the Moon wept when she could not be with her love, a Pomo Indian Chieftan. Her tears fell to earth, forming glistening shards. These semi-precious volcanic stones, found nowhere else, remind us that our home is unique." (Personally, having always had a feverous preoccupation for Chief CrazyHorse, this Civil War buff can identify with the moon. I am a white woman thrown over the back of a stallion by one of Crazy Horse's tribesmen and brought back to camp - Crazy Horse comes out to find me, hands tied, by the fire. He scolds his tribesmen for being so rough, unties my hands and takes me to his teepee - OK, wrong blog, sorry.)

And so, I raise my glass to the shards.

8.0 out of 10
13.9% by volume
$17.99 / 750 ml bottle
http://www.dynamitevineyards.com/

The Guy: As we go through the list of wines that The Gal and I have so enthusiastically sampled, I find a few "good" wines that deserve being set on a "I'd Drink that again" list, (note to self, make a short list). The Dynamite was one of those.

Say what you will about being able to find good wines under $10, or even $15. If I had the money and I had to choose between the Dynamite compared to a South Australia Red like Yellowtail Shiraz or Little Penguin Merlot, I'd go for the Dynamite. Much like Red, or The TURK ( A personal favorite of mine), Dynamite tasted like a more expensive wine.

Before starting this blog, the Gal and I routinely spent over $20 on a bottle of wine without thinking twice. We believed that the more expensive the wine, the better it should be. While that is true in a number of cases, I'd be hard pressed to tell you some of the $40 bottles we've had with friends are that much better than the $15/$16/$17 we continue to discover.

The same night we had Dynamite, we had another bottle of Gnarly Head Old Vine Zine ($10.99). A taste test comparison between the two wasn't even close. Yes, on it' s own, we liked Gnarly Head. But after sampling the Dynamite, the Gnarly just didn't measure up.

You'll find that experience to be common around the holidays as you spent time with friends and family sharing wines you bought, or they brought. It's part of the adventure. Just be sure to make Dynamite part of your adventure.

Thanksgiving Update: The following is my wine menu (Chardonnay to accompany appetizers of shrimp and "Bombay" cream cheese, curry, cranberry, coconut dip with stoned wheat crackers), Red Zin for the main meal and turkey (or Chardonnay for those guests who prefer white). I am hoping to also serve a Port with dessert (too many in my new favorite wine store - I was getting dizzy reading labels). Will keep you posted.

2005 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, NAPA
2006 Roux Pere & Fils Macon-Villages Chardonnay, France
2002 Turley Red Zin, Juvenile
2005 Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin, LODI

Thanksgiving Wine and Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer

2006
Columbia Valley
Washington State

Will drink again.

See Thanksgiving wine discussion below.

This was the first time I tried Gewurztraminer. I didn't really care for it the first night I had it. It was reminiscent of cider at first, then some citrus flavor came through in a light finish. But I really enjoyed it more last night with dinner. I had it alone and with dinner (I can't remember what I made but I think it was chicken of some sort) the first night and wasn't that impressed with it. At that point I decided I'd probably not purchase it again.

But accompanying last night's dinner it was a different story. I noticed more fruit and less bite - pear with a little nutmeg or similar spice. I sauteed shrimp in sesame oil with garlic and put that over brown rice. I had a cesaer salad (with garlic croutons) and a pumpkin muffin that I'd made the day before. It was SO good with dinner, especially following the pumpkin muffin, leading me to believe that this might be a good Thanksgiving wine with the sweetness of many traditional recipes served (in our house it's parsnips and carrots, sweet potatoes, acorn squash, cranberry sauce, etc.). I think a much drier wine would be completely drowned out by all the sweetness.

