Wino Blogger

Producer: Rolling Stones Wines
Name: Satisfaction
Varietal: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, 4% Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2005
Region: Napa Valley, United States
Price: ~ $50

Well what do we have here Mick? Your own wine? I'm very cautious of celebrity branded wine because for the most part it's mediocre wine in a flashy package. The Rolling Stones booth definitely had a lot of flash: numerous banners, TVs playing shows of the Rolling Stones, multiple bottle displays and somewhat of a greasy salesman behind the table. It put me off a little because I was trying to ask the rep about the wine and he gave me a lazy description and moved on to other tasters—namely the females—who weren't even spending time tasting the goddam wine anyway (there's a lot of them at these conventions). It would seem to me that if you wanted to get your wine out there, you'd spend time with the tasters who were actually serious about discussing the wine.

Anyway, the bouquet was actually pretty interesting with notes of cassis, currant and black cherry. On the palate it had strong cherry and spice notes that were quite bold and forward. With slight oak and a full body (almost syrup-like), the wine was complex and well structured with a long spicy finish.

When I looked the wine up online I came across prices in the $50 per bottle range. I'm sorry, the wine was good but not $50 per bottle good. There are far more interesting wines out there for a much better price. Try it to say you've tried it, but there probably won't be an encore tasting.

Peace in the middle east!

J

       

Click here to download:

Rolling_Stones_Wines_-_Satisfa.zip (519 KB)

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Producer: Deerfield
Name: Shiraz Cuvée
Varietal: Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Sirah
Vintage: 2004
Region: Sonoma, United States
Price: ~ $26
Alcohol: 16.1%

I'm not entirely sure why Deerfield decided to create a 16.1% alcohol Shiraz Cuvée. I mean, that's pretty much Amarone alcohol from a Californian wine. This poured like thick syrup that coated the wine glass. The kind of wine that stains your lips and teeth and really makes you look like a wino. I tried to include a picture of the colour and clarity but the blackberry has a shitty camera.

The bouquet smells intensely sweet (alcohol naturally smells sweet) and hot. It's complimented by a strong toasted spice smell with a slight nutty aroma. The wine itself tastes (and feels) like molasses or brown sugar. Even though the alcohol content is high it's still fairly smooth. Toasted spice, heavy black cherries and a finish that's long and almost tacky. For how sweet it is the finish is somewhat dry.

Personally, I thought it was too sweet. I mean, it could've been balanced with a little more acidity to tone it down. I woke up with a slight headache from two glasses of this stuff. That's like eight-TEEN glasses of regular wine!

C-ya!

J

     

Click here to download:

Deerfield_-_Shiraz_Cuve_Tags_W.zip (72 KB)

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Producer: Greg Norman
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2006
Region: Paso Robles, United States
Price: ~ $17

What does an Australian golfer ranked 252nd in the world with a vineyard in the United States know about wine? You would think absolutely nothing but as it turns out—there is something interesting there.

The bouquet of the Greg Norman Petite Sirah (or Syrah) smells heavily of black cherries, mild spice and oak. The palate is nicely balanced with forward spice, cassis and has a long velvety dry finish. It was a very nice petite sirah that would've tasted even better with a 12 oz rib eye with peppercorn sauce. A nice rib eye would taste great right about now...

I love weekends. Back to work tomorrow though...

Okay, peace ooouuut...

J

PS: who's that creepy guy in the background?

   

Click here to download:

Greg_Norman_-_Petite_Sirah_Tag.zip (64 KB)

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Producer: Beringer

   

Click here to download:

Beringer_-_Founders_Estate_Mer.zip (55 KB)

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Producer: Bacio Divino
Name: Pazzo
Vintage: 2004
Region: Napa Valley, United States
Price: ~ $30

The only thing better than drinking your wine is drinking somebody else's. My friends Ryan and Rochelle brought over a bottle of Pazzo by Bacio Divino from the Napa Valley and it was excellent. I believe they received it as a gift for their wedding and were generous enough to share it with my wife and I on "Games Night 2009" the highlight of which was Taboo.

The colour is clear but deep ruby red and the bouquet has deep notes of black and red cherries, spice and subtle hints of oak. Because this blend is predominantly sangiovese (with petite syrah, cabernet sauvignon and viognier) the palate too has an abundant dark cherry taste but also has smooth notes of spice and earthy wood. The wine is quite balanced with good acidity. It's character persuades you to keep coming back for more and with each taste you discover something new. So frickin' good! Again, excellent wine. Thanks Ryan and Rochelle!

Booyah!
J

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Producer: Pepperwood Grove
Varietal: Viognier
Vintage: 2007
Region: California, United States
Price: ~ $30/bottle (in a restaurant)
 
For my step-father's birthday we went to this little East Indian restaurant for his birthday called Moti Mahal. Cute little place that was fairly steady even for a Sunday night at eight o'clock. Kinda thought it would be nice to have a cool white wine to edge some of the bite off from the spicy food. The nose on this viognier was fairly crisp and refreshing with a bit of peppery spice. It had a light body with tastes of apricots, pepper and even cloves to tie the indian food together. I'm guessing that at $30 per bottle at a restaurant this wouldn't cost a whole lot at retail. It wasn't a complex wine but when you're searching for decent wine without spending too much you're looking for balance more than complexity.
 
Okay, peace ooouuut...
 
PS: I'm having some wicked Indian burps... Indian "dot"; not Indian "feather"

     

Click here to download:

Pepperwood_Grove_-_Viognier_Pe.zip (76 KB)

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