Ten Mile Red Wine

2005
"The Broken Road"
Blend of Petite Sirah, Barbera, Zinfandel, Carignane California

I think I just had a glass of water with a little grape juice stuck in it.

You know, the old saying that you shouldn't pick a wine by its label just resonates so with me right now. I was captivated. Drawn in. It was me walking down Ten Mile Road, from the valley of The Broken Road. That, and I so LOVE eccentric blends.

The Guy really enjoyed it and got a berry burst of flavor and some heat. To me it smelled very promising and heady, but the flavor petered out immediately after swallowing. It was disappointing to me. With or without food - no change. It packed a punch, the scent drew me in, but I literally tasted little other than faint berry.

The saddest songs are the happiest
The hardest truths are the easiest
Put us both to the test
And tell me if you still need me
And I will swallow these words
And see if I can still believe

The biggest lies are the little ones
When the look in your eyes is the distant one
Angel or demon
You know that they can share one bed
I've laid awake so long
I've got them both inside my head. . .

. . . You were 80% angel
10% demon
The rest was hard to explain

Over The Rhine, "What I'll Remember Most"

7.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol
$13 / 750 ML bottle
www.ninenorthwines.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/

337 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

2005
Lodi
Cabernet Sauvignon

Would drink again.

Nice post from Pasa Robles, thank you so much for your "breathing" input.

This wine eluded me. My first reaction was too dry, not enough flavor and I don't want any more. The Guy then handed me the last of last night's the Little Penguin and told me to compare. I thought for sure the Little Penguin would taste wicked sweet in comparison, but it didn't. They almost tasted the same to me but I knew they were vastly different. I'm not sure why they tasted so similar (except for possibly the "breathing" effect on the Little Penguin), but it piqued my interest in having another sip.

I then ate some pizza I'd made of whole grain crust, awesme fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, Buffalo mozarella, parmesean, sauteed orange peppers and sauteed baby bella mushrooms (though the back of the bottle suggested it be served with "food acceptable at a Viking feast"). I had another sip of the 337 and it totally grew on me. It went from my wanting to "take it or leave it" to tasting like another glass was in order. I think The Guy liked 337 more than I did (he said he was going to report on it himself - we'll see), but it really improved from my original sip. Though drier than my usual likes, it was good and it accompanied the meal well. It smelled like chocolate and rasberry. It tasted a lot like it smelled with a dry earthiness worked in. Not a lasting finish, but drinkable just the same.

Do not yet see, that, if the single man plant himself indomitably on his instincts, and there abide, the huge world will come round to him.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

7.75 out of 10
$12.99 / 750 ml.
14.5% alc. by vol.
California