Lucky for InterWined that we had a bottle of McGuigan Hand Made Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2006 when we went camping on the cliffs between Folkstone and Dover this weekend.
Lucky, because we forgot to bring just about everything else… and had to rely on others to provide the necessities for survival. And just when everyone thought […]

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The run up to the 2008 Olympics is Beijing is marred by protests. The issues surrounding the news images have a particularly deep impact on me, as a one-time student of the language, history and follower of the religions of the region.
The central authority of China is often described by scholars as an iron fist […]

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At Oddbins wine retail, there is an OK selection of Bonarda wines for under £10. It’s not that the Oddbins guys picked poorly, but more that the overall selection of Bonarda worldwide is, well, kind of lackluster. The 2006 Familia Zuccardi Reserva is an exception. It’s light in body. Lighter than you’d think given the dark color this grape exudes. There is some violet and red current and aromatic India spice, but it’s still too young to drink, since the swallow is kind of harsh. But at £8, this is a ‘drink me now’ wine. Not one for the cellar. InterWined.com doesn’t like drink-me-nows that aren’t ready: 8.4 today, 8.7 in two years — if anyone cares to cellar a £8 Bonarda for that long.

In InterWined’s opinion, Bonarda is better as a blending grape, especially with its Argentine brother-in-law Malbec. Bonarda helps smooth out the wrinkles, especially with the 2006 Trivento Amado Sur also £8. Last year the wine had more Bonarda and less Syrah, but the 2006 is broken down like so — 75% Malbec, 15% Syrah, 10% Bonarda. Trivento is pretty good at nailing its market, so expect a smooth number with vanilla and oak. The wine is plumy, of course, thanks to the Malbec; but the Bonarda also adds some plumpiness and the Syrah gracefully lends some plushiness (both ‘p’ adjectives my computer claims aren’t actually real words). A dry nice finish, but some more tannin would be nice. 8.6 points.

So the Bonarda seems to still suffer in the single-bottling category, years down the line. Hopefully in another three, the real Bonarda will finally stand up.

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Just thought we’d play along with yesterday’s blackout with today’s title.
But the title is actually topical to today’s review. (Health news tomorrow, we’re a day behind, see yesterday’s post.) See, with normal blends, the objective is to smooth the wine down. To take some fire out it’s belly, if you will, and place a cool […]

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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).

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Is it a Shiraz or is it a Cabernet? Well, the 2005 Sleeping Dog Lies Shiraz-Cabernet (13.5%) is both. And be thankful!

Australia is in the throes of some pretty crazy trends, like blending Shiraz with Viognier. This blend is not only completely nuts but also everywhere, leaving InterWined to try and reject more than a few Shiraz/Viognier bottlings…

Anyway the Sleeping Dog Lies is filled with ripe cherry and tastes of dry branches being smoked. This is true Aussie gold. Fun and enjoyable: 8.6 alone; 8.8 as part of a mixed case.

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The 2005 Domaine Saint Antonin ‘Les Jardins’ ((14.5%), from the South of France, has the sad distinction of being the worst rated of the InterWined’s Twelve Wines of Christmas. But it makes it into its Totally Awesome Christmas Cracker Wine Case (available year round – — hurray!), because it is extremely food friendly.

This can go with pea soup, turkey crown, and even that crazy Christmas pudding that so many old-fashioned Brits like to set on fire before shovelling down their gobs. It is soft and fruity, with very little on the nose.

And, sure, It’s approachable, but some may find it too overripe: 8.2 alone, 8.4 with Christmas vittles or in a mixed case.

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Short review, this: the 2004 Jean-Luc Colombo Les Forots Côtes du Rhône (13%) is a blockbuster. Made of 100% Syrah, this is a wine that tastes of heavy vine fruits smashed up — strong, strong stuff. Wonderful balance: 8.5 alone, 8.6 in a discounted mixed case.

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The 2004 Quinta Generación is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Shiraz, and a touch of Petite Verdot.

With so many grapes, how could it taste bad?

Well it does — at first.

So decant or leave open a least an hour, or, better yet, one day. Then you’ll be getting somewhere. A deep ruby colour, it gives that tell-tale ‘Cabernet from Chile’ smell that is kinda dusty and untidy. But, the blackberry throughout is great; and the body is peppered with…pepper.

Also, the roasted beef on the finish is kinda wacky. The finish is both long and harmonious: 8.8 points, 8.9 in a discounted mixed case.

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The 2005 Cline Cashmere (14.5%) from California is a tremendous and complex blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache. A light, fresh berry nose with the colour of a Pinot Noir.

The wine itself is ripe and fresh, with a notable flavour of green olives. There is nice tannin and a smooth mouth feel…but there is maybe too much burn on the finish: 8.6 alone; 8.8 with discounted mixed case.