Speaking of Thanksgiving: What to drink? Thanksgiving is the biggest wine drinking day of the year. Researching this very subject I found the more popular wines served are Beaujolais Noveau for red and Reisling for white. The biggest reason for this combo is the typical diversity of the meal itself. So many different dishes are served in various households. But a large part of the meal is associated with the sweeter tasting foods. Reisling goes well with sweeter dishes, as well as salty - and Thanksgiving dinner also tends to have a lot of natural saltiness. Beaujolais is a lighter red and therefore better accompanies many of the lighter dishes served (mashed potatoes, turkey, and stuffing though heavy weightwise, are on the lighter side of flavor intensity). A heavier cab might be wasted on such foods.

Personally, I haven't found a Beaujolais I really like. And, the Noveaus conveniently come out just around Thanksgiving, so from a marketing perspective, it makes sense it's the "recommended" Thanksgiving accompaniment.

In the past, my uncle has traditionally brought Reisling and Sauvignon Blanc before dinner, Pinot Noir and Red Zinfandel with the main meal, and Port with dessert (especially Pumpkin Pie). It's always been a good pick no matter what. This year, sadly, he won't be coming. When I found out there was a chance he wouldn't be coming, I set out on determining what I would serve. I had decided on Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and a Pinot Noir or Syrah. Tonight I received an E-mail from my aunt that my uncle wishes to forward a wine selection in his absence. I will have some of my own wine on hand, but I can't wait to see what he sends and write about what I ultimately serve. Stay tuned.

Interesting Fact: Beer is actually the best accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner and was the drink of choice at Thanksgiving tables of long ago.

BOTTOM LINE RECOMMENDATION: Drink what YOU like best.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Candlight flickers and glows,
heads bowed for grace.
Toasts are made,
as the wine freely flows.

Sweet, savory food in abundance,
dances on the tongue.
Dishes passed amongst laughter and smiles,
later the first Christmas Carols will be sung.

It is my favorite time of year,
families and friends gathering, warm fires burning,
Thanksgiving is once again here.

7.75 out of 10
$8.99 / 750 ml
12.5% alc. by vol.
http://www.ste-michelle.com/

Red Guitar

2005
Navarra, Spain
55% Tempranillo
45% Garnacha

Will drink again.

Very fruit forward, this wine was good on its own. I never did pair it with food. Hints of cherry and a bit of leather, it was slightly dry on the way down. But I liked it, especially for the price.

I heard someone describe the label as "dorky", yet it was the label I liked. Whimsical and simple. Just like the wine.

Can't beat the price.

I'm holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearin what you say but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say...
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

One Republic - Timbaland To listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm0T7_SGee4

7.75 out of 10
$8.99 / 750 ml bottle
http://www.vinonavarra.com/

Hopkins Vineyard Cabernet Franc

2003
Litchfield, CT

I can't believe I haven't posted in over a week and now today I'm posting twice. I've been tasting wines but haven't had much time. I also have a Gwerztraminer to review here and I will be enjoying a French Syrah tonight. Hopefully I will get those posted in the next couple of days.

The Guy and I taste-tested this Cabernet Franc at a wine and bread tasting event last week. We both enjoyed this very much. When I was on-line looking for a label to insert above, I read a review by a guy who is always in search of a decent Connecticut Vineyard red. He's been to many vineyards in the United States, and especially loves the pastoral settings and wines of Paso Robles wineries. He was very impressed with Hopkins Vineyard and said it reminded him a lot of the Paso Robles settings. He enjoyed all of the whites, but said he was completely disappointed with this red.

I found it to be medium to full bodied, lighter on the fruit and spice than I usually prefer, but there was a real nice earthy finish that I liked very much. I recommend it. The Vineyard recommends it be served with any of the following: grilled lamb chops, braised short ribs, flank steak, blue cheese, or French Onion Soup.

"Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy."
--- Alexander Fleming (1881-1955)

8.0 out of 10
$17.95 / 750 ml bottle
http://www.hopkinsvineyard.com/

Nora Albarino

2005
Galicia River Banks

Spain

This was my first experience with an Albarino. I enjoyed it immensely. The Guy's mom and stepdad treated us to dinner a week ago and I decided to give Albarino a try. The waitress tried to talk me out of it. She said it was too thick and too sweet. She let me taste test it and I loved it. It tasted good on its own, with appetizers, with salad, and everyone's main entree - especially a tuna special they had.

