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October 12, 2009

Dan Aykroyd - Discovery Series

Producer: Dan Aykroyd
Name: Discovery Series
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Region: Niagra Peninsula, Canada
Price: ~ $14

Remember the Blues Brothers? Fairly famous blues band/sketch that everyone loved from the late 70s to the 80s? Yeah, this wine is nothing like that. You would expect it to be a down-and-dirty, bold but smooth wine to match the rhythmic blues of the band. But it doesn't. And if it doesn't, then there shouldn't be a stage mic on the label. Just doesn't even make sense. I get it Dan; you like blues and wine. But in your case it is not a good match (your no Greg Norman).

Along with a clear and thin appearance, the bouquet smells of spice and dark cherries and has a slight mineral or stone scent. It tasted of oak, blackberries and spice with a quick dry finish. The tannins were a little sharp and the overall body of the wine was too thin for my liking. I think that the ingredients are there to produce a pretty good wine but the 2007 vintage is not doing it for me.

Sorry Danny, maybe try Coneheads 2?

J

     
Click here to download:
Dan_Aykroyd_-_Discovery_Series.zip (72 KB)

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Filed under  //   Cabernet   Canada   Merlot   Niagra Peninsula   Red Wine   Wine  

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October 6, 2009

(oops) - Carmenère Merlot

Producer: (oops)
Varietal: Carmenère, Merlot
Vintage: 2007
Region: Chile
Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: ~ $19

I've been waiting to taste some wine all fucking night. Nothing tonight seemed to go right. Wind is howling wildly, DVR had to be reset and it took me longer than I was expecting to caulk the new window frames.

*sigh* oh sweet sweet wine...

I have to admit, I purchased this wine based purely on the label and its design. It wasn't a hokey label whose image changed depending on the angle you're looking at it from. Nor did it have a clever cartoon animal that was deliberately made to look cute and loveable. It was simply laid out well in a "newspaper column" type arrangement with an interesting typeface. And since I am a graphic artist it caught my attention.

It has an aroma of forward black berries and—as the first time smelling this scent—leather. Leather! Go figure. I mean, I didn't know what I was smelling until I read the label and sure enough, leather. The type of leather that you'd make a very old brown book bag out of. You'd think it would be terrible like old leather shoes or mouldy old winter leather gloves but it was quite nice.

The 70% carmenère and 30% merlot had excellent balance with bold oak complimented with blackberries and a hint of spice. The full body touches your palate on all areas and finishes medium to long and not overly dry (but dry enough).

Chiggity check yourself before you wreck yourself...

J

     
Click here to download:
oops_-_Carmenre_Merlot_Tags_Wi.zip (76 KB)

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Filed under  //   Carmenere   Chile   Merlot   Red Wine   Wine  

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October 1, 2009

Beringer - Founders' Estate Merlot

Producer: Beringer

Name: Founders' Estate Merlot
Varietal: Merlot
Region: Napa Valley, United States
Vintage: 2005
Price: ~ $17

Winter is coming and I'm still dragging ass trying to hold onto summer. Gotta pick up the hammer again and finish off our renovations and work is supposed to get busier as the months progress. October? It's already October? What the hell happened to September?

Big story today in Halifax about a Bishop named Raymond Lahey who was caught with child pornography on his computer. What makes this story a little different is that previously he brokered a $15-million settlement for victims of sexual abuse by priests of the diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia. As I was following this today the comments on the CBC website were just pouring in by the second. One of the reasons why I absolutely appreciate the internet: although I may not agree with some of the comments, we're all given a platform or forum in which to be heard.

What does this have to do with wine? Absolutely nothing.

I'm a follower of Wine Access Magazine's twitter updates and one of their daily wines was the Beringer 2006. Unfortunately for me the wine store near my place didn't carry that vintage so I had to settle for the 2005. The bouquet smells of ripe plums, blackberries and a touch of black cherries. On the palate it was a full bodied merlot with warm spice flavours. It was complex enough for me to try and identify the various spice and berry notes and finished long and dry. Balanced and velvety. My only thing would be to let it breathe for a bit before drinking.

You know, after all the previous pedophile talk, here's a video to lighten things up (pun intended). Play it over and over again. Put it on a loop if you have to.

J

   
Click here to download:
Beringer_-_Founders_Estate_Mer.zip (55 KB)

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Filed under  //   Merlot   Napa Valley   Red Wine   United States   Wine  

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September 18, 2009

Cono Sur - Merlot

Producer: Cono Sur
Varietal: Merlot
Vintage: 2008
Region: Chile
Price: n/a (I was at a friend's house)

 I'm not that fond of South American wines only because I find them to be a little inconsistent. A lot of garbage wineries have popped up over the years (especially in Australia) so you never know what you're gonna get. They're the ones with really gimmicky or cartoon-like labels but taste like a horseshit inside. Sure when you're looking to get shit faced they're fine but they probably wouldn't be offered at a half-decent restaurant.

 Anyway, the Cono Sur Merlot was pretty decent. It had some nice plum and blueberry notes on a medium body. I wouldn't say it's a bold merlot but it is well rounded and smooth with a quick finish.

 Okay, peace ooouuut...

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Filed under  //   Chile   Merlot   Red Wine   Wine  

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