It is a Tuesday evening at our household; a winter storm warning is in effect for tonight and tomorrow and we are hunkering down to read the paper and see what happens. Neither Tom nor I had a particularly happy day at our jobs so we are glad to be here together, licking our wounds, so to speak. Jobs can be demanding!
For dinner, I put the pot of soup that I made this weekend on the stove to heat. I took the rest of the bread that I baked this weekend on the table and I took a chunk of cheese out of the refrigerator to warm to room temperature. This will make a delicious, but very, very easy dinner. I just didn’t have the energy to do much else tonight.
Tom chose this Warburn Estate Shiraz 2008 for us tonight. This is a great wine to taste and describe . . . the color is deep purple and the nose is grassy and vegetal; the taste is blackberries and freshly-ground black pepper. The feel in the mouth is round and supple with soft tannins. The finish is long and peppery. I like this wine . . . we haven’t had an Australian Shiraz for awhile and this is nice.
February 23, 2009 at 9:16 am
Hello. Did you buy from WSJWines? Our bottle tasted like… bad. No nose, Finish tasted too sweet. Tasted like Manage A Trois from Folie a Deux, NOT like Shiraz and we have 3 more bottles. Where did you buy yours & how much? (if i may ask/just fyi). Thank you. Good hunting. Marty & Jeannie
October 31, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I opened a bottle and my husband and I cannot stop raving about it. Marty and Jeannie you must have an exceptionally bad bottle from WSJ.
Warburn Premium Reserve Shiraz
This is classy wine that has more medals than Ian Thorpe. It shows surprising finesse and refinements with deep-grained fruits and an outstanding palate structure, I like the weight and intensity with the subtle support of 12 months in oak and fine tannins!” -West Magazine. “Firm in texture, with broad, dark plum and cherry flavours that lingers on the finish along with hints of black pepper and sweet spices. Top Picks for Best Value!” -Wine Spectator. “From Riverina Estate’s Premium series, this is a big mouthful of flavour for the price!” -Sydney Morning Herald
Grifith & Southeast
By the case dozen only
Each
$8.99
Dozen
$107.88
100% Shiraz grown at the estate’s premium vineyards, and sourced from selected growers. Wines are skilfully matured in American and French oak for approximately twelve months. Individual barrels are meticulously selected to produce the aromas, the fine balance of flavours and textures that make Warburn such a favourite and excellent wine. A great winemaking success story, originally produced for the export market, the wine met with such enthusiastic acceptance that it was released in Australia the following year. The Premium Reserve is crafted with the same viticulture and winemaking techniques which Warburn Estate applies to it’s most highly acclaimed releases. Winemaker Sam Trimboli
Colour is a medium reddish purple. The accent is on spices with focused fruit, dark berries and earthy aromas. The palate displays ripe blackberries and spice followed by savoury overtones, all supported by a deft touch of oak from twelve months maturation. Mint and aniseed, cedar and softness, in an early maturing styling, soft tannins round off a precise and well-made Shiraz. Everyone knows Shiraz loves lamb, and this one is no different, have the Warburn with lamb tagine and Italian style braises such as Stracotto di manzo! This wine, while ready to enjoy now, has cellaring potential. “Warburn Premium Reserve Shiraz is rich wine that’s ready to enjoy now!” -Liquor Watch
November 1, 2009 at 7:33 am
Hello – not a chance…I am an “accidental connoisseur” not a “wine cliche” – If you can find all the babble that has been written about this swill, you are in the wrong employ…if it is an 08 vintage, when did the grapes find the time to “sleep in handcrafted chosen oak casks…” you mean oak chips.
Say what, if the wine is that wonderful, send us a bottle.
Ciao
November 2, 2009 at 7:02 am
Wine tastes are pretty personal, I think. Not everyone finds the same enjoyment in a particular bottle, don’t you agree?
November 2, 2009 at 6:58 am
Hi Nancy — Thank you for passing along the information and tasting notes from Liquor Watch. It’s always interesting to read what others say. So glad you are enjoying and hope you will stop by the blog again.