The color was a rich gold and I could tell it was going to be heavy bodied. For me, it had a rich pear and lemon taste. I didn't find it too sweet at all - sweet usually gives me a headache. It was fruit and lemon rich, but not too sweet, and it had a very silky and smooth finish.

"If all be true that I do think,

There are five reasons we should drink:

Good wine, a friend, or being dry,

Or lest we should be by and by,

Or any other reason why."

Henry Aldrich
Five Reasons for Drinking

8.5 out of 10

$14.99 / 750 bottle

(I don't have any other particulars as I did not keep the bottle.)

CRUSH Proprietary Red Wine

2004
Dry Creek Valley
California

Will drink again.

I wasn't too sure at first about this wine. High alcohol content and a little bitter balanced slightly by vanilla and borderline "cheap" on the finish, but big fruit up front and in the middle with a pleasant (though slight) heat toward the end. However, with my pizza, it was terrific. Would pair well with a hearty, cheesy pasta dish also. For the price, it's a good "daily" wine for accompaniment to a casual dinner. Nice fruit, slightly oak and vanilla bouquet.

Will I ever see your face,

from across my table?

A guest having come to dine,

will we ever be able?

Chardonnay, Zin, Cab, Merlot or Port,

always pondering as I take in my wine.

True friendship is long, but life is too short.

8.0 out of 10
$9.99 / 750 ml bottle
15.%% alc. by vol.
Crush Winery, Healdsburg, CA

This post is by The Gal who accidentally posted under The Guy's log-in.

Coppo Barbera D'Asti 2003 and Chateau Lauriol 2003

Double whammy tonight. I only have a picture of the French (at right). The review follows the Italian wine review.

Dormers, cedar shingles, stone walls, warm wood intermingled with white paint.
How I wish it could be mine.
It stands empty, windows exposed, curtainless.
Simple yet classic, it still calls to me - I dream it's willing to wait.
The day I find it occupied.
I know my heart will break.
Another place, another time.
I try to keep the faith,
and enjoy my wine.


Coppo Barbera D'Asti Pomorosso
2003
Piedmont, Italy

Might drink again.

The Italian. I have no photo of this wine as I had it tonight in town at a restaurant. The bouquet was heady and earthy and I thought it would be fabulous. It was good initially and then weakened (on its own). Following a bite of potato gnocci with roasted chicken, the wine's flavor seemed to strengthen. I did enjoy it in the end. But it was still slightly weaker than it's smell.

I have no other specifics on this wine other than the name and region. I did not see the bottle. If the pricing I found on-line is accurate, it is not worth the price.

7.75 out of 10
$62.99 / 750 ml bottle (So not worth the price if this is accurate)

2nd Review:

Chateau Lauriol
2003
Bordeaux Cotes de France

Won't drink again, but not really all that bad.

The French. This wine was, as The Guy noted right off the bat, "chalky". The dryness was right there and it left a Kaopectate feeling in the mouth. Not exactly enjoyable. I did not find it as offensive as The Guy did. It's bouquet was slightly earthy and fruity. I thought it would be wonderful. The first taste immediately started with the chalkiness, but it diminished with a slight cherry finish. Just not enough to keep me interested.

7.25 out of 10
$9.99 / 750 ml bottle
13.5% alc. by vol.

Chamarre Grande Reserve Pinot Noir

2006

France

Will drink again.

(FYI - There should be an accent mark over the last "e" in Chamarre but I can't manage it here - pronunciation therefore is "sha-ma-ray".)

Chamarre, en Francais, means "bursting with colors - bursting with flavor". This was a nice Pinot Noir. Black cherry, vanilla, slight oak and licorice. The finish was slightly peppery. Very enjoyable. I have found most Pinot Noir wines I've had to be "light" or "weak". This was not - it had a lot of flavor and was full bodied. As it was only $9.99, it was a really good deal in my opinion.

