Full Bodied Red

2011-11-20T19:47:00.001-06:00

2004 Cedar Knoll Vineyard Co. Cabernet Sauvignon

2011-10-16T19:48:00.000-05:00

Tanic, dark fruit, ink in color. Drinking well but not much time left on this vintage.

A Real Bad Accident.

2011-07-22T11:24:00.001-05:00

This breaks my heart as this wine is on the list of wine to drink before I die.

Expensive drop as forklift shatters $1.1 mln wine

(AFP) – 10 hours ago

ADELAIDE, Australia — An Australian winemaker said Friday he was "numb" after a malfunctioning forklift destroyed more than Aus$1 million ($1.1 million) of his prized shiraz.
Some 462 cases of the 2010 Mollydooker Velvet Glove Shiraz, which sells for Aus$185 a bottle, smashed to the ground as it was being loaded for export to the United States.
It cost winemaker Sparky Marquis one third of his annual production.
"So how do I feel? Gut-wrenched, shocked, numb," he told reporters.
"When they opened up the container they said it was like a murder scene," he added. "There was red everywhere.
"But it smelled phenomenal."
Brett McCarthur, of Kerry Logistics, said the company moves more than 20,000 containers a year and had never had such a malfunction before.
"It was very hard to make that call to Sparky," he said.
The saving grace was that the wine was fully insured, with assessors already on the scene.

2009 Mollydooker Cabernet Sauvignon The Maitre D’ (Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek)

2011-07-02T08:16:00.000-05:00

Testing Video Blog This Weekend

2011-06-30T08:46:00.001-05:00

Full Bodied Red will be switching to a video blog this weekend. Check back soon!

Faust Cabernet 2007 - The Quick and Dirty Review.

2010-12-22T15:49:00.001-06:00

From the Faust Website-

Faust, the wine, celebrates a legend which has inspired many great minds, among them the German poet Goethe, from whose masterpiece we draw our inspiration.

In Goethe’s most famous work, the aging scholar Dr. Faust barters his soul in the afterlife in exchange for another chance at youth. He gets his chance, yet ultimately his soul is saved by love.

The wine was a monster that required two hours of decanting prior to dinner, and it paired well with prime rib and garlic Brussels sprout.

This wine was filled with fruit, great structure, and a very healthy nose. Spice and pepper attacked the palate and lingered for about 30 seconds afterward.   Strong, but not angry. Firm, but not too tight.

After being open a total of five hours this monster mellowed into a playful caramel and chocolate delight. Release price of $50, I found it on sale for much less than that.

It could use a few more years in the bottle in my opinion, but hey, who am I to tell when you should drink something. If you like traditional California Cabernet, you will like this.

Find out more about Faust wines here.

Le Rêve Patisserie & Café

2010-12-01T10:49:00.000-06:00

Chocolate & Wine.

Do I need to say more? Visit Le Rêve in the Tosa village and find out for yourself. This "Raspberry Dome" was about as decadent as things can be. I enjoyed it with a glass of Bordeaux that was a perfect companion for this type of indulgence.

Truly wonderful.

Learn more about Le Rêve.

Enjoy!

Vino Cappuccino - The Four Food Groups in one place !

2010-11-24T11:17:00.002-06:00

On a recent Friday I was fortunate to try a restaurant I had never been to before with Diana. She had read about it and sounded like a place that was right in our world of food.

Wine - Pizza - Chocolate - Coffee.     The Four Horsemen of Dining for me, as I could eat myself to death in a place like this.

A short drive to Brookfield Road north of Gephart landed us at Vino Cappuccino. The restaurant has been open for about one year and it was doing a brisk business on this Friday evening.

We were told that the wait would be about 1/2 of an hour and we opted for an area at the bar to wait. I noticed two different walls of wine, one for red and one for white to peruse.   We looked over the red selections and decided on a bottle of EOS Zinfandel.    You can find the entire wine list here.

We were just starting to enjoy the first glass when our table was ready and we were seated in the more casual bar area. There is also a regular dining area that may offer a little more privacy, but this was fine for us. A choice would have been nice, but not really an issue.

Our server was very helpful in helping us with out selections and identified the pizza specials of the evening. Oh the choices... my mouth watered and I was giddy like a child on Christmas morning as I looked at the menu of gastromonical pleasures that awaited me. I almost went head first for the Espresso Encrusted Beef Tenderloin, but I really wanted pizza, and I now I have an excuse to come back to try it at a later date.

We opted for two appetisers and a smaller pizza.

Bruschetta
Fresh tomatoes, onion and basil, served atop crostini with a drizzle of balsamic syrup ($4.99)

Calamari
Tossed in our signature breading and fried until golden brown, served with garlic aioli and marinara $7.49

We chose one of the pizza specials of the evening and it was a first for me... to try a pizza without a traditonal red sauce.

A thin crust pesto sauce with fresh garlic, peppers and cheese was our selection and it paired perfect with the Zin.

We were in food utopia for the evening. Our server checked in on us quite often, making sure were pleased with our selection, and we were.

I rounded out the evening with some sort of chocolate tart that I really did not need, but it looked so good in the glass case and I can never pass up chocolate with red wine.

I am looking forward to another visit. You can visit their website here. Get there if you like pizza, wine, chocolate and coffee.

Enjoy!

Schild Estate "Barossa Shiraz" and Two Hands "Bellas Garden" in the WS Top 10 for 2010.

