winewaves

Red Heads "Yard Dog" 2005

Red Heads "Yard Dog" is an unusual $10 blend from Australia, combining 46% Petit Verdot, 30% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon. This mutt gave me a look and then followed me home. Not appearing to be a contest winner based on external appearances, I must say that back at the ranch we were all rewarded with its unexpected inner beauty.

The Red Heads who produced this wine appear to be a bit scrappy themselves but obviously know what they like and how to turn it out. At the end of the day breeding, fine equipment and caste can sometimes be trumped by the instinct and effectiveness of an underdog.

This deep purple ruby pour is nearly opaque in the glass and has a dark complexity about the nose that belies a much more friendly and straightforward flavor. Richer and smoother than you might expect, there's plenty of cherry fruit and sweet spice notes with some wood showing through.

Never fear, this "Yard Dog" will become your best friend.

Excellent value ($10). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 15%.

The full moon in harvest season is always spectacular and brings out the "junkyard dog" in all of us mutts. This past week I was on assignment in Corona, California photographing hotel signs at sundown when I turned around just in time to catch the moon rising as the sun fell below the horizon.

Moon over Corona California September 25, 2007

When In Boise, El Dorado, or Alberta...

For years I brought wine with me when traveling by air. It's been a year since the rule went into effect prohibiting bringing a bottle of wine through security, and my tactics have adapted. As soon as we get where we're going, I'm bottle shopping. I feel I've hit the trifecta when I find a convenient grocery with nice fresh fruit offerings, a Starbucks inside, and a well stocked wine department.

Recent trips have turned up some notable local quaffs that make the grade and don't cost a lot. They're not Opus One, but it would be a shame to pay a lot for a "road bottle" since usually I only get halfway through it (alright, two-thirds) before going to bed. The next day I'm on to the next place. If a road bottle has a screw cap, all the better since corkscrews are a no-go in carry-on baggage and not all hotels have one available. Fortunately it's still okay to bring wine glasses on board and I'm never without my Reidel "O"s which occupy the center slot in my padded camera and laptop case.

Here are some local finds from the latter half of August.
Boise, Idaho: Sawtooth Winery 2005 Skyline Red. ($10 at Safeway, Screw Cap, 14.5% Alcohol). Think of a stout glass of berry-ish coffee-esque wine. The blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrah, 10% Merlot and 5% Primitive (Zin-like cousin). Aging was 6 months in oak barrels. Rustic with dusty tannins, the coffee roaster aromas frame black cherry, berry and vanilla oak flavors.
El Dorado (Placerville), California: Boeger Winery Hangtown Red Lot #34. ($10 at the Winery or Safeway, Real cork, 14.1% Alcohol). Definitely a guy's wine, what with the wild west motif and sensibilities, it's the kind of wine I could be happy with if I had to pick only one. The deep cherry fruit is ample, there's comforting oak spice plus a little tobacco note like that sweet loose variety that makes you wish you smoked a pipe. Expressive and dusty, you get a mild hit of tannins and a warm finish. Then you're ready to be tucked in for the night. The blend changes from lot to lot but the San Francisco Chronicle states this lot is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Tempranillo.
Calgary, Alberta: Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2004 Okanagan Valley Cabernet Merlot. ($15 CDN at Howie's, Screw Cap, 14.7% Alcohol). Released a year ago, the texture is smooth and you get a nice combination of bright red fruit, oak spice and Canadian forest earthiness. Nicely tart, it was the perfect partner for the takeout burger I grabbed at a place called Joey's Tomato. The blend is 63% Cabernet Franc (not Sauvignon as you might expect) and 37% Merlot.
Grand Island, Nebraska: I don't have a clue. I arrived too late and somebody will have to tell me where the wine is.

My recent trips to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and California allowed me copious opportunities for picture taking. As usual, the pictures I missed were better than the ones I got, but you can view the slide shows from those trips now.
The Sturgis slide show can be seen at http://www.gusset.com, by clicking here.
The California Wine slide show can be seen at http://www.frugalmacdoogal.com.