What is better than to sit at the end of the day and drink wine with friends, or substitutes for friends?

---James Joyce

8.0 out of 10
$9.99 / 750 ml
12% alc. by vol.

http://www.chamarre.com/

Red4 Vina Robles

2004

Huerhuero

Paso Robles, San Miguel

California

Will definitely drink again. Although not wicked cheap, I think this is a great value - it tastes like a more expensive wine.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This wine is recommended to drink now, and for the next (3) years.

Once again, I am enamored with a blend. This delicious wine is 60% Syrah, 28% Petite Sirah, 8% Touriga, 3% Tannat - hence the name: "Red4". The bouquet is hard for me to describe. It was enticing, though it was like a broccoli - red meat scent for me. Strange, I know. Slightly spicey, but really nice black cherry fruit and slight vanilla flavor with a hint of cocoa before the finish (vanilla and chocolate do actually work together). The finish is slightly peppery. I enjoyed this alone and with a Kashi (http://www.kashi.com/) Mediterranean pizza (spinach, fire-roasted tomatoes, red onion, sweet red pepper, feta cheese with whole grain and flax seed crust).

Let me tell you brother, she’s been sleeping in the Devil’s bed.

And there’s some rumors going round,

Someone’s underground,

She can rock you in the nighttime’til your skin turns red.

Woo hoo witchy woman,

See how high she flies.

Woo hoo witchy woman,

She's got the moon in her eyes.

Witchy Woman - The Eagles

8.5 out of 10

$13.99 / 750 ml. bottle

14.3% alc. by vol.

http://www.vinarobles.com/

Redwood Creek Sauvignon Blanc

2005
Frei Brothers

Modesto, California

My stepfather-in-law stopped by with a Sauvignon Blanc for us to try on their way to Vermont for their 30th wedding anniversary. It was enjoyable. It tasted slightly more enjoyable with Muenster Cheese (my favorite as a kid). I tasted sort of the usual citrus and melon. Nothing out of the ordinary. But it paired very well with the cheese, and vice versa. Not much of a finish.

I don't get as excited tasting whites as I do reds. To me, although they are different, most Sauvignon Blancs taste similar and Chardonnays taste similar and Pinot Grigio's and Reislings taste similar. But I find much greater distinguishing characteristics among reds.

My cousin just married a "Reisling man" and I've invited them for dinner somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas and I hope to learn a lot. His best friends own a fairly well-known vineyard that specializes in Resiling. It's his favorite wine. I am hoping to be enlightened and have more to report in the future.

My Uncle brings a Reisling every year for our opening Thanksgiving appetizer (in addition he usually brings a Red Zin for the main meal, and a Port for dessert). He knows his Reisling also - I think I may have previously written that he turned me on to Reisling one Easter afternoon when he served it with prosciutto and melon. Uusally I find Reisling too sweet. But he knows precisely what food accompanies what wine well and it was an awesome pairing.

Maybe the sun will shine today
And clouds will roll away
Maybe I won't be so afraid
I will understand
Everything has its plan
Either way

"Either Way" - Wilco

7.50 out of 10
$11.99 / 1.5 L bottle

13% alc. by vol.

http://www.redwoodcreek.com/

Robert Mondavi Vinetta

2005

Private Selection

California

Will drink again - yet another good pick for the money.

This blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 11% petit verdot, 5% malbec and 2% cabernet franc was thoroughly drinkable. I am not a fan of Robert Mondavi anything (no offense, I just haven't liked any of his wines). One of the guys I work with kept telling me I had to try Mondavi's "Vinetta". I couldn't find it anywhere. I found it waiting for me at my desk on Monday morning.

The color was almot a flourescent purple. The scent was fruit, licorice and alcohol. Although Mondavi describes this as a "Bordeaux-inspired" blend, I found it more fruity than earthy. For the first time, I smelled and tasted licorice mixed with dark cherry, followed by oak. There wasn't much of a finish, but there was a nice quick burst of oak at the end that I did enjoy.