2010-11-18T11:33:00.007-06:00

Thanks to a security breach at Wine Spectator, the Top 10 for 2010 was released early this year. I was happy to see two wines that I really enjoy make the top 10.

Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz - 2008

From the website-
The Schild name has a long history in the Barossa, dating back to 1952
when Ben Schild purchased the Three Springs Farm property in
Rowland Flat and settled with his family. Today, second and third
generation vigneron’s work side by side to solidify Schild Estate’s
reputation, built on its commitment to translating the unique rapestry
of its vineyards into wines that speak of honesty and drinkability.

I have had this wine on several occasions and found it to be exactly what I have come to expect from an Aussie from the Barossa. It is complex with layers and layers like any red. Ripe with cherry, plum and a fond memory of blackberries comes to mind.

Soft tannins, good structure and a price of around $20.00. If you like Shiraz, you should try this.

Two Hands "Bellas Garden" - 2008

This is more along the lines of a special occasion wine for me. The last bottle I drank was a 2004 in the spring of this year. It was a massive wine, with blueberry and dark cherry syrup and a nose that will grab your attention like the sound made from a pair of high heel shoes walking beihind you on a wood floor....you just have to look. The legs matched the nose, and for me, this wine is the total package.

Strong. Ripe. Firm. Balanced. Most important - Drama Free !

I had it with a Delmanico Rib Eye, and it was a memorable dining event. I have a 2007 at home and I will look to add a 2008 to my cellar very soon.

Priced in the $50 plus range, watch for a sale or indulge yourself soon.

Friend them on Facebook for a chance at winning wine through the promotions they run on occasion.

You can find out more about Two Hands Wines or Schild Estate by following the hyperlink in their name.

Enjoy!!

Silver Oak Cabernet & Chateau Lynch Bages - MKE Wine Craze

2010-11-10T15:16:00.003-06:00

I will be giving MKE Wine Craze another try this evening. Looking forward to the following wines.

Silver Oak
Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley, 2003.

The 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex and concentrated wine that deftly balances intensity and finesse. The wine has a dark garnet color with a deep purple edge, and displays aromas of blackberry jam, dark chocolate, rose petal, black pepper and cedar. In the mouth, the attack is quite rich, expressing notes of brown sugar and nutmeg, and the flavors proceed seamlessly to a long finish of fruit and ripe tannins. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

Chateau Lynch Bages
Pauillac, 2004.

Pure and stony fruit on the nose of this wine, with classic blackcurrant tones and a polished stone-pebble character mingling with notes of exotic fruits and toasty oak. The same style is found on the palate; elegantly polished forest fruits, nicely covered structure, good ripe tannins and a creamy, broad, mouth-filling finish.

2008 Qupé Syrah & Ahi Tuna - August Weber Haus

2010-09-30T10:37:00.002-05:00

A recent trip to Cedarburg for an afternoon of wandering around and such landed Diana and I at the August Weber Haus
(W63N678 Washington Ave Cedarburg, WI) with two immediate needs. A small plate and some great wine.

The staff greeted us with with great enthusiasm and I felt like we were really welcome to be there. Not your basic fake smile and have a seat, the people here are really friendly. Not sure on what red I wanted to drink, the server behind the bar offered several samples of red that were open and I was drawn to the 2008 Qupé Syrah. Easy to drink, this classic Northern Rhone style wine had hints of pepper, berry and smoke. It falls in th category of a smart buy in my opinion, priced from $11 to $18, depending on where you look.

The Ahi Tuna was excellent and was served on a toasted bread with what the server described as Amore cheese.. Cooked to perfection in a terriaki soy sauce with butter and garlic, the combination was a match created just for this wine.

If you are in the Cedarburg area, plan to stop and try them both. I know it will be on the list of places to go the next time we are in the area.

MKE Wine Craze - Clear Bar

2010-09-29T11:16:00.003-05:00

From the Website....

Wednesdays 5:30-8:30 PM

"Try something new every Wednesday night at CLEAR, located inside InterContinental Milwaukee. Wrap your taste buds around some of the most exclusive selections in our wine rack with specially priced $5 pours. Explore the peaks of wine tasting at a reasonable price. Come once and you'll come again."

Where do I start with this?

The Good-
You do get to try some expensive wine at this event for a reasonable price. That is all I have.

The Not So Good-
I have attended this event twice. Each time the staff was not prepared for the event, knowing little or nothing about the wines being served. On each occasion the wines were not opened prior to the tasting to let the wine open up as any full bodied red needs.

On the second visit, they ran out of the 2007 Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy….yes, they ran out at around 7:00pm. Now I can understand that in this economic time that we are in not stocking great amounts of expensive wine, but you are advertising this for weeks and you run out after two bottles. REALLY? You are a bar in an expensive downtown hotel.

The Wines.

September 1st, 2010.

Cosentino M Coz
Red Bordeaux Blend. Napa, 2002. High End.
"M.Coz" is Mitch Cosentino's Signature Wine. A champion of California wine, "M.Coz" is fashioned in the classic style of the greatest Bordeaux blends throughout history, while simultaneously exemplifying the very best of the Napa Valley.

I really enjoyed this wine after it had been opened an hour or so, ripe fruit, enjoyable. I really wished I could have tried it after being decanted for about two hours.

