Peter Lehmann Clancy’s 2003 Barossa

25Oct06

Peter Lehmann wines from Australia are a valuable treat. They are rich, dependable, and flavorful. Clancy’s is a rendition of sorts that combines Shiraz, Cab, and Merlot. A smooth red with much to offer. Typically priced around $18, I recommend this wine for special guests or when you and the lady want to kick back on a Friday or Saturday night with a special treat.

Official Web Page

Filed under: $16-$20, Australian Wines, Barossa Region, Cabernet Sauvignon, Combination, Merlot, Syrah-Shiraz, Two Thumbs Up   |  1 Comment

Wine Tasting Event Thursday Oct 26 @ 6 p.m.

25Oct06

Thursday October 26, 2006 at 6:15 p.m. is my first official wine tasting event. It is being held at my house. The cost is $35 per person. Each attendee will get to taste a variety of wines plus bring home a bottle. Although it is too late now to purchase a ticket, I wanted to post this entry for formality purposes as I intend to hold regular wine tastings at least on a quarterly basis where attendees can comment on their experience.

The lineup for this initial event is as follows. You will notice they are all heavy and rich wines, i.e Cabs and Shiraz vs. Pinot and Chianti. The reason for this is mainly due to time of season (and my own mood). With the cooling temperatures and drying air, these types of wines are fitting. Plus, their subtle differences are more noticable to tasters when compared side-by-side.

Bottle 1: 2004 Francis Coppola Classic
This wine is being featured first. It does not require much breathe time and it is the house wine I recommend for most people interested in good hearty red wines.

Bottle 2: 2004 Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Syrah-Shiraz
This is the follow up so that tasters can experience and distinguish for themselves the subtle but noticeable differences from the Classic. With the same vinter and vintage, this will be a good test to see where the tasters’ aptitude is for discerning two closely-related wines.

Bottle 3: 2000 Pomerol Bordeaux, Chateau Grange Neuve
This bottle has been sitting in my “cellar” for nearly a year and I feel it is time to break it open. Read my blog entry on this to see the story how I discovered it. This wine requires a lot of breathe time so I will be opening it at the beginning of the evening and having each person taste it before drinking the other ones. This way we can see how it develops through the night.

Takehome Bottle: 2004 Grant Burge Barossa Vines Shiraz
Being that this is an excellent house wine that I was able to buy in bulk I am giving each attendee a bottle to bring home because I am confident it will be well enjoyed.

Filed under: $11-$15, $16-$20, $31-$50, Australian Wines, Barossa Region, Bordeaux Region, Cabernet Sauvignon, California Wines, Combination, Events, French Wines, House Wines, Libournais, Merlot, Pomerol, Syrah-Shiraz, U.S. Wines, Wine Tastings   |  Leave a Comment

Grant Burge Barossa Vines 2004 Shiraz

25Oct06

This is my new house wine, well, for as long as the cases last. I live in PA and this is the first I have seen of it. The cashier at the Wine & Spirits store told me when I was buying it that it was a great wine for the price and was selling well. I decided to try it that night to see for my self. The next day I went back and bought two cases.
This is a good house wine because it has a full body feel but is not too flavorful or intrusive. It is the type of red that any avid wine drinker can enjoy and that a novice drinker that likes red wine would probably consider a premium wine.

I do not know Grant Burge Wines but I do like Barossa wines, see my Peter Lehmann Clancy’s entry. This is going to me the take-home bottle for attendees at my first official wine tasting tomorrow.

See this wine online elsewhere at:

GrantBurgeWines.com
TheWineClub.com
EveryWine.co.uk

Filed under: $11-$15, Australian Wines, Barossa Region, House Wines, Syrah-Shiraz, Thumbs Up   |  1 Comment

Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2004 Syrah-Shiraz

24Oct06

The Coppola Diamond Collection is a step up from the Rosso wines. Typically priced between $12-$18, this collection is a great buy for the buck. The Syrah-Shiraz has the green label. This was my first venture into Coppola wines all together not more than a few months ago and I was pleasantly surprised.

Peculiarly, I avoided Coppola wines for years simply because of the name. I figured that if a vinter had to put a celebrity name on his wine then it couldn’t be that good. But then I actually read the labels to discover that F. Coppola might actually have something to do with the production of these wines.

Lo-and-behold, the Coppola wines are always reliable and have promise for a lasting future in the industry. The Diamond Collection wines in particular have a place because they are value-oriented like all Coppola wines. Effectively marketed as Syrah-Shiraz which technically is the same grape, the name of this wine resolves that discrepency.

The body of the green label is smooth and hearty, rich in texture, not heavy but definitely with some muscle. A step up from house wine, this one is for guests that appreciate nice wine or Thursday nights with the missus.

Sites of reference:

Cork’d
Little Bro’s Wine

Filed under: $16-$20, California Wines, Syrah-Shiraz, Thumbs Up, U.S. Wines   |  Leave a Comment

2000 Pomerol Bordeaux, Chateau Grange-Neuve

24Oct06

This is a soft red wine. It is oaky and musty and has the French signature all over it. I recommend it only for the patient and sophisticated wine drinker. Priced in the low $30’s, you will not get your money’s worth if you do not know how to look deep into the subtly of French Wines, particularly Bordeaux. In English terms this is like a Merlot. I do not care for Merlot but this wine has something to offer above the typical Merlot because of its texture.

There is a bottle in my stash that has been sitting there for about a year and I am sharing it two nights from now in my innagural wine tasting event. I will be sure to comment on the experience.

A few sites that are showing this wine are:

JustGrapes.net
Bridgettes Wine List
Cellar Tracker

Filed under: $31-$50, Bordeaux Region, French Wines, Libournais, Merlot, Pomerol, Thumbs Up   |  3 Comments

Francis Coppola Rosso Classic 2004

24Oct06

Coppola Rosso wines are a solid choice for almost any occasion. The Classic is no exception. Read the label on the back of the bottle and you will know why you can trust this vinter and this wine:

“My family has always made wine. To hear it from my Unclie Mikey, these were not fancy wines, but everyday wines, wines that were on the dinner table each night. Our Rosso Classic captures the essence of those wines. I hope you enjoy it. Francis Coppoloa.”

The proprietor says it all…”everyday wines”. The Rosso wines are typically between $8-$13. They are reliable, affordable, tasty, and hearty too. This is a great house wine. By a case.

Filed under: $11-$15, Cabernet Sauvignon, California Wines, Combination, House Wines, Syrah-Shiraz, Thumbs Up, U.S. Wines, Zinfandel   |  3 Comments