February 23, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Hi Marty & Jennie — No, we did not buy the wine from WSJ Wines but I do believe we received this wine from one of our wine clubs. I’m sorry you did not like this wine. Your description is very good; I, too, thought that the Manage A Trois had a sweet finish, which I didn’t care for — so I can understand your disappointment. I just asked Tom to open a bottle of this Warburn Estate tonight, so we will try this again and see if we can discern what you are mentioning. Stay tuned, okay?
February 24, 2009 at 8:17 am
Tom-Melody: How was W. shiraz last night? We tried a 2007
Pinot Noir Morin Pere & Fils from the Discovery Club associated with WSJWines…PN does NOT come from the Herault’s ~ Its a VdP win from Heraults…sells for 15USD & 3E in FR – WB costs 10AU online = 7.50USD ~ another WSJ
wine cost 4.50USD in Beligium, WSJ will replenish for 15USD each…We lived in GE for 25 years; know something about wines and dont like being ukered. What wine club are you a member of? Lets talk good wine…RdD from north Spain is outstanding…then there is Burgundy…What are your regions of choice? Thanks again. MJK
February 24, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Hello Marty & Jeannie — The Warburn Estate was okay. . .not wonderful last night. I wish I had stopped to take notes, but I didn’t; however, I do remember thinking that the finish seemed a bit off. How was your 2007 Pinot Noir Morin Pere & Fils?
February 25, 2009 at 6:17 am
GM Tom&Melody. PN grape comes from Burgendy. The Morin Pere came from the Heraults and is a “fake” Burgendy. Jeannie liked it until I asked her what it was…once told…she
wanted something else. To answer your question. It was…
Red, it was wet, it was at days end, and the wine has been forgotton…For dinner we had 2004 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandra Syrah. WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW
Since we have several, we knew what was coming…the 04
is just fabulous and the 2005 is even better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The nose, the finish, texture makes on wish that it was almost dinner time again! Pork tenderloin tonight & Syrah
February 25, 2009 at 7:25 am
Marty & Jeannie — It sounds like you really know your grapes. You said you lived in GE for 25 years and I can’t think what that stands for? I am wracking my brain but the brain cells haven’t kicked in (it’s early). Can you divulge? Also, you asked about our favorite regions — we have been very much enjoying reds from Chile and Argentina, lately. We like Cabernets from California, as well.
February 25, 2009 at 11:15 am
I received the Warburn Estates Premium Reserve Shiraz from WSJ but have not yet opened a bottle. I’m skeptical about how a 2008 vintage can be premium reserve. When did it age? I received it in Feb 2009 — when did you receive yours M&J?
February 25, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Tom&Melody. We lived in Germany for 25 yrs & had the chances to travel to Spain, Italy & France numberous times for wines. We had a Spainish shop in Berlin that delieved to the doorstep =) Our fav place is Beaune, the heart of Burgundy. Bordeaux was ok…and Italy is stunning with Tuscany and Barolo…We are learning about US wines since they were not available to us except on summer vac in Florida. I will be glad to share my wine thoughts. Our friends in GE have annual wine tastings and are forever going off to new locations. Great chatting with you. Our our house, its “when do we eat and what’s for dinner (what wine)” – Have a happy tasting this evening.
February 25, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Kay, PR does not mean anything…just words…our taste buds suggested Manage Trois…sweet finish =( 2008 is a bit early for release since most vintages are release in the fall/Nov time…most AU Reds are aged in alum vats with oak chips put in to give the wine “an aged oaky” hint. We will give the bottle another chance tonight. Our 1st bottle was in a decanter for 1hr (as one wd w/ such a young red). More tomorrow on WB tasting…cheers
February 25, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Hello Kay and Marty & Jeannie — Kay, it’s great to have Marty & Jeannie here to answer your questions. . . and Tom & I get the enjoyment of reading their comments, too!
M & J — thanks for clearing up the “GE” for me. I didn’t think about Germany. How wonderful that the two you were able to travel and enjoy the wonderful wines of Spain, Italy & France. That would be my dream to do someday!
Well, it’s time to open our wine tonight. . .a Syrah from California.