XYZIN 50 YR Vine
Zinfandel. Sonoma, 2007. Mid Tier.
XYZin 50 comes from vines that were at last 50 years of age at the time of harvest, meaning that they were planted before the mid-1950's. Wine spectator 89 points

Just OK, better wines available in this price range.

September 22nd, 2010

2005 Cote Rotie, Rostaing, La Landonne
Rhone Varietal. France, 2005. High End.
Big and intense, the 2005 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Landonne is bigger and more concentrated then either the '06 Côte Blonde or '06 La Landonne and offers up gorgeous notes of smoked meat, violets, pepper and copious amounts of mineral and iron to go along with its medium to full bodied palate. Concentrated and rich, this has vibrant acidity, beautiful purity and a long, finish where the quality of the wine really shows. (94+ pts.)

This is a collectable wine. It is too bad that it was not treated that way by Clear. Just pop n pour….anyone want ketchup on their prime rib?

2007 Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy
Shiraz. McLaren Vale, 2007 Mid Tier.

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The opaque purple-colored 2007 B lue-Eyed Boy Shiraz spent 12 months in 80% new American oak. It offers up an enticing nose of cedar, tobacco, mineral, blueberry, and black raspberry. 92 points Wine Spectator: "Smooth and generous, with a hot black pepper streak running through the meaty cherry, dense plum and spice flavors, persisting on the round, supple finish.

Having opened a 2006 Blue Eyed Boy just a few days earlier to celebrate a birthday in the family, I knew what to expect from this wine. Big and bold with a nose that will let you know who is in charge. Full bodied with great structure, and a lasting finish of about 30 seconds. It is great wine if you like this style, which I do.

I hope that Clear can get their act together, this is a great way to experience wine that may be out of your budget.

Just because the price is cheap, it does not mean the experience should be.

R Wines Chris Ringland Cote Rotie Shiraz 2008

2010-03-10T15:58:00.002-06:00

92 Points - Wine Advocate, December 2009

"This is the third vintage of Chris Ringland Cote Rotie Shiraz. The 2008 was sourced from 20-60 year old Barossa vines and aged in seasoned American oak hogsheads. Deep purple-colored, it emits a captivating, already complex nose of smoke, incense, Asian spices, and blueberry. Velvety-textured, intense, full-bodied, and powerful on the palate, this rich effort will drink well for another 8-10 years." -Jay Miller

"The CR Shiraz displays a deep red-black with a scarlet orange rim in the glass. The aroma explodes with sweet red berry perfume, white florals, liquorice and aniseed and laced with a sweet vanillin back note. The rich mouth filling attack of red berries and milk chocolate follows through with vanillin on the finish." -The Importer

Groom Shiraz - 2007 Barossa Valley

2010-02-02T15:05:00.003-06:00

Succulant
Round
Moist
Intense
Spicey

Over powering with hints of submissive desires when matched with equally strong food. You can love the palate of this wine, particularly the warmth, depth and velvety silkiness it delivers. A friction that leads to intense satisfaction, lingering on the way down and burning a mental picture as you savor the deep lasting flavor.

Drink

2011 - 2020

Stanley Lambert Winery - Tasting Notes

2009-12-22T14:34:00.005-06:00

Stanley Lambert Winery

Barossa Valley Way

PO Box 459
Tanunda SA 5352

I attended a wine tasting at the Wine Cellar of Wisconsin on the only Sunday of the year the store is open. The Sunday before Christmas, also known as "last second Sunday", offered a chance to shop, sip and save on wine purchases.

Stanley Lambert wines were on sale with try before you buy samples available. There was also a Sparkling Shiraz to try, not made by them.

I will focus on the three wines I really enjoyed in the order of my preference.

Choc-a- Bloc: - chocolate infused fortified wine. I could drink this alone, add to coffee, add to cake, and to ice cream. It is oozing with chocolate and warmth. I do not usually drink foritifited wine, but this was well worth the try. A bottle came home with me and it will be used in more than one way during the stay in my home.
Family Tree Shiraz: - Flagship Shiraz.... full, no wait, a really full body of guilty voluptous pleasure. The wine was decanted for about an hour when it really started to open up, like most reds, it requires patience. The reward of patience is obvious when the nose hits you and you remember why you love red wine. Black cherry, blueberry, and hints of despair. Drink now through 2015.
Three's Company GSM: This is a Rhone style blend consisting of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. They play well together proving that reds can play with each other. They offer a nose of faint licorice, smooth tannins and rich red fruit. This is a fun wine, although a three some is not for me every day, it is a nice to try new things now and then....

Enjoy them soon.

Decanting Mature Red Wines

2009-12-14T14:03:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHFmFKGpYKI

Wine Budget

2009-12-14T13:43:00.001-06:00

As the New Year is almost upon us, corporate America is doing their budgets and forecasting for the next fiscal year. The same can be said for many individuals in this tough economic time. No salary increase again this year? We can only wait and see.

This brings me to the question of wine budgeting for the year. How many people actually budget for wine? Do you have an amount set aside for purchases in 2010? Is it just going to be "shooting from the hip" and buy it when the spirit moves you, or when you find a deal?

I have some personal goals for the year as far as wine purchases fit into my budget. I want to buy the 2000 vintage of Penfolds Grange to share with my son when he is older, and 2000 is his birth year. It will set me back around $200 or so, but to me it is worth it.

