Vino Keeno, The Grapevine for the Recreational Wino

7 Deadly Zins Zinfandel 2004
$16.99

Wine label said:
Very verbose label, discussing each of the seven deadly sins, but the end is worth quoting:
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin. With the tilt of a glass, I commit seven zins, Oh Lord, with your help… I’ll do it again.

WebWino says:
This wine is very well known, simply because it has one of the most clever names ever. The tasting notes claim, “A blend of seven old vine Zins from seven of Lodis best growers. As you might imagine, this is ripe and rich with lots of spice …quite a bargain at this price.”

Can’t disagree with the notes. In my experience, the wine smelled like a yummy Zinfandel… and it was! I found it smooth and full-bodied. Not peppery like a lot of Zins. I wish I had run it through the decanter from the getgo, but it did air out nicely. Thumbs up for the sinful Zin!

This review is a part of WebWino Reviews by the Numbers, a completely pointless theme for reviewing wines.

Five Rivers Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
$12-ish

Wine label said:
Legend has it that once, she fell in love on a mountaintop, and… Aw forget it. I’m not retyping this schlock.

WebWino says:
Rumor has it that wines from the Paso Robles region has been coming along nicely. Well, this is a good example of a decent Paso Robles Cab.

This wine smelled big, it had a great nose. It was a smooth flavor (not overly tannic), especially after being decanted in the RoJaus. It had berry flavors and hints of chocolate. Good wine, good price point, lousy fairy tale on the label.

This review is a part of WebWino Reviews by the Numbers, a completely pointless theme for reviewing wines.

Four Emus 2003 Cab Shiraz Merlot
$10-ish

Wine label said:
A whole bunch of crap about Gus the Emu which isn’t worth reading until you get to the fourth paragraph which says: Emus? The rock-stars of the outback. Emus are beserk. They run fast, play hard, and, to be honest, we admire their insanity.

WebWino says:
This is one of those goofy wines that sits at the front of the liquor store and comes in a rainbow of flavors. Typically that doesn’t bode well for the quality of the wine. And Four Emus didn’t disappoint. Meaning, that it did. Disappoint.

Truth be told, the ole gaggle of emus (flock? bevy? murder?) pretty much lived up to what I expected. It was a lousy, cheap wine. I wouldn’t even recommend it for a second bottle. Granted, it did improve with time and air… but it was still pretty bad.

Side note: The Four Emus wine label features the pull tab on the back. I first discovered this on the Mollydooker. It’s a neat trick so you can remove the perforated tab easily and use it to find the wine later at a wine shop. Not sure who is ordering Four Emus in a restaurant and later wanting to find it in a wine shop… but hey, neat feature nonetheless.

This review is a part of WebWino Reviews by the Numbers, a completely pointless theme for reviewing wines.

Three Rings Shiraz 2004
$20.99

Wine label said:
A donkey could make good wine from the Barossa grapes that go into 3-Rings Shiraz. But in the hands of a magician like Chris Ringland, you get much, much more. Oenopalindromic complexity. This rich, dark and lavish wine has all the complexity of a palindrome. Unfortunately, the palindrome is “Ass, or a Barossa?” But why choose? This perplexing tri-ringular flavour circus goes will with anything (and anyone) you bring to the table. Or take home for a snack…

WebWino says:
Of course I’m posting these wines in numerical order, which is not the way I drank them. So the fact that I discovered that I’m not a huge fan of Shiraz thanks to this exercise in numbers won’t make sense… yet.

Truth is, this was an OK wine. My notes tell me it was grapey, and smoother than a cheap Shiraz. Huh, that was worthless. How about this gem, “taste lives up to the smell.” It’s a wonder you’ve read this far. But wait, there is more: fat and juicy and fruity. Aha! A trifecta! Also had a tinny finish.

The overall verdict on this wine that it was good, just not sure it was $20 good. However using the phrase “Oenopalindromic complexity” on the label? THAT is definitely worth your $20.

This review is a part of WebWino Reviews by the Numbers, a completely pointless theme for reviewing wines.

Two Tone Farm 2003 Merlot
$10-ish

Wine label said:
TwoTone farmers think in dramatic terms. We’re talking “The theater of the earthy arts.” These guys deconstruct farm-style Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Chardonnay. We don’t know what the means, exactly, but the wines are ripe, round and altogether delicious….

WebWino says:
I shared this bottle of wine with my mother, who normally steers clear of Merlot. On more than one occassion, she stated (with a touch of surprise), “Actually, this is a good Merlot!”

We decided it was a little earthy, and a little fruity. We noted black cherry flavors and it partnered well with both a spicy meal AND chocolate. Good wine for the price!

This review is a part of WebWino Reviews by the Numbers, a completely pointless theme for reviewing wines.

Pierre Sparr Alsace One 2002
$11.99

Wine label said:
One is the ultimate expression of Alsace’s premium grape varieties: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. One is the synthesis of delicate floral aromas and fresh fruit flavors…

WebWino says:
In an effort to mix up my numbers challenge I threw in some white wines. And this one, for me, was quite the challenge. Remember, aside from one Chenin Blanc and a few Chardonnays I’ve allowed into my collection, I am a total Red Wine Snob. Trying a wine that is a mixture of all the types of grapes I have zero interest isn’t exactly fair. For the wine, or for me!