February 25, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Tom&Melody. We just opened WB. Gave Jeannie a sip from the bottle…”OMG, this is terrible…” and gave me the glass back. I reread the tasting notes…”serve at 64F” – I chilled to 64F and tried again…and tasted as well…I think it might need to sleep for 3 years and revisit. What I dont understand is, grapes are picked in the fall. For AU, that would have been in Apr/May…and that fast into the bottle?
The maker & WSJWineGuy have known each other for years
Needs to “sleep” 3 years-better than making “a connection”
February 25, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Kay – are you following this thread? I would put the wine down for 3 years and revisit. It is probably TOO young to enjoy. If you are a “wine sleeper” then you might have a great wine in 2012…dunno. But right now, the juice is not ready. Shiraz is a big grape and usually requires time. Try
a Jacobs Creek Shiraz Reserve available at Costco, this is good juice. The lower end JC is ok, but this is great juice.
Enjoy
February 25, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Tom&Melody. Please do tell us what Syrah you are having.
The Petite Syrah’s from the Paso Robles area in Cal are really good, depending on the vinter. We are finishing the Chilean Syrah from Casa Post Alexander Valley 2004 – we have Alder Brook 2003 Zinfindel as a backup. RSVP about your dinner wine. Ciao
February 26, 2009 at 7:51 am
Marty & Jeannie — I agree with your suggestion to Kay about the Jacobs Creek Shiraz Reserve; that is a yummy one. We had a California Syrah last night that was good (Kalder, 2005). You mention Petite Syrah’s from the Paso Robles area. . .have you ever had Bogle’s Petite Syrah? That one made me swoon; I need to purchase more of it. I also don’t remember the region in California where Bogle makes its wine — I wonder if it is Paso Robles? Have you ever had it? By the way, where do you live now? (Wishing it could be Michigan!)
February 26, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Tom&Melody. The PS from Bogle is FAB…We live in S Florida.
We have friends at Houghton Lake. They took our cold weather places…=) Have you seen PepperWood Grove wines? Get the 2006 PN or ZF…Lets chat if you can…
“The Show” from CA/C.S. is wonderful too. La Vieille Ferme 2007 is good too…If you are looking at CDRhone’s, give me an ask. We brought back 144btls on 1 trip…Spanish I am good at…Burgundy is our favorite…What is for your dinner this evening? Alder Brook ZF 2003 for us…Enjoy. Ciao
February 26, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Kay – Heads Up…the Chateau Labourdette is SWILL. You can buy it in NL for $4.50!!!!! The Morin PN is a “fake” PN
Its Red & Wet…Just dont tell anyone its PN. Now the fun one…google Sonoma Stones. NO HITS AT ALL. Not even on the SEB Homepage! However, it not bad, BUT IT IS NOT a $23 bottle. Tastes like 12 to us…Did you get the all RED package or whites included?
February 26, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Hello M & J, You are experts at using acronyms. It challenges my feeble brain at the end of a big day!
Wow, 12 cases of wine — now THAT is impressive! I haven’t seen PepperWood Grove wines, but I plan to now on the basis of your recommendation.
We just finished a martini and haven’t opened a bottle of wine, yet. For dinner, I invented a casserole that I bet will taste good. I’ll let you know the recipe if, indeed, it turns out good. Time to make a salad because the casserole is just about ready. Cheers to you, two. Enjoy your Alder Brook Zinfandel. We’ll clink to you when we get to the wine part of our evening!
February 26, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Tom&Melody (Kay) – I just retasted WB from last night. It still has a sweet finish. Jeannie is in Austin, TX so she can not add her OMG! I will take our last 2 bottles and sleep them for 2 years…maybe then revisit. On the whole, the advert vs the results are not promising. Oh, Three Thieves is another wine I will explore and return with news. Can you get the brand in MI? Ciao
February 27, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Tom&Melody. We are having a PWG 2005 Syrah for dinner this eve – tasting notes to follow. Do you have a Total Wines store in your area? PWG wines are pretty available in most wine shops/grocery stores. When you find the brand
let me know. You have to be particular here…Otherwise, what wines have you tested? What are your suggestions?