I understand that the concept of budgeting for wine may be an odd one, but I ask the questions:

1. Do you budget for wine?
2. What percentage of your income to you set aside?
3. What is the high-end amount you will spend on one bottle?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages

2009-09-04T08:49:00.004-05:00

A glass of red wine. This is what I needed on Sunday night to wind down from a long weekend. I am sure you have been there before, just a simple glass to relax. Yes, a glass of red wine is what I needed..

I went to the cellar, looked around for something not too big, afterall it was Sunday night. I found a bottle of 2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages. This would be perfect.

The bottle was opened and set off to the side to unwind as I completed a task or two. After about a half an hour a glass was poured and I sat down to relax.

It had a great cherry nose and flavor, not too strong, balanced with hints of pepper spice.

The body was medium, the attack was suttle and the finish was crisp.

This wine is about $12.00 a bottle, perfect for an everyday wine when you just want a glass to relax with.

Enjoy.

The Coppola Wine Tasting & Movie Event

2009-08-14T10:52:00.015-05:00

The Francis Ford Coppola Winery held a wine tasting event on Thursday, August 13th, 2009 at the Rosebud Cinema and Drafthouse. It was sponsored by Rays Wine and Spirits in Wauwatosa, WI.

The event featured 25 wines for sample, appetizers from Juniper 61 & The Godfather playing on the big screen. The movie played with just the soundtrack playing, no dialogue to consume your attention or distract from the tasting.

I focused my tasting effort on red wine, targeting a few specific wines of interest. There was really no need to waste time on a Rose', I was not going to purchase one in this lifetime.

The wine of the tasting in my opinion was the Zinfandel "Edizione Pennino" Napa Valley. I had sampled a few other wines prior to this and a few after, but this was the wine I will remember from the tasting.

The Edizione Pennino Zinfandel pays tribute to Francis Ford Coppola's maternal grandfather, Francesco Pennino. Born in Italy, Francesco emigrated to the United States as a young man and started a music publishing and import company known as "Edizione Pennino." The company's logo depicted two images: the last view of Francesco's homeland, the Bay of Naples, and his first view of America, the Statue of Liberty. Francis Ford Coppola took the design in its original form and used it to identify the estate Zinfandel which, like Francesco Pennino's journey, is the grape most identified with the Italian influence on the California wine industry. To add to the nostalgia, each vintage bottling has one of Pennino's song titles imprinted on the cork.

Color: Deep purple, Ink.

Nose: Completely in your face, rich blackberry-cranberry-pepper spice.

Structure: A complete full body, chunky mouth feel, not syrup.

Attack: Again, completely in your face with a bit of heat, strong attack of the mouth.

Finish: This wine lingered for about 15 to 20 seconds without an after burn, just a pleasant reminder.

Overall: I really enjoyed this wine and imagined it with many different food parings. At around $50 a bottle, it is out of the range I personally like to spend on wine. As a special occasion wine I can see this being a wine to consider, but then again there are many others also.

Cellar Addition: Torzi Matthews

2009-08-13T08:53:00.011-05:00

Red Wine and Olive Oil......they go to together when dining like no other combination in the world.

Imagine extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic, a small amount of balsamic vinegar, chopped basil, freshly ground pepper and a little rosemary. Pair that combination with your favorite bread, open a healthy bottle of Shiraz and indulge. If you are feeling a bit hedonistic, add some Boursin cheese to the mix.

When I received an email from the Wine Cellar of Wisconsin about an Ozzy wine steal, my interest was raised immediately. I did not know I was in for a boutique vintner from the Eden Valley, east of the Borossa Valley.

Torzi Matthews , a food and wine making partnership between Domenic Torzi and Tracy Matthews have passion and the firm conviction of appreciating the value of heritage tradition in the crafting of their wines and extra virgin olive oils.

I purchased two bottles of the 2007 Schist Rock Shiraz, and I was lucky to get it. There were only 1200 cases produced for the entire world. The inventory at the Wine Cellar sold out in 40 minutes.

A review I found describes this wine as:

Saturated red. Brisk, finely etched red berry and cherry skin aromas are underscored by dusty minerals and cracked pepper. Clean, mid weight red fruit flavors betray no rough edges or excess fat, picking up silky tannins with air. There's something pinot-like about this elegant wine, and the finish is distinctly racy and energetic, leaving sweet strawberry and smoky minerals behind.

The Wine Spectator gave it 92 points.

I will post my review when I get the courage to open a bottle with some extra virgin Olive Oil.

For additional reviews visit Cellar Tracker.

Cellar Addition

2009-08-10T14:40:00.004-05:00

Vintage: 2006; Grenache

Always an enduring favorite within the Kilikanoon family portfolio, the Prodigal seeks to deliver the single fruit purity of an old vine Grenache.

Sourced in equal parts from two 60 year old hand pruned and hand picked vineyards, the fully ripened fruit was crushed, fermented traditionally in small open topped fementers, then basket pressed and allowed to mature for 22months in older French and American oak hogsheads.

Intensely perfumed and redolent of cherries, dark chocolate and spicy older oak flavours, the palate offers sweetness and softness yet exquisitely mouthfilling and persistent on thefinish. Another great wine to complement a range of fine foods and cheeses.

An ageing potential of at least 8 - 10 years with careful cellaring.