Here's another wine tip. Good friend Ed Young does a monthly wine letter for Frugal MacDoogal's, the Nashville and Charlotte area wine and spirits retailer whose website and email program I manage. This month he assembled a nice group of humorous and familiar wine and spirits quotes. Be sure to check them out (http://www.frugalmacdoogal.com).

Wishing Tree Western Australia Shiraz 2005

In the spirit of the Wishing Tree, I wish I had more time this Summer to share wine experiences here on Winewaves. To say I've been in a time crunch is an understatement. Because I've had to cut back, the wines that I do mention are the real deal, the ones that stand out. Expect lots of bang for the buck with Wishing Tree Shiraz 2005. It's tailor made for a real hickory grilled burger and a slab of homegrown Cherokee Purple tomato.

Outstanding value ($10). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 14.5%.

Style: Lush, fruit forward, with some oak spice.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep purple eggplant, translucent. Aromas: The full spectrum of berry from red to black is there, and that definitely includes blueberry. There's also some rustic cassia spice, like a cross between cinnamon and aromatic bark. Some pepper displays on the tongue along with moderate tannic structure. The result is satisfying, smooth, dry, and the lush fruit carries from start to finish.

As you can see, I've been busy growing some fine looking heirloom tomatoes. The vines are literally out of control and the Brandywines are sensational, not to mention the Cherokee Purple and Amish Paste.

Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2006

I didn't try this wine for a good while because the name rubbed me the wrong way; it's just too clever. Cono Sur = Southern Cone? But the price tag finally got to me. That lured me as did the curiosity of trying a Chilean Pinot Noir. It didn't hurt that Vineyard Brands imports the wine, because I've come to trust their palate.

The result: I'm on my fourth bottle and for my money Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2006 beats the other $10-$11 Pinots out there that currently rule the low end bins. You know who you are. I'm a big Salmon eater and this one works great with my bear like eating habits.

But I still don't like the name and the Cono Sur website is too clever for my tastes as well.

Outstanding value ($11). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 14%.

Style: Light, tart, red fruit forward, with a touch of smoke.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Bright cranberry translucent. Aromas: Redcurrant, cranberry, plum, strawberry. Light bodied on the tongue, the sour cherry flavor mingles with light spicy smoky notes and the finish is elegant, gay, dry, not overpowering but rather uplifting.

Comment: Mrs. Slocombe said "Ignore the shoes". I say "ignore the marketing".

Sauvignon Republic Marlborough Blanc 2006

A group of enterprising friends comprised of Winemakers John Buechsenstein and Paul Dolan plus restaurant and culinary experts John Ash and Tom Meyer have found an attractive vehicle for marketing their collective favorite white wine variety. Sauvignon Republic Cellars now has three labels: Marlborough New Zealand, Stellenbosch South Africa, and Russian River Valley California.

These guys appreciate the variations you can get when you go around the world looking for Sauvignon Blanc. I agree and think they're onto something and am hoping they also bottle some wine from France and as well as the Columbia Valley in the future.

Excellent value ($18). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 13%.

Style: Citrus-y, a bit tropical, a bit green, un-wooded, very tart and dry.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Pale straw with a greenish tint. Aromas: Gooseberry, passionfruit, celery and green herbs. The tart acidity is in high gear, providing an overall intense Marlborough experience and a shrilling finish.

Comment: Pucker up buttercup.

d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Red 2005

Does it matter that no down-under critter icon was abused in the labeling of this amazing Australian red wine value? Do you care that the stump jump is a farm implement that can plough (plow) a row while riding over eucalyptus stumps? You will agree this wine is always a good deal and this year it's downright great for the $10 asking price.

Fourth generation Chief Winemaker Chester d’Arenberg Osborn turns out some of the best bargains from Australia. d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Red is a quintessential blend dominated by Grenache (46%) and perfectly conjoined with Shiraz (34%) and Mourvèdre (20%). These are of course grapes which are well known in the Rhône Valley of France and also in Spain where Mourvedre is called Monastrell.

The d'Arenberg approach involves gentle basket pressing, minimally filtering and keeping batches small and separate until blending.

Excellent value ($10). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 14.5%.