I think it would serve well as an everyday wine to have on hand for relaxed company (not any connoisseurs).

Glasses are raised,

toasts are spoken.

Reservations are made,

engagements are broken.

An old man sighs,

and one life comes to an end.

A baby cries,

and a new life just begins.

Witness the energy flow in and around each building,

as life takes form beyond each light.

Yet, still, loneliness abounds,

reflecting across the Harbor at night.

8.0 out of 10

$9.99 / 750 ml. bottle

13.5% alc. by vol.

http://www.rmprivateselection.com/

Chapelle-St.-Arnoux Gigondas

Cuvee
2004
France

This was a good French wine - will buy again.

I bought this wine to go with "Boeuf Bourguignonne" (Beef Burgundy) - please visit http://www.cheznathalie.com/ for the recipe. I was looking for a Bordeaux preferably but ended up with this. It was really good, though it needed a little more "oomph". But I enjoyed it very much anyway. Although I felt it needed more fruit and did not seem to have a "burst of flavor", there was something about it I liked a lot. It did have a slight mineralness in the finish which I enjoy. It had a bit of a "warm rock" taste as well. It was very consistent and balanced. I enjoyed it more on its own than with the meal. I felt the meal needed a stronger wine to bring out the taste of the recipe and the wine did not hold up as well to the strong flavors of the meal. But it was good anyway.

She dances to "Wilco"
Round and round she goes
She bends down and looks at me upside down through her knees
Then she bounces up and spins until she's dizzy

I tell her to keep going when she wants to take a break
I want to write a poem about her dancing
And she laughs "Oh for Heaven's Sake!"

She's only six years old and cute as can be
Full of life and so much fun, oblivious to Time
Dancing to the chorus "Can You Leave Me Like You Found Me"
I can't imagine life without her as I sip my Gigondas wine

8.0 out of 10
$14.99 / 750 ml bottle
14% alc. by vol.

Root: 1 Cab 2005

2005
Cabernet Sauvignon

Colchagua Valley, Chile

Will drink again (yet another good value - great taste for the money).

The Guy and I have had Root: 1 before and enjoyed it, but it was prior to posting our blog. So I decided to revisit it this weekend on a whim when I saw it for $9.99. I smelled and tasted . . . "Hot Rocks" - not The Rolling Stones, mind you, just hot rocks. This is an awesome experience. I've had it before with another previously reviewed wine (Terra Bossa 2004 Cabernet), but not as strong as this. It is definitely an "earthy" taste but taken to the next level. It really reminds me of granite warmed by the sun. I believe this is different, however, than a "mineral" experience. Which, brings me to my next reflection: the mineral survey. Thank you to those of you who participated. Next time I'll let a survey run without deadline.

The November issue of Wine Enthusiast (http://www.wineenthusiast.com/) has an article by Tim Patterson on the last page: Rocks In My Head - The rule in trying to grasp the elusive concept of minerality is, fake it 'till you taste it.

Mr. Patterson basically writes that he at first tasted minerality everywhere in every wine, trying hard to understand it. He even attended seminars related to geology and vineyard cross-sections and soil samples. He then checked the science behind it and seems to have succumbed to believing it's mostly "hooey". Some of what he had to say is summarized below:

"Nothing in winedom is more prized than the miracle of minerality. This elusive characteristic, found only in certain wines and discernible only to selected palates, carries a potent symbolic charge: tasting minerality is tasting the living soil that gave birth to grapes.

There's a good chance, of course, that minerality is mostly hooey.

First of all, people have the darndest time agreeing on what 'minerality' is . . . flavor, aroma, a texture?

Then there's the little problem that rocks don't taste or smell at all . . . (yet here he mentions his friends' contradictions) My mineral-centric buddies explained, with some condescension, that wet rocks clearly do have a smell - even a hosed-down sidewalk gives off a scent.

