Syrah Rose Josefina Syrah Rose 2007
October 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Wine Makers Notes: This Rose has a very tangy nose. A lot of melon… a little apple…some blueberry. The first sip was unusual… very sour and a quite bitter with a charcoal aftertaste. I gave it another try later in the evening, but to no avail. Not a very good Rose.
CHATEAU MONTROCHE 2005 COSTIERES DE NIMES
May 4, 2008 | 2 Comments
If you are just looking for really tasty and versatile red wine at a great price, this will be a sensational year for you. This is one of a pair of sensational little Rhones in feature spots this month that simply deliver what Mother Nature gave them.
If you are the Dufoix family, you live in a small village just west of the Rhone River and 15 miles from the Mediterranean. Your estate resembles one in Chateauneuf with rocky soils and the fruit, a mix of half old-vine Grenache with half Syrah, can hang late and get quite ripe and mature. In 2005, you get the vintage equivalent of a poker full-house, and your estate is managed and wine made by your friends and next door neighbors, the Cornuts, who also do a whale of a job at their own estate, Mas Guiot. Life is good, oui? Dark, plummy and packed with expressive, plush fruit, the tannins are ripe, the wine has round edges and fresh flavors. A surprisingly complete effort for this kind of fare with loads of personality, plenty of stuffing and an affable demeanor.
Alice White Cabernet Shiraz 2005
April 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Wine Makers Notes: “Americans have come to embrace the bold yet approachable Australian wines of Alice White - wines that reflect the courage of the young adventurer herself. Join Alice in her journeys while exploring the finest in New World winemaking. The only thing that definitely unpredictable is the high quality, Consistency and value of the wines. Tasting Notes: This wine is an artful blend of the vibrant fruit of Australian Shiraz with the classic elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon. A bold and full-bodied wine - great for everyday enjoyment. Food Affinities: This Cabernet/Shiraz blend is an excellent choice to accompany most meats, pastas and cheeses.” -Winery
Ravenswood Shiraz Vintners Blend 2005
March 26, 2008 | 1 Comment
When the popularity and appeal of Syrah inspired Ravenswood to create a Vintners Blend from that varietal, Joel faced a challenge he didn’t have with other California grapes: Its newness to the United States meant he’d have to rely on younger vines and less experienced winemakers. By contrast, however, he had connections to a place where Syrah has been successful for 100 years: Australia, where it’s called Shiraz.
Tasting Notes: Dark, jammy, plummy and spicy, it exudes Syrah’s trademark pepper, along with sweet ripe fruit and smoky meat. Our most in-your-face Vintners Blend to date, it gives new (read: Aussie) meaning to the motto ”No Wimpy Wines.”
Wine makers Notes: Good drop, that: Sourced mainly from McClaren Vale and Barossa Valley — the most prestigious growing regions on the Red Continent — the Vintners Blend Shiraz is a slam dunk from Down Under.
Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere 2006
March 15, 2008 | 2 Comments
Wine Maker’s Remarks:
Grape Varieties: 85% Carménère, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah
Casillero del Diablo Carménère is excellent with fresh light dishes based in meats, vegetables and fresh herbs. Also a good accompaniment to ripe cheeses such as Gouda, Gruyere or a dry goat cheese.
Dark red crimson color. Notes of plums, black fruit, chocolate and spice on the nose. It is a well-balanced, round wine with firm tannins.
Boxhead Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
February 29, 2008 | 1 Comment
Once a boxhead, always a boxhead. Research suggests a collaboration between square shaped skulls and the production of the finest produce. The squarer the head the better the wine. But why so many boxhead wine makers in the wine growing regions of South Australia? A defective gene has mutated over the generations; or a need to know top secret government plans for global domination; pumping brain altering chemicals into the air. We may never know, but what we do is this; the product of the boxhead represents some strange ability to create the finest wines.
Ruby-red. Impressively perfumed bouquet runs from strawberry to plum, with hints of bitter chocolate and espresso. Fresh, sweet cherry and dark berry flavors offer much more depth than one expects from a $10 wine. There’s a brisk, energetic qualilty to the finish. The value here is amazing. 89 points Steven Tanzer
The Little Penguin Shiraz 2005
February 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Wine Maker’s Remarks: Hold this hefty red to the light and marvel at the dense, bright magenta hues. Savor the splashes of chocolate, spice and juicy strawberries on the nose. The flavor has equally impressive dark sweet fruit, closing with an impressive length. This Australian Shiraz wine holds its own with hard cheeses and anything on the barbie, from red meats to blackened fish.
Fat Bastard Shiraz 2005
February 24, 2008 | 1 Comment
Wine Maker’s Remarks: Deep crimson in color with flavors of fresh-picked, ripe red berries. Smooth oak combines with a touch of spice for a spectacular Shiraz.” Rigorous parcel selection.” Grapes picked at optimum ripeness.” De-stemming and crushing on arrival at the winery.” Fermentation of the fruit for about one week, with pumping over twice daily.” At the end of the alcoholic fermentation some of the wine is put into barrel to complete its malolactic fermentation.” Raised for 4 months in barrel and tank.” Ideal with grilled red meat, lamb, spicy foods and full bodied cheeses.
Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
February 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Medium purple in colour, spicy white pepper and blueberry cassis aromas are further characterised by hints of chocolate and vanilla. Fruit and tannin qualities are finely balanced on a firm, sweet and spicy palate, possessing persistence and finesse.
Winemakers Comments:
Ripe parcels of Shiraz, rich in spice and white pepper characters have been combined with batches of soft fruity Cabernet. Careful handling of the fruit and wine at all stages of production ensures that these inherent fruit flavours are retained.
La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rose 2006
February 18, 2008 | 1 Comment
Wine maker’s notes:
This dry Rose is intensely fruity. It comes from vines grown high on the slopes of Mount Ventoux, one of the best vineyards in the Rhone Valley. The delightful and distinctive character of La Vielle Ferme Rose is the judicious blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah grapes.
Wine Spectator
“Effusive and bright, with cherry pit, strawberry and mineral notes followed by a refreshing finish. An ideal summer back-porch pour that has the stuffing to match with food. Made from Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah. Drink now.”