Cellar Addition

2009-08-10T14:35:00.005-05:00

Shild Estate - 2006 Shiraz

Reviews and Awards

Commended

2008 International Wine Challenge
91 Points
Totally full and rich southern Barossa fruit, slightly ripe summery plums with an underlayer of vanillin oak, soft and generous on the palate and plenty of drinking at this price.

Double Gold Medals
DOUBLE GOLD - 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver Medals

2008 Mundus Vini Great International Wine Awards
Bronze Medals

2008 Decanter World Wine Awards2007 Royal Melbourne Wine Show2007 Royal Hobart International Wine Show

Mollydooker Update

2009-08-06T11:25:00.004-05:00

There has been a sighting of the 2008 Vintage of Mollydooker Wines at Thief Wine, in the Milwaukee Public Market. Get it before it sells out.

Wine and Movie Night - Another Round.........

2009-08-06T10:46:00.013-05:00

Lookin for a fun diversion on a Thursday night?

The fine people at Ray's Wine and Spirits are hosting another event at the Rosebud Cinema. This time it will be 25 wines from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

The movie playing in the background will a classic 1972 masterpiece directed by none other that Francis Ford Coppola. "The Godfather."

There will be specials on wine products, the vintner will be on hand and wine to sample.

I am looking forward to the Shiraz and Syrah and will post my opinions on each wine and others after the tasting.

Until then, try not to get sacked and don't be a nong.

Rodney Strong - 2006 Knotty Vines Zin

2009-07-12T18:55:00.007-05:00

This Wine is a switch from my normal big, bold angry red. It taste like summer, with the appearance of a garnet sunshine. It is comfortable with a salad loaded with fresh basil, radish, Swiss chard, pepper and light dressing. It also matched well with a peppery steak.

Nose...When this was first opened, it was black cherry and that was it. It opened up to reveal an almost tropical botanical garden, with hints of raspberry and blackberry and a bit of cedar. Plenty of spice with cocoa lingering about.

Legs...Long and power full, with a grip that is hard to release, this is very enjoyable with a price under $20.00.

When you not in the mood for an angry red...you know something a little less feisty, you can enjoy this wine without waking up in the morning puzzled by the events of the past evening. Enjoy for the next 2 or 3 years.

Penley Estates - Coonawarra, AU -

2009-07-02T08:19:00.031-05:00

July 1st, 2009.

Summer is here...or at least I thought. We had a high temperature of 64(f) in Milwaukee, the normal high is about 80(f). It was cloudy, rainy, and it was a day I really wanted to skip work, stay home and watch something mindless on the tube.

I did not have that luxury. Another day at work. Another day doing battle with drivers from the shallow end of the gene pool creating traffic issues. Another day of co-workers who share the same space in that same pool....you know the the types..dont know Christmas from Bourke Street.

I did have something to look forward to on this day, FREE, yes FREE wine at what is becoming my favorite purveyor of wine. This is none other than the Wine Cellar of Wisconsin. The owners, Joel & Gail are exceptional people. Do yourself a favor and make this a place to visit! Great selection and great prices.
I arrived at 5:15, and there was a fair amount of people waiting in line at the tasting area, and people milling about the store.

OK, before I go any further, this is not a wine tasting at some snob-a-torium like you have seen on TV or in movies, just people who like wine, or are learning to like wine.

I was greeted by Kym Tolley, his wife and a representative from the importer, Old Bridge Cellars. All three of them were very friendly, enthusiastic and shared that ever present "Ozzy" sense of humor. We were never referred to as a "seppo", or as a "dill".

The Chardonnay was my first taste and it was very good, not over sweet like white wine usually is. I can't comment too much on it because I really was more interested in getting to the full bodied red.

The Hyland was my next selection, and it was exactly what is needed after the day I had. Rich and supple, not over the top, just satisfying. The vintage was a 2005, and here are some official tasting notes from the Penley web site. This wine would come home with me!!
I found the wine to be a rich purple color, pronounced nose of berries, and a little oak. It had a warming effect and I enjoyed it.

Next on the list was the Condor, a Shiraz - Cabernet meritage. Again, this is exactly what I needed. Strong yet balanced, great nose and beautiful inky purple color. It felt hedonistic in a way, like eating chocolate cake for brekkie....

On to a full Cab, The Phoenix. This wine added to the previous two reds I had tried. It was excellent to my novice palate, but then again, I drink what I like.

Kym kept us entertained while discussing wine, Austrailia, and reflections on life. Engaged for 16 yrs, and married for the last 18 months....there must be a story here, but i missed it.
His wife (sorry, I can't for the life of me remember her name) is a delightfull person , she is the artist behind the labels. Who knew an attorney could have creative abilities. Just kidding. She is an entertining person to talk with.

The last wine on the list was the Reserve.

From the Penley web site:

"This classic Australian red wine captures and enhances the distinctive characters of Coonawarra. These characters are highlighted by rich berry tones with a great length and depth of flavour. The complex characters of this wine show intensity and layered depth. To achieve this style it is important to have

harmony between fruit intensity, oak tannin, grape tannin and acid. The objective for the Penley Reserve cabernet sauvignon style is harmony and balance.
Inherent in the Penley style is soft balance but this should not detract from ageing potential. The wine is made with bottle age in mind. Intense tannin, acid and flavour components are elements required. It is a strong held belief that these components need to be in balance, not just in place, for a wine to mature in bottle."