It gets worse. Modern plant biology holds that flavors and aromas are manufactured within the grapes through photosynthesis, not transported up from the ground into the berries.

More likely, according to state-of-the-art research, what gets called minerality is some combination of acidity and sulfur compounds."

I don't know exactly what minerality is or isn't. But I can tell you that I do indeed believe it exists. It is very exciting for me when I taste a wine that's got it. It only happened to me for the first time in the last couple of months and it's happened maybe three times total since. It was definitely a new experience for me and, I would say it was a textural thing when it happened. For lack of a better term, the wine "softened" all of a sudden in the finish. And it was pretty awesome.

For me, Root: 1 smelled exactly as it tasted. I knew when I smelled it that it was going to give me that "hot rocks" taste. I did not taste a lot of fruit - slight cherry in the beginning followed by spicey earthiness and warm stone with a lingering finish. But, alas, there was no mineral experience here.

Robert Parker gave this wine a 90 rating.

8.25 out of 10
$9.99 / 750 ml bottle
14% alc. by vol.
http://www.root1wine.com/

Ladybug Red Cuvee VI

Red Table Wine
Redwood Valley
California

Will drink again. (Good every day wine to have on hand and drink now.)

Ladybug Red is a blend of Zinfandel, Carignane, Merlot and Cabernet. The vines are aged an average of forty years. Although it does not say so on the label, this is an organic wine. I have not found any really good organic wines for some reason, but this was a pleasant surprise to learn it was organic and yet tasted so good.

It drinks well on its own and would probably pair well with lighter foods (turkey burgers, chicken, tomato-based light sauces and pizza). Nice berry flavor followed quickly by pepper and then a slight toasted oak fnish.

Besides being a pretty good value, I really like the Lady Bug factor here. Lolonis Vineyards shipped in huge amounts of Lady Bugs and Praying Mantis for use as natural pesticides. Lady Bugs do not like grapes but they do like eating other insects.

She walks along the cliff's edge,
always searching out to sea.
Waiting, watching, longing,
Eyes on the horizon, wishing today for it to be.
Her Victorian dress, long and black,
tattered by the constant tug of the wind.
Her black boots worn to gray, always walking,
waiting for that ship to come in.
Watching to see that mast rise up,
where water and sky form a line.
Longing for the Captain to finally come home,
bringing her faraway treasures and fine wine.

8.0 out of 10
$12.99 / 750 ml bottle
13.9% alc. by vol.
http://www.lolonis.com/

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

McManis Family Vineyards

California

2005

Will drink again. (This is another good buy for the price.)

The color a deep garnet red, this wine was on the sweeter side the first night I drank it. The next night it was more oak-like and slightly smokey. It is recommended to drink it with steak or red meat. I drank it all on its own and really enjoyed it the first night. The next night it proved to be a good accompaniment to bacon horseradish cheddar cheese and cracked wheat crackers. It lost some of the sweetness and became more smokey. The wheat flavor in the crackers was very pronounced following a sip of the wine.

"Couldn't understand a single word he said,

but he sure had some mighty fine wine . . .

and I helped him drink his wine."

-Three Dog Night (Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog)

8.25 out of 10

$9.99 / 750 ml bottle

13.5% alc. by vol.

http://www.mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com/

Novy Syrah 2004

2004 Novy Syrah
Gary's Vineyard

Santa Lucia Highlands

California

Will drink again (though not currently in the budget - The Bro bought this one).

(I know I was supposed to review Penfold's Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2001 next but we had so many different wines in two days that I couldn't keep up. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't outstanding and it was $19.99. I will try to do an official review at a later date.)

This wine smelled rather lightly of slight fruit and herb. The flavor was delicious -slightly dry at first, becoming less so as the fruit kicked in, then the berry flavor sort of turned spicy beef-burgundy like with a nice herb-like finish. We had this wine with parmesean encrusted chicken, roasted asparagus and curried saffron rice. We were all hit up side the head with wicked pepper and spicy curry when a bite of the rice was followed by a sip of wine. We weren't sure if the wine was doing it to the food or the food was doing it to the wine (or a combination of both). The Guy just about fell out of his chair he shook his head so hard from the experience.

