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30

Dec

The 12th Wine of Christmas: 2002 The Observatory Swartland

Jacob Gaffney  in Red Wines, Shiraz/Syrah, Carignan , , ,

Welcome to InterWined.com’s final review from its Totally Awesome Christmas Cracker Wine Case, as it finishes counting down the Twelve Wines of Christmas. And, just in time for New Year’s too.

At £20, the Carignan/Syrah 2002 Observatory Swartland (13%) from South Africa ain’t cheap. It also isn’t ready. It needs two more years — at least — of cellaring. So purchase it as part of a case, perhaps InterWined’sTotally Awesome Christmas Cracker Wine Case, and lay it to rest as a Cellar Secret (our code words for cellaring & wine storage).

For more on storing wines, be sure to visit Video Wine Lessons.

Now, InterWined didn’t cellar its Observatory Swartland, no sir, Jacob stuck it down his throat until it stuffed his stockings. Violets, black olives, and a hint of cedar are wrapped in a strongly structured core that needs time to mellow. A strawberry tartness also causes a sour finish: 8.4 alone; 8.8 in a mixed case — 9.0 in two years as a Cellar Secret.

BTW, why do wine shops sell wines that aren’t ready to drink, hmm? Other shops don’t sell stuff that isn’t ready for consumption. Aren’t chickens hung for long enough, the beef matured?

More on this festering rant from Jacob in the new year — Ed.

Totally Awesome Christmas Cracker Wine Case

2005 Cline Cashmere £12
2003 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva Chianti £12
2005 Finn ‘Off the Leash’ Adelaide Hills £10
2006 Marotti Rubico Lacrima di Morro d’Alba £8.29
2004 Quinta Generación Casa Silva Colchagua Valley Chile £12
2004 Jean-Luc Columbo Les Forots Cotes-du-Rhone £11.49
2005 Katnoon Founder’s Block Coonawarra £9
2003 Ailes de Paloumey Haut-Medoc £9.49
2005 Domaine Saint Antonin ‘Les Jardins’ Faugeres £8.49
2005 Sleeping Dog Lies West Australia Shiraz-Cabernet £8
2005 Parducci Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino £8
2002 The Observatory Swartland £20 [InterWined’s Cellar Secret]

Follow its list and, with the year-round discount, the total should come to around £107. That’s less than £10 per bottle…

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