I enjoyed this as well. It was a great way to end the tasting, with a true full bodied red. Complex with healthy overtones of ripe dark cherry, oak, and a hint of violet.

I had a few bottles signed, and took a picture of Kym signing the bottles for my wine cellar wall. Yes, it is a bit juvenile, but for me to show friends the bottle and the picture of the wine maker signing the bottle will be worth it.

Until next time, don't be a whacka whacka and keep a look out for the white pointers .

2009-06-30T16:15:00.002-05:00

Google Analytics -

Seems this blog has some visitors from Florida, New York, and Down Under....post a comment and say hello.

A Good Wine From Spain

2009-06-29T10:30:00.004-05:00

The right, you read that correctly. I had a good wine from Spain recently, from the region of Catalunya.

This wine is a value, priced at under $20.00. Full bodied, very consistent. Ruby color, cherry, plum and blackberry on the palate with a licorice finish.

A bit about Spain & Wine -

Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles.

Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces.

Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain.

Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. -

Source: - Catavino.net

Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos and Amontillados. But apart from Sherry, Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre.

The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now.

The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial).

Based on in-spain.info.

2004 Bella's Garden - Barossa Shiraz

2009-06-29T09:09:00.002-05:00

I recently found a bottle that is now safely resting in the new cellar.

#10 in the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2006!

95 points and a Highly Recommended designation from the Wine Spectator: "Dark, deep and impressively focused, a massive wall of delicious fruit -- cherry, pomegranate, raspberry and red plum are among the first to appear -- tempered with refined tannins that let the flavors sail on and on through the extended finish. Best from 2007 through 2020. 1,500 cases imported."

(02/06) 94 pointd Robert Parker: "From the Barossa, the inky/ruby/purple-hued 2004 Shiraz Bella’s Garden offers notions of mint, blackberries, smoke, dusty earth, and a distinctive licorice and creme de cassis character.

This layered, full-bodied, powerful (all of these wines have 15-16% alcohol), stunningly complex, rich, impressive Shiraz requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 10-15." (04/06)

Wine Cellar

2009-06-28T14:28:00.009-05:00

The new wine cellar is almost complete. The only thing left to do are the floors. The celler can hold about 100 bottles now.

Coriole - Estate Shiraz

2009-06-26T15:58:00.006-05:00

A recent visit to Seven Seas for a special occasion gave me the opportunity to try a very nicely aged Shiraz.

This bottle was from the 2000 vintage. The nose was excellent and offered a very pronounced fruit / berry aroma. The body was full, as you would expect from a heavier Shiraz with a dark purple color. The legs were long lasting the finish was about 20 seconds.

It paired excellent with the meal I was having which was a black pepper rubbed sirloin steak. The wine could stand up to the seasoning and then some.

I would recommend this wine to anyone who truly enjoys a full bodied red, just save room for dessert, because it was great with the Black Forest Torte I had.

Enjoy till next time......

Time To Update

2009-06-11T14:06:00.004-05:00

It has been a while, and it is time to update the blog. This weekend I should have some pics of the new wine cellar, updates on recent purchases, and of course a review or two.

Movie and Wine Nite

2009-03-09T20:06:00.011-05:00

If you were ever curious about the time when California wine was introduced to the civilized world, it was 1976. The movie Bottle Shock tells the story of a man and his dream. Create the perfect wine. I suggest you rent this movie to appreciate the struggles of wine makers of Napa Valley in the 70's. Or, just rent it, open a bottle of wine and make fun of the French. Either way, it is all good in the hood.

Synopsis:

Looking for a way to boost his failing Parisian wine shop, a snobbish Brit named Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) heads to California's Napa Valley, preparing for a tasting contest he has set up, pitting his favorite French wines against up-and-coming vintages from California. He assumes that a victory by the French wines will spur people to flock to his store, but he is surprised to find that the California wines are not quite as awful as he had imagined. He is especially intrigued by a Chardonnay made by Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) and his son, Bo (Chris Pine), at Chateau Montelena, but Jim is a perfectionist who never thinks his wine is ready and does not want to be involved in the contest, believing it will be a circus and an excuse to embarrass the California wineries. He has a tense relationship with his son, an easygoing surfer dude who seems more interested in the summer intern, Sam (Rachael Taylor), than working in the family business. Meanwhile, the rest of the Napa Valley vintners are excited about participating in the contest, including Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez), one of Jim's best employees, who is making his own wine on the side with Garcia (Miguel Sandoval). As Spurrier gets closer to deciding which California wines will be selected for the contest, friendships and families threaten to tear apart and love blossoms.

Based on a true story--Jim and Bo Barrett served as consultants on the film--BOTTLE SHOCK is a tasty treat, co written by husband-and-wife team Randall Miller and Jody Savin (with Ross Schwartz); Miller also serves as one of the editors and producers. Pullman is outstanding as the former corporate suit trying to live out his dream; the cast also includes Bradley Whitford and Eliza Dushku in small but important roles. The period soundtrack features several Doobie Brothers songs as well as 1970s tunes by America, Bad Company, and Foghat.

The wine I enjoyed while watching this movie is an everyday favorite of mine. Pillar Box Red. A nice simple red priced at the bargain price of $8.99 from Woodmans.