In an attempt to be professional (cough * choke * sputter), I can tell you that the aroma was fruity and crisp and sweet. Unfortunately the aroma was not reflected in the taste. What I tasted on the attack was nothing. Honestly, the first sip tasted like flavor-free water. The finish, on the other hand, was long and strong. It was kinda tart and white-winey.

For me, this was not a pleasant drinking experience. It was a very odd flavor. Perhaps I’d grow to like it with repeated exposure, but with all the Cabs and blends out there begging to be consumed, I’m not sure why I’d bother.

I want to be able to tell you that this is a good unique white wine, with funky flavors that would be a great summer sipping wine. However I just don’t know if it was good. To me it was bad, but if you like a good Reisling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris perhaps this would be right up your alley.

This review is a part of WebWino Reviews by the Numbers, a completely pointless theme for reviewing wines.

During a recent trip to the wine warehouse, I was struck by some big numbers. 7, 8 and 9 just jumped right off the shelf at me, so naturally a theme was born. My quest was to find wines with 1-10 in the name for review. No real rhyme or reason, just lots of numbers. With the help of my parents, we located every number, save one. Well, not one because we have one for one. But I don’t have one for six. I am missing a bottle for number six. Got it? Anyway, these are the wines up for review:

Alsace One Pierre Sparr 2002
Two Tone Farm 2003 Merlot
3 Rings Shiraz 2004
Four Emus 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot
Five Rivers Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
7 Deadly Zins 2004 Zinfandel
Cellar No. 8 Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
9 Mile Road 2004 Shiraz
Evolution 10th Edition

While I’ll be reviewing the nine wines listed above, I challenge my tens of readers to find a wine with either the word or number six in the name. I completely stumped the guys at the wine warehouse and they couldn’t come up with anything. It’s up to you, internets.

I’m not sure there is anything worse than a red wine snob taking a “What Kind of Wine Are You?” quiz and getting Chardonnay. I even took it twice.

You Are Chardonnay

Fresh, spirited, and classic – you have many facets to your personality. You can be sweet and light. Or deep and complex. You have a little bit of something to offer everyone… no wonder you’re so popular. Approachable and never smug, you are easy to get to know (and love!). Deep down you are: Dependable and modest Your partying style: Understated and polite Your company is enjoyed best with: Cold or wild meat

Mad Dogs & Englishmen 2005, WBW #35
$9.99

Wine label said:
Southern Spain is HOT! Well bred wines like Mad Dogs & Englishmen can only be made with expert vineyard management. It is big, bold and beautiful in the modern Spanish style. By blending noble grapes with outstanding local variety, Monastrell, we have achieved elegance and structure on top of rare depth and ripeness of flavour. Try some… it won’t bite!

WebWino says:
Clearly I’m missing the joke in the name “Mad Dogs & Englishmen.” I mean, it is a clever name for a wine, albeit peculiar for a wine from Spain. If you Google the name you’ll discover Joe Cocker’s live album at Amazon, an improv comedy duo, an ad agency that closed its doors in 2005, a play written in 1932 lampooning British colonial life, a Doctor Who novel and it was even a movie.

Clearly there is some heritage to the name, Mad dogs & Englishmen. Aha! Thanks to Jerry Hall at WineWaves (shout out to a fellow Nashvillian), I have the answer to my quandry:

It was Noel Coward who penned the lampoon tune in 1932 what shares the name of this wine. The irreverant wit Coward was adept at poking fun at the snobbery of British aristocracy.

“At twelve noon the natives swoon and no further work is done, But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.”

Mad Dogs & Englishmen the wine is another of the “wine-antisnob” Peter Click’s imports, this one from Jumilla Spain. Jumilla is hot and dry, the kind of place where at midday one would be well advised to retreat and take a siesta.

Well, I can tell you this, it was a wise move to get crazy in the midday sun and work on the vines. This wine is pretty good. The blend is 50% Monastrell (otherwise known as Mourvedre grapes) 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Shiraz. At first I noticed the bite that the label told me wouldn’t happen, however as it opened up it really smoothed out. I tasted a fruitiness on the attack, and earthiness on the finish. Good ripe wine. Huzzah!

This wine review is a part of Wine Blogging Wednesday #35, Passionate Spain. Thanks to my trusty fellow reviewers, Wine Doc and Grape Lady (below) for sending in their reviews as well!

Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines 2006, WBW #35
$7.99

Wine label said:
The best vineyards of Calatayud are situated high on the hillsides, 3000 feet above sea level, where, despite the poor gravelly soil, the old gnarled vines produce the finest grapes possible in this arid, desolate region.

Wine Doc says:
Since Spain has more land under vine than any country in the world, it is often referred to as the sleeping giant. Well I think the giant is waking up and putting out great inexpensive wine! This wine, for example, is made from 100% old vine Grenache. And by old, I mean 60-80 year old vines. It is also imported by Jorge Ordonez which usually means it is a good wine to try. This wine is a fruit bomb, smooth with little tannin and bursting with raspberry, cherry and spice. A medium body red with great flavors and a super $7.99 price tag.

This wine review is a part of Wine Blogging Wednesday #35, Passionate Spain.