We are always seeking new juice to experience. Do you like SavBlanc? Ciao
March 3, 2009 at 8:20 am
Hi Marty & Jeannie, We do not have a Total Wines store in our area, but we have lots of good wine shops so I’m going to see if I can find the Pepperwood Grove wine. I may even do that tonight on my way home if I leave early enough.
I must admit (regarding your question about SavBlanc) that I shy away from white wines. I used to drink them years ago, but now I no longer enjoy the taste of white wine. Do you think I am missing out? I bravely taste them when we are visiting wineries, and I try my best to appreciate them, but the taste and texture just doesn’t do it for me.
March 3, 2009 at 8:49 am
Tom&Melody. You are not missing out with white wines. When we eat mussels&salad, we like the crispness of the SavBlanc. It is an acquired taste from Loire ValleyFR…and as much as we love PN/Burg we dont care for the White Burgundies. Like U, we dont like WW…I refer to American Chard as the wine “with the dunkin’donut” finish. Oh, we have a great read for you: The Accidental Connoisseur by Richard Osborne. Great Read! For dinner tonight, Manuel Manzaneque 2001. Oh, do you like bubbly wine? Ciao
March 3, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Marty & Jeannie — well, i feel better now about my lack of love for white wine. But, I do promise to give it another try if I ever order a meal of mussels and salad! I truly love & appreciate your description of Chardonnay as the wine “with the dunkin’ donut finish.” That’s priceless.
I did not leave work early enough to stop at the wine shop so another night passes without being able to sample the Pepperwood Grove wines.
Okay, now, in addition to having Pepperwood Grove wines on my “to buy” list, I also have added “The Accidental Connoisseur.” Sounds great!
We are still at the martini stage of our evening. . .and, we’ve ordered a pizza for our dinner so I don’t yet know what wine we’ll select. . .but whatever it is, I know it’ll be great! So. . .tell us more about you! Why Germany and why South Florida?
March 4, 2009 at 8:53 am
T&M: there are a lot of good WW from SP, Loire V, Burg &
Alsace. Each meant to go with seafood…NORA from SP is excellent; Murphy-Goode FumeBlanc; Ch Saint Jean FB both
excellent with seafood. Do you like Sparkling Wines? We worked for DoDef & taught school @ Ramstein AFB for 25 yrs
SF is where the “chillin’ are” & J’s parents. The DD finish came to me from W.Gombrowicz’s book Ferdy-durke…taste
less PG & butter loving CH drunk by adults…children’s wine
March 4, 2009 at 9:10 am
MORE: Red wine being “too strong” – Sweet red wine…how
horrific…Chilled Red Wine…how barbaric…Is there an adult culture here? America “runs on Dunkin’…” SP WW from the Rias Baixas goes nice with SF/salad; Muscadet de Sevre-et
-Maine/Sancerre are good =) ~~ Have you a copy of Hugh Johnson Wine Atlas? Required Reading. Photos are OUT
STANDING…must have for being an Accidental Winesnob!
Tell us about dinner…what red was chosen? Ciao
March 4, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Marty & Jeannie — we finished two different bottles last night with our pizza. But tonight, we are having a bottle that received as a gift at Christmas — Bogle Merlot. Tom chose this wine to go with our dinner of pork chops and potatoes, which are currently simmering in a cast-iron skillet and smelling quite delicious!
Okay, I have to admit, I’m having trouble with the acronyms tonight. . . what is SP WW? And what is SF? I’m sorry to be so dense and un-hip. . .but very interested in the information you share!
March 5, 2009 at 7:41 am
T&M – a great spanish white wine is NORA…South Florida has been under a snuggle alert for the past 3 nights. I started on Mon at the golf course and it was 45 degrees.
How was dinner? we sampled smoking loon syrah. ok – needs air for syrah grape to open. suggest roggle red from AU – good stuff from Molly Dooker line of wines…question:
have either you tried Kim Crawford SauBlanc? Jeannie asks for more in her glass…just a thought. ciao
March 6, 2009 at 8:12 am
M & J, Hey, when we hit 45 degrees we all start dancing in the streets and the children all throw off their jackets and start running around in shorts!