The formal review from:

Robert Parker, 91 points:

"The 2006 Pillar Box Red is 50% Shiraz, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Merlot aged in a mix of used French and American oak. Purple-colored, it offers an enticing, fruity nose including aromas of cassis, black cherry, black raspberry, and blueberry. Full-bodied, ripe, and layered with flavor, this wine totally over-delivers on my hedonist’s meter. Drink this awesome value over the next 2-3 years. Pillar Box has a powerful pedigree; fruit sourced from Henry’s Drive and winemaking consultation from the renowned Chris Ringland." Best 2009-2013

My Review:

It reminds me of the early days when my wine palate was being developed during late nights of reggae,. This usually was the wine to open at 1:00am on a school night. Reason, responsibility, and recklessness came to mind at the same time, with recklesness usually winning. But that is what a full bodied red will do to you. Headonistic? Yes, Over the top? Yes.

Inky purple with legs of a gymnist. A powerful aroma with with true hints of acrimony and a little moral outrage, how can this be $8.99?

Buy it, stock up, enjoy for 2-3 more years.

Vin français est OK, le vin australien est mon favori

2009-03-04T18:03:00.005-06:00

The Wine Advocate has just released the Australia issue, and all of the 2007 Mollydooker's were rated 90-98 points. We received the first, second, third, equal fourth and equal fifth highest scores of the 2007 Aussie wines! WhooHoo!Starting today, we're bringing back our Spring Shipping Included offer good on every12-btls shipped via UPS ground to your door. You can purchase full cases or mix-n-match too.Jay Miller from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate reviews our 2007 wines: (We thought you'd also enjoy seeing the scores from the past two vintages which really helps show the consistent quality of our wines year after year... that's what Marquis Fruit Weight is really about.)
Lefty Wines - $25/btl

08 The Violinist Verdelho 90 pts (07 = 90 pts; 06 = 90 pts) "...the fragrant nose offers up notes of baking spices, pit fruits, melon, and floral aromas... creamy texture, ripe flavors, and excellent balance."

07 The Scooter Merlot 91 pts (06 = 91 pts first vintage)"This lengthy effort over-delivers for its modest price. It might even help restore Merlot's tattered reputation."

07 The Maitre D' Cabernet Sauvignon 92 pts (06 = 91 pts; 05 = 92 pts) "It reveals an enticing nose of spice box, scorched earth, smoke, black currant, and blackberry followed by a velvety-textured, layered, savory Cabernet with excellent depth and balance."

07 Two Left Feet Blend 93 pts (06 = 93 pts; 05 = 94 pts)"A glass-coating opaque purple... array of violets, scorched earth, smoke, black cherry, and blueberry ...loads of spicy, savory blue and black fruits, silky tannin, and a very long finish."

07 The Boxer Shiraz 93 pts (06 = 94 pts; 05 = 95 pts)"Dense and rich on the palate, it has layers of succulent fruit, lots of spice, and a lengthy finish. It is surprisingly elegant for its size."

Party Wines - $55/btl

07 Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 94 pts (06 = 95 pts first vintage)"Super-concentrated, layered, and intense on the palate, it has a velvety texture, luscious flavors, and impeccable balance." Sold Out - Join the waiting list.

07 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 95 pts (06 = 96 pts first vintage) "Opulent on the palate, this glossy effort will evolve for another 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now and over the next decade."

Love Wines - $90/btl

07 Enchanted Path Shiraz/Cabernet 95+ pts (06 = 94 pts; 05 = 96 pts)"Purple/black colored, it has a brooding bouquet of spice box, toasty oak, mineral, espresso, black currant, and blueberry."

07 Carnival of Love Shiraz 96 pts (06 = 97 pts; 05 = 99 pts)"Opulent on the palate, this glossy Shiraz has serious depth of flavor, great concentration, excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a pure, silky finish."

Velvet Glove - $185/btl

07 Velvet Glove Shiraz 98 pts (06 = 99 pts first vintage)"Voluptuous and sexy on the palate, this totally hedonistic effort has plenty of structure and a 60+ second finish. It will be difficult to keep one's hands off this beauty but it will drink well through 2027 for those who can withstand the seduction."

Mollydooker WOW!!

One of the reasons we love Sarah & Sparky so much is because they go to such lengths to ensure we have a WOW experience every time we open a bottle of Mollydooker.

This year that level of dedication means they've chosen not to bottle, and will not release any 2008 Velvet Glove, Carnival of Love, Enchanted Path, Blue Eyed Boy or Gigglepot in August simply because the fruit that would normally have gone into these wines didn't reach the required Marquis Fruit Weight level.

The great news, now that they've finished blending, is that much of the fruit from our best vineyards will be used in our Lefty wines which are, as you might imagine, shaping up to be awesome!

Fetish Wines

2009-02-28T10:15:00.001-06:00

My two bottles of Fetish: The Watcher arrived this week. May have to bust into a bottle soon.

The clinical review....

Fetish is a joint venture between Joshua Tree Imports and noted winemaker Rolf Binder. The 2006 The Watcher Shiraz offers up a nose of wood smoke, tar, blueberry, and blackberry. This leads to a thick, structured wine with excellent layering of fruit, intense flavors, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Give it 2-3 years to unfold and drink it through 2016."" Best 2009-2016

Winners Tank

2009-02-28T09:11:00.002-06:00

I purchased this wine for $11.99 based on research done on the fly while shopping. Check out-

http://manageyourcellar.com/winecellar/do/Welcome

This is a great website to manage your cellar for free, yes free! It provides you with access to an extensive wine library and offers a mobile format or full html format to view.

