posted on 19 May 2009 by jeff
American Syrah is not an easy wine-category to sell these days. Many Americans are confused about what exactly Syrah is. They’ve heard it’s the same grape as is used in Aussie Shiraz, but it doesn’t taste like the 90-some-odd point blueberry milkshakes they’ve had foisted upon them by some jamoke from Kappy’s. Furthermore, Californian Syrah runs the gamut from powerful and aromatic Rhone-style wines, to emulations of the melted-jam wines so favored by suburban, banker types.
California’s inability to precisely define it’s feelings regarding Syrah is no reason, however, to abandon the varietal. There are plenty of great Syrah’s to be had for just about any price. At around $15, the Shannon Ridge Winery’s take on the southern french grape is an absolute steal.
Grown in Lake County, the Shannon Ridge vines benefit from steeply sloped vineyards and steady, cooling, winds off of Clear Lake. The wine pours an intense garnet-red, a bit reminiscent of bottlings from the Northern Rhone. This is echoed by a hint of bacon fat in the nose, but aromas of chocolate and black fruit definitely suggest the wine’s California roots. The wine has a densely-thatched palate of blackberry and cocoa coupled with a warm undertone of caramelized sugar. Straightforward tannins and a bright, fresh-faced acidity make this a killer red for the summer time. I recommend acquiring some Redbones and finding a spot to watch the sun go down.
J.
Tags: blueberry milkshakes, California, jamoke, kappy's, lake county, shannon ridge, shiraz, syrah
Category: Wine Reviews | Comments (0)
posted on 15 April 2009 by sarah
Paringa Shiraz 2007
I live in Somerville - my neighbors are all around me. They are above, below, and peeking around greasy stoves next door to watch me dart from room to room searching for a towel. Although we live so close, we exist separately; each eating, breathing, searching, procreating, and dying within a few feet of one another. The truth is, other than the friendly wave, the scorn of an abandoned trash can, and the occasional errant package, I don’t engage with my neighbors. Strange considering that I know when they shower… What happened to the days when you would go outside with a hula hoop and suddenly there were 10 girls in esprit shorts and geometric haircuts swarming around? Within minutes we were calling each other best friends and enemies.
Well I want to bring back simplicity! No, I don’t want to be BFF with Roberta my 93 yr. old neighbor who likes to smoke parliaments while yelling at Richard her Jack Russell, or start sucking back brews with Bob who sports leather chaps to leave his Harley throttling… I just crave a little taste of ignorance, like life before awareness of bizarre personality facets or inability to park properly.
The Paringa Shiraz is just what I am looking for. It is a really tasty traditional Shiraz. This southern Australian wine is not hiding some crazy grapefruity or sharp taste. It is what it is, a delicious Shiraz. The color is a deep purple which is appropriate for the full fruit flavor. It is great with ribs or a burger.
Next time you want to have a simple relationship with a neighbor I recommend offering them a glass of the Paringa. You can talk about the Sunday night drum circle and the pet guinea pig later.
Tags: Australia, Australian red, Red Wine, Sarah Osteen, shiraz, somerville
Category: Girl on Grape | Comments (0)
posted on 22 March 2009 by jeff
The Languedoc does not have the reputation for producing wines of finesse that its more northern french brethren have. They are uniquely Mediterranean wines: wines that reflect the region’s ancient, and cosmopolitan heritage. What the Languedoc lacks in Bordelais gentility and Burgundian abstraction, it makes up in sunny approachability.
Le Grand Noir captures the rough-and-tumble accessibility of the area. The wine is made of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, (note the modern terminology of the latter). The wine is technically classified as vin de pays, which allows Languedoc growers to produce and label wines made from grapes outside of the region’s traditional viticultural context. In simpler terms, this means that a winemaker can make a wine from say, Merlot, and label it as such, rather than being confined to local, lesser known varietals such as Carignan, or Cinsault.
In the glass the wine is an earthy, slightly rusted red. The nose is somewhat conflicted; it leads with the spiciness of the Syrah, but definitely suggests the slightly under-acidic juiciness of the Cabernet.
On the palate the wine is best described as fun. This is the kind of bottling that wine-business old-timers refer to simply as, “good juice.” There is nothing particulary complex about the wine; it has strong, red/purple-hued fruit, and a straightforward, if a bit workman-like, structure.
With an $11.99 price tag this wine is head-turningly good. I suspect it will be even better outside this summer, paired with a very large, recently grilled hamburger. I recommend you check this wine out soon. Look for the wine with the large sheep on it.
J.
Tags: cabernet sauvignon, france, languedoc, sheep, shiraz, vin de pays
Category: Wine Reviews | Comments (1)
