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“A Bottle a Day…” (Happy Holidays)
Okay, loves. We’re back with a handful of value wine reviews that will hopefully make your evening trip to the grocer a tad more decisive as far as wine is concerned. We know the holidays are hectic. How goes the old adage? A bottle a day..? Don’t bother with stowing these away for holiday dinner. These come with a lipglossed label that reads “Drink now; worry later.”
Tisdale Pinot Noir (non-vintage) (< $5)
Plummy, bright. Soft tannins. Unoffensive. Acidity and mouthfeel is reminiscent of Welch’s Grape. We’d gladly pay $4 for grape juice that takes the edge off the day.
Beringer Pinot Noir 2009 (< $10)
We wouldn’t bat one eyelash at this bottle. We like a pinot with personality. This one has none. You won’t find any blueberry or snozberry here. Flavor profile is too simple and tannins are like a stage 5 clinger on the palate. Steer clear.
Redtree Pinot Noir 2010 (< $10)
Fruit-forward with cherry pie and berry danish. Some acidity with soft tannins. Not much depth; an easy drink.
Redwood Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (< $10)
Lime, green apple, apricot, and sweet macademia nut were all detected. Balanced acidity. We added this to a rosemary chicken breast marinade and the end result was something of a dream: delicious.
The Little Penguin Shiraz 2010 (< $10)
Caramel Creams and cherry on the nose with white pepper. Dark chocolate, black fruits on the palate with some oak. Enjoyable.
Gallo Chardonnay (non-vintage) (< $10)
Sweeter than most, thus one to love. Usually chards are too dry for our taste.
What are you drinking this season?
Happy Thanksgiving
We hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving weekend with family and loved ones (and lovely wine). We shared food, conversation, and delicious shiraz, gewurztraminer, and carmenere wines with extended family. We will be back to posting reviews very soon.
Our Twitter account is down, unfortunately, and we are working to reactivate our account. In the meantime: Cheers! Enjoy your weekend!
Lindeman’s Reserve Padthaway Shiraz 2010 Review (Wine and cheese, please.)
Tonight’s foray began with an intense craving for manchego cheese - it’s our favorite! After discovering that it is best paired with cab sauv, shiraz, or chianti, we chose shiraz. Lindeman’s 2010 Padthaway Shiraz was our quick pick, and its price was around $14 per bottle. It had a screwcap rather than a cork. Alcohol content: 13.5%
After letting this wine breathe for about an hour, we resorted to the swirl.
The nose was delightful! Beneath the berries, it reminded us of the smell of a warm latte, which we are no stranger to. The palate was medium-bodied and quite tannic with some acidity. The taste of tart berries and flat Black Cherry Vanilla Coke settled into a lingering finish of prunes and smoky oak.
We paired this wine with manchego cheese but for dinner we’d opt for beef stew (perfect for chilly weather).
- Aroma - Blackberry, cranberry, black pepper, butterscotch, mocha
- Taste - Medium-bodied; blackberry, prunes, vanilla
- Aftertaste - Prunes, oak
Which is your favorite Shiraz?