We’ve had the Smoking Loon Syrah and I believe we enjoyed it; will have to look back at our notes. We have not had the Kim Crawford SauBlanc.
Hey, happy Friday! Do you have a great weekend ahead?
March 6, 2009 at 4:41 pm
T&M: Granddaughter #2 has 6th birthday on Sun – will finish IRS papers…=\ – will finish Roogle Shiraz, Guenoc Petite Sirah and start Tin Roof Merlot this eve – Do you like Bubbly
Wine? Have several great recommendations. It is common in SP, IT, FR to have a glass before dinner – Our favorite is Jaillance Crement du Bourgogne…wow! Will grill ribs on Sat
in order to crack open a HUGE red…Yourselves? Ciao
March 6, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Sounds great, M & J! I am finishing a bottle of RoJo tonight and Tom is finishing a bottle of Bogle. See tonight’s post for tonight for our dinner plans. Yes, we like bubbly! Bring on the recommendations. . .
March 7, 2009 at 8:57 am
Happy Saturday: Bubbles at 3 this afternoon…our favorite
(all are worth googling) is: Cremant de Bourgogne PN at its best! Cremant de Loire is also very charming & Cremant de Alsace…SP: Freixnet/Cristallano GREAT and BRUT Prosecco’s
are also FAV’s – Given US vinting laws (what else is in Korbel CHARD SPW?), we afraid to try US products priced 2x what E offers for 1/2$ – TinRoof Merlot was interesting. We used Vinum decanter to speed taste…OK stuff. Ciao
March 7, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Tom & Melody. Dinner has been finalized. The boneless pork ribs went into the oven for 3hrs at 225…they will then be browned on the grill with BBQ sauce…for dinner I have chosen: Cuvee Mythique 2003 Limited Release Corbieres.
Hearty & Dense. Of course, a glass of Crement beforehand
after my daily 2 beer MAX. Too filling has beer become. Sad
I use enjoy too many volumes in earlier days…=/ What’s for dinner MI tonight? Ciao
March 7, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tom&Melody: Do you think my comments on the WSJ Wine offer was a bit harsh or spot on to anyone who comes across this spot? I just took a sip of the 2005 Bordeaux and winced…its the 4.50usd wine sold in The Netherlands that WSJ is asking 15usd for…Kay, the writer about WSJ Wines never came back…what do you think? Please remember, we lived in Germany a long time and are not really familiar with all American nuisances…Have a Happy Sunday. Ciao
March 8, 2009 at 1:19 am
I think they’re fucking with ya. (just a hunch).
March 8, 2009 at 6:47 am
what?
March 8, 2009 at 8:43 am
M & J, No, your comments about the wine club were not too harsh; I think they were pretty much spot on. However, it IS fun getting a surprise package every so often. . .just to open and unpack the wine, look at the labels and imagine how much fun it will be to taste it. . .makes it all worthwhile. However, I recently canceled membership in one wine club (won’t mention the name) because we were finding that abut 50% of the selections were just “okay.” I can probably do a better job shopping for wine on my own.
March 10, 2009 at 6:17 am
T&M: Get a copy of Hugh Johnson Wine Atlas; a subscription to WS to enlighten y/s – and google every label…if dont get a website…hmm…if you get a lot of UK sites…2xhmm & if you dont get any US sales sites… after that, a box of swill will never knock on your door again & you will see a wine
“scam” 100 miles out…after such bad reds, I cant imagine how bad the WW’s are…No Thank You. Give me PWG PN
or BrokenRoad 10 Mile. Under 10 & Great Juice
March 10, 2009 at 6:18 am
AMY: what did you do with your wines? Send them back I trust and cancel the “no contract” subscription…
April 23, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I just resubscribed to WSJ after several years hiatus, and came upon their (non)affiliated wine club. thank g-d I did a cursory googling, initially just to see how fair the prices were. I am grateful to have stumbled onto your blog early in the search, and save myself the tragic consequences of my bare knowledge. I, suffice to say, will not do the WSJ wine club. Any suggestions for a wine club out there with honest selections?
