It Starts With A Grape

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Though not labeled Bordeaux, this is a Bordeaux style blend out of France composed of %60 Cabernet Sauvignon and %40 Merlot. It also happens to be made with organically grown grapes, and if I do say so myself, this is a shining example of what organic wine should be. If I were to blindly taste this wine there would not be the slightest of chances that I would guess it was organic. That being said, lets delve on into this beauty… Its deep ruby hue is so dark its borderline opaque, and its legs clung to the side of my glass like half-set jello. The nose on this scrumptious blend presented blueberry pie, warm vanilla creme brulee, and toasted almonds, it smelled so delicious my mouth was nearly watering. The first sip was bursting with fresh juicy blueberries and ripe red raspberries. As the upfront fruit dissipated it left behind a most pleasant toasty oak, which made it presence known but wasn’t overbearing.  In addition to the warm oak brought to my taste buds on a wave of wonderfully soft tannins, its finish possessed just a touch of molasses. This is one meticulously balanced red, with no need to aerate before enjoying. I paired it with bourbon glazed salmon fillet, and a side of garlic and butter sauteed green beans, which is a super easy, quick, and tasty meal by the way. Just let the salmon sit in a bourbon marinade for about a half hour, preheat your oven to 350 and stick it in, skin down on a well greased pan. Give it roughly 10 min for every inch thick your salmon is. As for the green beans, mince some garlic, chop your green beans and sautee them in butter till tender. Anyways, the fat in the salmon coats your palate and allows a wonderfully spicy side of this wine to emerge, filled with freshly cracked black pepper.

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From the Languedoc region in France comes this terrifically blended red, consisting of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Carignan. It opens with a nose of blackberry jam, blueberries, and mild oak, with subtle aromas of roasted green peppers. Its medium-heavy in body, and a deep shade of cranberry in color. Plenty of blueberry carries over to the palate, along with a surprisingly fair amount of oak, given its subtle presence in the bouquet. It has an interesting layer of earth to it, reminiscent of a wet decaying tree covered in moss, but in a good way, if you can imagine that. Though i could see it standing up well to something as heavy and simple as grilled steak, I think it would be better suited paired along side grilled pork in a medium-sweet/savory tomato based sauce.

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Straight from Central Tuscany comes this this rather yummy red blend of Sangiovese(%85) and Cabernet Sauvignon(%15). Its not super fragrant, but there are subtle, pleasant aromas of plum, fresh fig, and mild oak, with just a nuance of vanilla. Its medium in body, super easy going, and its soft oak lends structure without being overbearing. Not to mention its smooth as silk tannins, this is one wonderfully balanced wine. Though the fruit isn’t ‘in your face’ it is quite juicy with plenty of ripe red raspberry, and strawberry jam. This smooth Tuscan treat is perfect for pizza night. I enjoyed it with bacon and onion toppings, but could see it working with a sweet sausage topping as well.

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Every time i hear its name i chuckle, its a play on the French wines Cotes du Rhone. Maybe not as funny to some, but i cant help but appreciate when someone pokes a little fun at the French. Moving on… Goats do Roam Red is a blend of Shriaz, Pinotage, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvedre, and Gamay Noir. Its nose has an interesting floral and herb aspect to it, with plenty of cassis, warm oak, plumb, and rhubarb. This lush red has a super velvety mouth feel, and is fairly heavy in body. Its soft tannins make for an easy drinking wine, but certainly not one lacking in flavor. There’s plenty of jammy fruit to go around, complimented by just enough toasty oak, making for an extremely well balanced wine. It is an exceptional value out of South Africa, and would go great with a good and hearty Chili.

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This dry, yet refreshing Rose is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah. Its nose is filled with fresh strawberries, and orange blossoms, with hints of honey, and a delicate flutter of white tea. For being a fairly dry Rose, its rather juicy, displaying great upfront fruit, with slightly tart tendencies. Its light-medium in body, and has pleasant mineralistic undertones, wrapped up in a tangy finish of cranberries and tangerines. It pairs beautifully with grilled (or broiled) salmon in a light bourbon glaze, accompanied by a side of sauteed asparagus, delicately seasoned with black pepper and garlic. If your just looking for cheese, go with a soft, spreadable goat cheese.

Syrah, Sangiovese, Barbera, Tannat, Granache, and Mourvedre. What more could you ask for? This most impressive California blend, displaying a beautiful deep purple color, definitely packs a punch. It opens with a nose of sweet black cherries and toasty oak, followed by a silky smooth texture and black berries on the palate. There’s quite a bit of oak, so much so that it would be borderline offensive, if not for the ultra bright fruit. This is what i like to call a ‘fun wine’ , its got nice body, plenty of flavor, and is moderately easy drinking. Being medium-heavy bodied, and hugely fruit forward, it would be a fantastic pair for chipotle grilled spare ribs, but it could be paired with something as easy as a BBQ’ed char-grilled burger with crispy fried onions.

Alright, so, i have to say, when i turned this bottle over and read of its contents, i was nothing less than intrigued. This blend,hailing from California, consists of Barbera, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Alicante Bouchet grapes. Think its a mouth full to say? Well, its a mouth full to drink! Its a beautiful shade of ruby red, with just hints of brick. This blend has a super fragrant nose, raspberry jam, sweet dark cherries and cloves, just to name a few. (At this point i became really excited) This is a huge, juicy wine, with a mouth feel like silk. All those cherries on the noes translated into ‘right off the tree’ cherries on the palate, balanced out with some serious lingering oak. Its simply a perfectly done wine, which would go great with an array of dishes; Bourbon glazed grilled steak comes to mind, or something BBQ’ed. The cheese is definitely Gorgonzola, or you could just drink it all by itself.

A wonderfully done blend, filled with peppery spices and tart cherries. Oak and bittersweet chocolate linger on the palate, creating a silky smooth lengthy finish. The spicy Shiraz compliments this bold Cabernet perfectly. Enjoy it with anything grilled, particularly seasoned red meat and earthy veggies like asparagus or a hearty grilled squash. The strong tannins will stand up to most any full flavored dish.

Hailing from Spain, deserving of its name, comes this bold blend of tempranillo and Shiraz. Ready to eat ripe black cherry will be the first thing to tantalize your senses. Followed by plenty of oak, which creates a really nice balance with the fruit, and fresh ground black pepper, that is sure to send shock waves through your taste buds even before your first sip. Rest assured this wine’s bark does not exceed its bite, you get a mouth full of ripe fruit, and perfect tannin structure. I would have liked to see a lengthier finish, however it is crisp and mouthwatering leaving you wanting more. Paired with such foods as bacon wrapped shrimp, or peppercorn steak, this wine will truly shine. Not quite ready for dinner, pair it with an aged Gorgonzola.