OK, back to the wine. I opened it about an hour before the first taste. When I took the initial whiff from the bottle, I knew I would be pleased with the selection.

As with all true full bodied reds, I was careful not to rush this one into the glass and let it relax naturally, slowly massaging oxygen into the wine at a leisurely pace.

The first pour released an abundant nose and fragrances of dark berry, a bit of plum and perhaps a little black cherry. The color was an inky purple that coated the glass like lipstick on a white shirt collar, no escaping this red..... I thought to myself.

As I held is up to the light to look at the color in greater detail, it was if I were looking into a past life. It was dark and unknown in there, but it was going to be fun and not worth missing out by playing it safe.

The legs on this red were almost supernatural, powerful, long... wait long is not the correct word.....lingering, like the first awkward kiss........oops, check that.

The legs lasted for what would seem an eternity, enough said.

The flavor when I drank this was everything I had come to expected from a full bodied red: big, bold, angry, warming, smooth with hint of resistance. The finish was persistent, long and very pronounced.

Robert Parker rated this a 91, and called it a perennial "best buy".

I would have to agree, for $11.99 this is one red to let in and enjoy.

A wish list wine...Torbreck The Struie 2005

2009-02-26T11:35:00.000-06:00

Its dense color is accompanied by a fragrant bouquet comprising blackberry, pepper and licorice aromas, and a rich, silky mouth feel.

The Struie greatly rewards those with the patience to carefully cellar it.

Wine Advocate The 2005 The Struie was sourced from cooler Eden Valley and Barossa Valley hillside vineyards. It is David Powell’s attempt to showcase the cooler side of the region. Vine age ranges from 46-110 years old. The wine was aged for 18 months in older French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It delivers a splendid bouquet of lead pencil, game, blueberry muffin, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by an elegant Shiraz which is nevertheless full-bodied, dense, and richly flavored. Plush on the palate, it has superior depth and length and the structure to evolve for 6-8 years. Drink it through 2027. Score: 94. —Jay Miller, October 2007.

Wine Enthusiast This has a distinctly spicy, savory, meaty quality to its aromas, possibly due to the one-third of the blend that comes from Eden Valley. Those elements impart great complexity to this wine, building on its core of blackberry fruit. Like all the Torbreck wines, this shows a rich, layered texture and a long finish. Drink now–2020. Score: 93. —Joe Czerwinski, November 01, 2007.

Wine Spectator Smooth and round, with a distinct floral cast to the blueberry and plum flavors, finishing with a red pepper note and deft balance. The flavors are focused and juicy. Shiraz. Drink now through 2013. Score: 90. —Harvey Steiman, October 15, 2007.

The Quake

2009-02-24T18:19:00.001-06:00

This beast ALMOST got the better of me one evening.....It is a bit over the top....15% on the alcohol level. Open it the night before or at least 3 hours and give this full bodied red ample time and space for proper breathing and such....

It does not sneak up on you, too big for that! Enjoy with a pizza loaded with garlic, peppers, garlic, and boursin cheese.

Don't drink it alone...Don't drink it in the dark....

But Drink It!

Waiting to Drink.....

2009-02-24T16:11:00.000-06:00

A few more years for this one.....but I have two......perhaps sooner.

Supple in texture and deftly balanced despite its size, this is a big wine that dances smoothly on the palate, while showing off its rich cherry, blueberry and sweet spice flavors. The parts melt together seamlessly as the finish rolls on and on. Drink now through 2016.

The Boxer - 2007 Version

2009-02-24T15:37:00.000-06:00

I have had the pleasure of enjoying more than one bottle of Mollydooker: The Boxer from 2007. I found it an excellent wine for $25.00.

A professional review of this wine-

90 pts - Wine Spectator

The compelling nose exhibits aromas of scorched earth, smoke, grilled bacon, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied, thick and rich, this layered Shiraz is velvety-textured and opulent.

The finish lasts for nearly a minute. It is a sensational value. It can be enjoyed now but will evolve for several years.

Latest Purchase

2009-02-24T15:18:00.000-06:00

I recently purchased a bottle of Amon-Ra, 2006 Shiraz.

I wont be able to share my experience as it relates to this wine for about 10 years, but here is what Robert Parker www.erobertparker.com could tell us.

"97-100 points Robert Parker: "Amon-Ra has become one of Australia’s icon wines. Made from 100% Shiraz sourced from vineyards ranging in age from 80-120 years and with microscopic yields of 0.5 tons per acre, the 2006 Amon-Ra was aged for 15 months in new French and American oak. The wine is a thick, glass-coating, purple/black in color. The aromas cover a wide range of scents including smoke, vanilla, pepper, Asian spices, coconut, espresso, blueberry, and chocolate. Thick, rich, layered, and complete, this monumental wine offers extraordinary intensity and length. It requires 10-15 years to fully evolve and should easily last through 2040. Hats off to Ben Glaetzer for producing an extraordinary portfolio! The renowned winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, sources all of his fruit for this label from the Ebenezer district in the northern Barossa.

Many knowledgeable experts cite this sub-region as the finest in the Valley." (10/07) " Best -2040

Welcome to Full Bodied Red

2009-02-24T15:06:00.000-06:00

I will try to post my opinion about my favorite subject.....Full Bodied Red Wines....