This wine received a 90 rating from Wine Spectator www.winespectator.com

"Drink wine, and you will sleep well.

Sleep, and you will not sin.

Avoid sin, and you will be saved.

Ergo, drink wine and be saved."

-Medieval German saying

8.25 out of 10

14.8% alc. by vol.

$31.99 / 750 ml bottle

http://www.novyfamilywines.com/

Nipozzano Riserva Chianti

2004
Chianti Rufina
Tuscany

Will drink again. See the rating below.

I am not fond of Chianti. It is too dry and there is not usually much of a finish for me. Tonight, I had a Chianti I thoroughly enjoyed. This was very good. I think if you're a Chianti lover, you are going to really appreciate this wine. Actually, if you're not a Chianti lover (as myself) you will appreciate this wine. It's a good wine to start with.

It was very fruit forward in scent and taste. It was a "deep, plum red" in color (per The Guy's description and I concur). After the fruit, I was hit with the dryness which is usually where I stop liking Chianti because that's all there is. But it was followed by a nice finish. It was definitely "Chianti" in taste, but at a "higher" level. It had a smoothness and a lingering finish that made it especially good. And, for the first time, I tasted plum. It tasted good on its own and with our dinner (home-made pizza with fire-roasted tomatoes, ricotta, fresh organic mozzarella, chicken sauteed in garlic, olive oil, organic mushrooms and fresh parmesean cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes).

"The Bro" is visiting from out of town and, along with massive sized pumpkins, he brought me beautiful chrysanthemums, gifts for my children, (3) bags of apples (I think he's hoping they will get used in a pie or two before the weekend's up), and . . . (6) bottles of wine. He sure knows how to cheer me up. I bought the Chianti for tonight's dinner, however.

"The Bro" had this to say about it: "I like Chianti - but it usually has a higher acidity and this one doesn't. There's a slight acid and then it just ends, followed by an exceptionally smooth finish."

"The Guy" felt this Chianti tasted like a "cheap, Italian table wine." (He just likes to play Devil's Advocate and we just humor him and throw him pizza crust.)

Tomorrow's review will be of Penfold's Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz (courtesy of The Bro).


SGT JASON LANTIERI

At the flagpole along my morning route,
I was introduced to you today.
I felt a lurch in my chest,
and once again, wished we'd found a better way.

In tribute, majestic flag flapped in the wind,
set at half-mast on it's pole.
The reports, all no longer new,
tell the sad story, the loss of yet another soul.

A future comes to a screeching halt,
no way for it to come back.
As another family is stricken,
by the loss of a son in Iraq.

8.25 out of 10
$21.99 / 750 ml.
13% alc. by vol.
http://www.frescobaldi.it/

As a side note: Wine Spectator gave this Chianti a 91 rating.

Smoking Loon 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

2005

Cabernet

California

Will drink again.

This was a very enjoyable, inexpensive wine. The balance was just right. The fruit was right there, followed by oak, a hint of pepper, a very slight smokiness, then a thyme-like finish. I drank it on its own, but it was good with dinner as well (turkey meatballs, spaghetti squash and parmesean cheese). It would probably accompany a hearty stew or beef dish very nicely.

"In Europe we thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also a great giver of happiness and well being and delight. Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating and to me as necessary."

Ernest Hemingway --A Moveable Feast

8 out of 10

$9.99 / 750 ml

13.5% alc. by vol.

http://www.smokingloon.com/ (it will redirect you to Don Sebastiani & Sons - look for Smoking Loon there)

Carmen Reserve 2005 Merlot

Valle De Casablanca
Chile

Paso Robles, I am SO glad you found the Phantom as alluring as myself. You are a lucky dog that you've got yourself a case.

Might drink again.