Style: Fruit-forward, approaching lush, with some oak spice.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep cranberry ruby with a nice haze. Aromas: Plum, raspberry, cherry, spicy vanilla and a bit of earth. Medium-bodied with moderate soft tannins and good tartness, the ample raspy fruit and good gravelly backbone are in nice balance and the warm dry finish shows a bit of wood.

Comment: Enjoy small batch wine at a big batch price.

Root:1 Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc 2006

The Casablanca Valley is the source for this outstanding blanca de la casa. The story of Root:1 is that all the fruit is grown on ungrafted vines. Phylloxera has not stricken Chile like it has France, California and most other areas of the world, so grafting onto native resistant rootstock is uncommon there. Does that make the wine more pure? Not necessarily, but it makes for good wine conversation.

A lot of us are tired of Chardonnay and some us are so bored with it that we drink it from 3 liter boxes. We want to be refreshed, reinvigorated with something new. We want something good and expressive, and we don't want to spend too much. Importer Click Wine Group has done it again with this fresh and edgy wild white that rivals the best of France for a meager price.

Excellent value ($11). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 13.1%.

Style: Tart, unoaked, green, minerally, approaching shrill.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Pale straw with a greenish tint. Aromas: Gooseberry, grapefruit, lime, with background notes of asparagus and flint. The lively tart and definitely not sweet lime rind, grassy and minerally flavors dance into the finish "as time goes by".

Comment: "You must remember this: A kiss is still a kiss".

R Winery Evil Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

"Evil" spelled backwards is "Live" but "Evil" turned upside down, "It's just wrong". That's what the label says anyway.

Evil is another worthy project of the partnership between Dan Philips' Grateful Palate Imports and Chris Ringland's R Winery. The partnership is responsible for Bitch Barossa Grenache, Pillar Box Red and other hotties in our wine market these days. The fruit is sourced from South East Australia.

Excellent value ($10). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 14.7%.

Style: Dark fruit-forward, softly textured, approaching lush.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep purple ruby, semi-opaque. Aromas: Cassis and hints of coffee and vanilla. Medium-bodied and softly textured, the deep fruit-forward flavors are plentiful but just short of jammy and the finish is dusty dry.

Comment: Once upon a time the water was turned to evil wine and it was a worthwhile temptation.

Pure Love Barossa Jack Shiraz 2005

Jack Russell terriors are cute, but they're also tough and focused dogs who protect their owners from ground level vermin such as rats, mice, rabbits and snakes. In the Barossa, a bold Jack is a good friend to have indeed.

Pure Love is the affordable line of Australian Shiraz produced by Jayson Woodbridge and Barossa Jack pays homage to his faithful if short legged best friend. Winewaves just reviewed Layer Cake Shiraz and Jack is an identical top notch effort.

Excellent value ($15). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 14.5%.

Style: Lush, fruit forward, some oak spice.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep purple ruby, translucent. Aromas: Raspberry, cassis, loganberry, dark chocolate and sweet spice. The mouthfeel is warm, tart, richly sweet and then dry and well structured. The dark red fruit liqueur and chocolate flavors are tenacious and gripping yet cuddly.

Comment: Jack could win "Best of Show" on any given night. It's a "piece of cake". This dog hunts.

Alma Rosa Santa Barbara Pinot Gris 2004

Are you likely to pay a bit more for a wine if it's biodynamic, organic or a product of sustainable farming practices? What if you get a superior wine of great aroma/flavor intensity and length?

Thekla and Richard Sanford left their namesake winery behind in 2005 to found Alma Rosa and they bring new energy and positive focus to the venture. They farm their Santa Rita Hills vineyards with respect and kindness in order to keep the land and their wines unspoiled and beautiful.

Burgundy native Christian Roguenant is the head Winemaker, a frequent wine judge and also a photographer. 2004 is the first vintage for Alma Rosa Santa Barbara Pinot Gris, and the 2005 was recently released.

Excellent value ($18). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 12.5%.

Style: Intense fruit, pretty, light, crisp.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Bright lemon gold. Aromas: Perfumed apricot, white peach, cold blossoms and spring rain. A voluptuous body with nice curves combines with a lively tart feeling on the tongue as the pretty apricot and lemon flavors are sustained in the crisp finish.

Comment: "Tell me what wine you drink, and I will tell you what you are."