Thanks,
Portia and Louis
April 24, 2009 at 7:00 am
NO. It is my experience that swill clubs exist for those who do not want to research, read, discover, learn about wine.
Apologies given. That said, buy Johnson’s World Atlas,
get WS mag and “get smart” – w/knowlegde you will be a better wine shopper. Stores have 1000′s of wines, you dont
need someone to think 4 you. Look for “Kitchen Sink” from Napa. Better than anything in WSJ has in their kit. Let us know if you find a good red under 10. ciao
April 24, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Thanks for the guidance. I know a good red under 10, in fact probably under four: Hawaiian Punch.
April 25, 2009 at 6:11 am
have a nice day
April 29, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Signed up for WSJ promotional case $69.99 + 20.00 shipping (included nice free corkscrew). Tried the “Chateau Labourette 2005 Bordeaux” (there were 4 of these in the case) GAAKK!! Sour, little fruit, astringent with no finish. After a couple of glasses, stored bottle for a day thinking this would help. Nope. After reading the less than stellar comments on the Warburn Estate Shiraz, decided that discretion was the better part of valor and I did not need to open one of these (case also had 4 of these). Decided that while bottles were nicely presented with groovy labels, the product within can only be described as “plonk”. As Ernest Hemingway once said “What you need in life is a fool proof crap detector” I am shocked that WSJ would lend their name to such an underperforming, overpriced effort. Happily, after calling, they are sending a return label to pick-up the remaining 11 bottles plus corkscrew and issuing a full refund.
April 30, 2009 at 7:25 am
Mr Aguirre. Well done. Now I suspect about Tom & Melody real intention(s)…Their glorious comments appear too often
on other blogs about wine that dont meet my lowest standards. The Sonoma Stones was ok after the 3rd day but it was not a 25USD value. Sir, I am glad that you wrote and posted your displeasure. Happy days.
April 30, 2009 at 10:51 am
M&J, Not sure what you mean by our “real intention(s).” We blog our thoughts about the wines we drink. We rarely comment on other people’s wine blogs, simply because we have own blog to maintain. We belong to a couple of wine clubs (although not WSJ). We tend to order wines from the wine clubs that we think we’ll like. It’s certainly possible, as you suggest, that some wine clubs are shifty (routing blah stuff through their system). But we tend to find them OK or better. It’s possible that our standards are too low or that we are too enthusiastic, but we are typically drinking them as everyday wines and most serve this purpose (to us) well.
April 30, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Tom & Melody. Have a nice day. And please enjoy your wines. If its red or wine and wet, it is always a pleasure to come home and enjoy a glass or more after a day at the desk. I know the feeling well. I had a desk and always enjoyed my weekends in Beaune; trips to Spain for wines;
and Tuscany for a shopping run; not to say that Barolo stops ever disappointed; and the 8 day trip thru the Rhone Valley and the south of France were equally as rewarding.
Napa was enjoyable but boring. Try a Caberent Franc from Michigan. Not bad juice. Enjoy your glass this evening. There are those that did not make it to the dinner table this day to enjoy another glass and our hearts go out to their families. Enjoy.
May 1, 2009 at 2:17 am
The experience I had with the WSJ wine club product has increased my loyalty to my local wine shop tenfold. I shall not stray again.
I have been a long-time subscriber to WSJ and somehow thought the quality of their journalistic effort would spill over into this wine enterprise. I was so wrong.
With this assumption, I didn’t investigate the promotion too carefully, although in hindsight you really can’t because all of the gushy comments speak in generalities. You can’t get the details (brand, varietal, country of origin vintage)beforehand of what you are actually going to be shipped.
I’m especially ashamed to have fallen for this subprime product because I have a fair amount of background in marketing and know that the best way to mask a lack of quality in a product is to talk “around” it. Products with real quality invite inspection. In this case, you can’t put your finger on what you’re being sold other than the statement that it’s “premium wine”.