Note: I have posted two reviews tonight. Please see my review below of Clos du Bois 2004 Chardonnay.

OK - This is very funny to me. With regard to the Phantom wine that I reviewed a few nights ago (the same wine I also refer to above in my comment to Paso Robles) I read an on-line review while looking where I might purchase it. The person loved Phantom, but one of their "tastes" they picked up was "Creosote". I made all kinds of comments to The Guy about whether or not he thought that person climbed into their fireplace and licked the back wall to actually know what creosote tastes like. Now, I know fully well in the back of my head that I have smelled weird things in wine that I have not actually tasted in real life (cat pee comes to mind for instance). So I really do know better than to poke fun at a strange taste. But I did it anyhow.

Tonight I eat crow. The Carmen Reserve had a strong bouquet of fruit and earthiness. The flavor was very dry fruit with a hint of vanilla, then pepper, followed by a slight smokiness and then . . .creosote!! I actually tasted what I think creosote would taste like. We had a fire in our chimney a couple of years ago (due to a buildup of creosote) and the smell that resonated that night was what I tasted in this wine. Therefore, I didn't particularly like it. But then the finish turned earthy and the creosote went away and it was slightly long. Even though it was a really weird experience, I am glad I had it. I like a wine that has the ability to make one taste strange things.

Take me to the vineyard.
Is it wrong, is it a sin?
I want to press the grapes into my hair,
rub their juices on my skin.
I want to bathe in moonlight,
pour the wine over my head.
Let it run until it finds my mouth.
I long to fall asleep in a vine-filled bed.

7.75 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$11.99 / 750 ml.
www.carmen.com

Clos du Bois 2004 Chardonnay

2004
Sonoma Valley
California

Will definitely buy again.

We went to a family surprise party held privately down by the sub base at this little hole-in-the-wall bar "VooDoo Daddy's". We had a great time and I enjoyed a few glasses of Clos du Bois' 2004 Chardonnay. It was very good and really hit the spot for some reason. First taste was of strong oak and pear followed by intense buttery vanilla - just what I long for in a Chardonnay. I had a lengthy conversation with the bartender who did a great job of seeking me out and keeping my wine glass full. She's really young and her husband is serving in the Navy. He was home for the day and she had to work and he was shipping out for Japan the next day - not a happy bartender. But she still took care of me.

I did not take a picture of the bottle so I thought I'd share a picture my daughter actually took of the wall.

8.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$11-14 / 750 bottle
http://www.closdubois.com/

Nine Stones 2005 Shiraz

Hilltops
2005 Shiraz
Australia

Might drink again.

As I was doing my "photoshoot" for this blog, I opened the wine to pour into our two glasses and went to work shooting some pix. The entire dining room filled with this wonderful, strong fruit scent while I took shots. I started salivating anticipating what the wine would taste like. The color was really dark purple - almost like ink.

The taste was bitter first and tasted a bit like Robitussin cough syrup, then very spicy and peppery and dry. Slight fruit with a short finish ended it.

I was disappointed based on how wonderful the initial room-filling aroma was. The taste didn't hold up to what I smelled. It definitely tasted better after having sat open for half an hour. It's a good wine for the price and would probably do best as a drinkable one to have on hand for casual entertaining. I bet it is a wine that will definitely improve with age.

7.5 out of 10
$11.99 / 750 ml
14% alc. by vol.

I received my "Wine Enthusiast" mag this afternoon and was psyched to find my favorite location featured: the Barossa Valley. There is a featured article on some of the bigger Barossa Vineyards and then the Buying Guide in the back is chock full of highly rated Barossa wines. Some (actually most), unfortunately, are on the very pricey side - "my" 2004 Yalumba Octavius is one of many (the one I so hope to be able to taste one day) having received a nice rating of 94.

The following is a link to the on-line mag, though it's only updated through September as yet. The Barossa article is in the November issue.
http://www.winemag.com/homepage/index.asp?adid=WEMAGTAB