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InterWined.com has a sneaking suspicion that some wine merchants are employing naughty little tactics.
The normally dependable supermarket, Budgens, is currently promoting a nice range of Bordeaux. It also has a sale on 2006 The Post Stones Shiraz for around 4 quid.
4 pounds is cheap for InterWined, which aims at wines in the […]

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The 2003 Bodegas Olvena Magnum from Somontano, Spain, was purchased after some hard bargaining between InterWined and the fabulous wine shop, Planet of the Grapes. One of the owners, Matt, said, “Hey, InterWined, buy that bottle for 20 quid and stick it on your blog”.

The black cherry was also expected, but no less enjoyed. There was a hint of tarty flint, which would be more pronounced, and likely less enjoyable, in a single bottle offering. Delicious: 8.7.

The 2003 Magnum of Vendange California Cabernet is an example of a big American wine in a big American bottle…ready to drink on a Friday night – this one – and the new oak abounds with black berry. Simple and effective. Let breath for two hours to one day: 8.5.

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Both from Sainsbury’s:

2000 Castillo de Caltrava Reserva has all the look of a Rioja Tempranillo; In fact, it is a Tempranillo, but that is where the similarity ends, except for the fine gold wire ‘basket’ the bottle is wrapped in. Centrally located and mountainous, La Mancha is known for some great wines, as is Rioja. The Calatrava was slashed by £3, if memory holds, from £8 to £5. The initial taste was one of disappointment. However, after recalibrating for decision-bias, the study continued more upbeat.

The wine is very ripe with a perfumed (like sandalwood) and sweet nose. Light and airy on the tongue, unlike the high expressions found in many of Spain’s major wine regions these days. No this is classy for a fiver, once on it airs. Short finish and unbelievably harmonious, except for a bit of burn, predictable since it is only a Reserva and not a ‘Gran(d) Reserva’ which would denoted up to a year longer in oak, depending on the region – in La Mancha, 12 months in oak, 24 in bottle for Resverva, 24 months in oak and 36 months in bottle for Gran(d) Reserva (these are minimums here). Maybe not worth £8, but great at five: 8.5.

South Africa’s First Cape 2005 Shiraz Cabernet blend was also on sale for a few pounds off, bring it to £5 or £6 per bottle as well. Like the Caltrava, it seemed new to the shelves, and stood out only because of the red tag marking it reduced. (But, isn’t that the point?) Lovely colour and a lot like Pinotage. But this is way tart, way tart. Also smells like wet, black pepper, with a red meat kind of slappiness to it (getting hungry here). Seems to be quite a lot going on in there and will most likely taste better tomorrow: 8.3.

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Bonterra 2004 Merlot and Zinfandel, ruby and peppery, respectively. Both full-bodied, but somewhat sweet. Well-priced and easy to drink. The lower blend of Shiraz-Carignan, whatever, cost around £5, and is about as tasty an Organic table can get.

2005 Vida Organica Sangiovese Bonarda blend, from Argentina. This nice little wine sells for £6 at one of London’s more impressive wine shops Planet of the Grapes. It’s peppery and smooth, very ripe with aromas of vine fruits. The label says red current, but InterWined tastes it as raspberry. Fun: 8.5.

2002 Williamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Pommard: Aromas of blackberry with a hint of vanilla. Tastes of grape lollipop and smoky oak. There’s something floral and vivacious, that is muted out by the folds of jasmine perfume that come and go: 9.1.

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A £6 bottle of Organic Rouge describes itself as ’supple, warming Mediterranean wine.’ From Cotes de Thongue in the South of France, this non-vintage wine is full of red berry, but should have a more robust flavour profile. The wine was more stretched thin than supple, and more hot than warming. Not really the ’sun in the cup’ the label made it seem. The next day, it was oxidized, left with about four-fifths still in the bottle. Undrinkable. If a wine can’t last longer than a day, then what is it worth? For my blog, always under 8 points: 7.7.

The 2004 Quinta do Coa, a Vinho Tinto from the Douro river valley in Portugal, known as Duero in Spain. Wines from the Duero are just sooo good. But this is the first Organic Douro to hit these lips. At £9.25, it’s getting a bit pricey, and while the wine should pack more of a punch, the elegance of the blackberry and hints of bitter chocolate satisfy the mouth, if not the wallet: 8.4.

At nearly £12, the 2004 L’Orangerie de Haut-Nouchet from Pessac-Leognan is easily the best, but that’s expected to go with the price tag. The terroir and elegance were there, but the most important aspect was the harmony. The wine is not too tannic, nor is it too thin. It’s well-balanced and ready-to-drink…with almost anything. But it is 28% too expensive: 8.5.

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