May 1, 2009 at 7:15 am
Which Tom are you? The disappointed one or Melody’s husband who chose the dreadful Shiraz 2008…whose wife copied the literature into the blog rather nicely…the wines are dreadful; the write ups offer nearly everything save front row seats for the “walk on water” event. A buyer can take the time to research the brands offered and come to an educated decision. The stuff is swill…if the juice had merit, it would be in the market place already…Tom the
“Disappointed One” – enjoy your shopping…Tom “the Shiraz Meister” call 911. Enjoy
May 1, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Hi Marty & Jeannie — This is Melody. I am sorry you don’t care for the Shiraz. For the most part, we purchase wines that we think we’ll enjoy. We do our best to describe the tastes. We started out keeping a notebook and then graduated to a blog because we thought it would be a great way to catalog and organize our notes on the wines. It is fine if you disagree with our tasting notes. It’s all relative. When I was a teenager I thought Annie Greensprings Boonesfarm was pretty special.
May 2, 2009 at 2:56 pm
To Martie & Jeannie and Tom and Melody:
My reason for posting my comments about the WSJ Wine Club was simply to express my dissapointment with the quality of the wine. I am not commenting on impressions of wine that others have that may differ from my own. In our own neighborhood wine tastings, I will pull at least one bottle that my research shows to be controversial. Generally, it is. That’s part of the fun.
I am not a wine expert, but I am interested in raising my level of expertise. For the last 6 years, I have maintained a cellar of 200+ bottles in a large crawl space under my house. Because I live in the Northwest, based on wine cellar research, yearly conditions in this cellar augur well for maintaining and aging wines.
Generally, I research wines before I buy or I depend on people I know in various wine departments and shops.
Research on Google has enabled me to buy many wines that were priced as high as $30-$40 for $4-$10. I have found that while a consensus of opinion on a wine may not be infallible, it generally has merit.
Sometimes, I will buy wine based on intuition rather than logic. After the WSJ Bordeaux fiasco, the next night I opened a bottle of Vina Nido de Aguila Reserva Syrah 2005. This is a Maipo Valley Chilean wine that retailed for $15 that I paid $6 for. There was very little information on the web about this wine and no tasting notes. But it was wonderful. Even better the 2nd day. I am happy that one more of these is in the cellar.
These “treasure hunt” buys don’t always pan out as evi-denced by the WSJ purchase. There are two awful bottles of Chianti still in the cellar. What do I do with them? For now they sleep down there. In any case, there’s a sense of adventure in buying mystery bottles. Of course, you will reap the rewards or suffer the consequences of what lies within..
Since the WSJ effort is large scale rather than a few bottles on deep discount somewhere, I felt it necessary to post comments.
As a positive suggestion, you may want to check out Cameron Hughes on the web. He is what they call in Europe a “negociant”. He buys overproduction of “juice” from high quality labels and bottles it under his own brand.
On the whole, I have been more than pleased with what I’ve bought there. I would offer the suggestion that it’s still best to “google” what he’s currently selling as some offerings are more highly regarded than others. Also, with many of the Cabs, a few years of aging really work wonders. Folks that live in the SF Bay area can sometimes find his wine at Costco.
Best wishes for a weekend with good wine (but no swine flu!)..
May 3, 2009 at 6:59 am
Thank you Tom. I will go looking for your Syrah here in south Florida. I have a read for you: The accidental connoisseur by lawrence osborne…the story traces all the haunts we have travelled in search of “taste” – i have 400+ bottles that we brought back after 30 years of European living…we tasted well…and enough to cry fowl to the WSJ pitch…good for you to send the stuff back…on their next mailing sale…google the offerings…some interesting places pop up…have a grand sunday.
May 2, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Post note:
The two awful bottles of Chianti mentioned in my previous post were not part of the WSJ buy.
These were earlier purchases, not made under duress or the influences of shifty marketing and I take full responsibility for them!
May 3, 2009 at 7:02 am
Tom: May I ask, what brand label are the Chianti reds?
there is an education to be learned when wines uses the docg on the label…agree? rsvp
May 6, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Marty & Jeannie:
Apologise for lapse in replying..with Mother’s Day & Anniversary in same week..lots to do!
Anyway, the brand name of the Chianti is Bolla, this particular vintage is 2006. This is a very widely distributed brand available nation-wide. You should pay no more than $8 for it. Correct that…after tasting..I’ll never buy it at any price. As I recall, I paid @$3.94 and bought 3 bottles. Hey, it was an experiment!
Admittedly, I have a huge hole in my Chianti knowledge base. What I need to do (and I will do) is humbly approach a trusted advisor in my favorite wine shop and get a recommendation on a good Chianti so I have a clue of what a decent Chianti should be.
In the meantime, I’m making pesto tonight. I’ve pulled a bottle of an Italian Sangiovese with the unfortunate name of SCABI (Sangiovese di Romagna) 2004. According to my inventory label I bought this one in July of 2007. This one I’ve had before when it was a few years younger. We’ll see how aging has affected it…
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
May 7, 2009 at 6:33 am
Hi Tom, I have had the Bolla Chianti and I tend to agree with your assessment. I am wracking my brain right now trying to remember the name of a Chianti that Tom & I have enjoyed. I think it was Stropoli. . .That spelling may be off. . but, it, too, is widely available. We enjoyed it very much.
I hope your pesto was delicious — I got a kick out of the Scabi name!
May 7, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Thanks for the tip on Stropoli..it certainly sounds like a Chianti name!
In spite of its unfortunate name, the SCABI is quite good.
I had a glass or so last night and was quite pleased..after one night of “resting” the SCABI, the second night it’s even better. I’ve been told that this is one way of determining the aging potential of a wine. If an open bottle deteriorates significantly after one night, it won’t have the “structure” for aging. As I mentioned in the previous post, this bottle was a 2004 vintage and was bought in July of 2007.Until Wednesday night, it had stayed in the cellar Here’s how I would describe the taste, well integrated oak (but not too Oakey, the wine is aged in used barrels) medium to full bodied with smooth tannins and hint of leather with plum. It went well with the pesto, but would also go well with red sauce pasta dishes, pizza and burgers. . I believe there are more of these in a couple of local QFC (Quality Food Centers) near me. They have good wine departments
and helpful stewards. I live in the Seattle area and the wine stewards tell me that California and Washington state wines move faster because a lot of people tend to buy what’s familiar. I know I’ve seen the SCABI sitting around.
(we’ve already “dissed” the name, but the overall design of the label is uninspiring as well and although it may sound trivial a well-designed label will help sell an average crafted wine) So, what we have here is an “ugly duckling” which is in fact a beautiful swan. If I find this wine is still in stock, I’ll ask the wine dept. head if he wants to cut a deal on this slow mover. I paid $6 which was 50% off. It’s a legitimate $15 wine. I’m going to see if I can get it for no more tha $10. To wind up our SCABI post, go to http://www.vinisanvalentino.com to learn a bit more about the wines that come from this area.
May 8, 2009 at 6:52 am
Very interesting post and I really enjoyed your tasting notes, as well. I have never seen SCABI on the shelves here in Michigan but if I ever do, I’ll definitely pick it up. I agree with you about wine labels. I tend to shy away from the goofy wine labels, even though I rationally know that the labels don’t have anything to do with the quality of the wine. I have never purchased a wine that is named after a car or a goat. . .
January 26, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Great site! I cannot remember too clearly but I think I found your website through a link someone shared on Twitter. . I love the way you write and I am going to subscribe to read more whenever I can. Oh yeah, are you on Twitter yet?
January 26, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Hi Rhiannon! Thank you for commenting on our blog. It is comments like yours that inspire us to continue the blog. We aren’t on Twitter. Should we be?
February 10, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Loved, Loved your Wasburn Estabe 2008 Shiraz. I’m in Northern California, USA. Where can I purchase more?
It is so nice to taste masters at work,
Diana
February 11, 2010 at 6:33 am
D – see new Wine Spectator story on Wine Clubs like the WSJ who puts Warburg in its intro package.