Wine & Cheese as loan collateral?

OK, so we’re not talking CHEAP WINE here, but interesting nonetheless.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/19/italy-food-wine-banks-collateral

How to read a Napa wine label

Some good info on how Napa Valley labels its wines. Interesting to note that they go above and beyond what’s required by law and have spent millions defending consumers.

http://www.napavintners.com/wines/wnv_1_labeling.aspx

2008 Maipe Malbec

Estate grown and bottled in Mendoza, Argentina, purchased for $7.99. The nose reminds me of a roadside fruit stand in the autumn during harvest, all fruit, flowers and green grass. The color is dark, rich and opaque. Alcohol content is a reasonable 13.7%. It tastes of dark fruit, plums and berries with a slight pull from the tannins in the back of your mouth. It thickly coats your mouth, this is no wimpy, watery wine. The finish is long and intense.

Did I say this wine sells for $7.99? A few years back, when I first tasted Argentinian wine they all had a “green stick” flavor that I wasn’t too fond of, but those days are long gone. This wine is not just good considering the cost, it is simply flat out good. This one’s going on Cheapwinefinder’s Top Ten Wines of 2009 list.

And you can get it here for < $10.

As seen on a wine bottle

In honor of Michael Jackson’s birthday.

As seen on a wine bottle, but not in Alabama

Alabama banned sales of this California wine, even though it’s poster art from the 1800’s. Hey, I didn’t even know they SOLD WINE in Alabama. I heard sales SOARED elsewhere.

http://www.digitalcity.com/2009/07/27/alabama-bans-wine-label-due-to-naked-lady/

2006 Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon

Here’s a screwtop, estate-grown Cabernet out of Napa Valley that overachieves its $21 price tag. Think Larissa Ely in Cherry, Harry and Raquel (Russ Meyer, people): great body and smells like Cherry (groan). Soft taste with more cherries, plum, and chocolate with a loooooong vanilla spice finish.

And just like Larissa my bottle was gone and not heard from again. I recommend sharing a bottle with Charles Napier if you have the means.

Get it HERE, although for slightly more than I found it for in my area.

2007 Boom Boom Syrah

This is a Syrah from Charles Smith Vineyards with grapes sourced from Columbia Valley, Washington State. Charles Smith is arguably the hottest Syrah winemaker going today. His high-end wines have a huge buzz, and the Boom Boom is his entry level Syrah.

This is a well made wine, it drinks way above it’s price range. It tastes good. It is smooth, the fruit is rich and spicy and the finish lingers. If you want a full bodied wine that tastes great and can be had for under $20 (I paid $15.99), this is an excellent choice.

A tip: check to see if a high-end winemaker you follow makes a “budget” wine. If a winemaker can make a wine that would inspire someone to spend $100 on a bottle, they can usually make a wine that rocks for under $20. Follow the winemaker and great wines can be found. Not all of the expensive guys care to make a budget wine, so support the ones that do.

Some restaurants charge unfarily for wine

I know, DUH – but what’s fair? Great article that breaks down what they SHOULD charge that would be fair to everyone. http://bit.ly/jackup.

2007 Yangarra Shiraz

Man I love Australian wines! I have a hard time remembering the last time I had one I didn’t like. This one’s no exception. It has a real Goth feel to it – dark garnet – the color you wouldn’t want your daughter to wear when she goes out. Smells like you built a bonfire in a meadow – toasted wood and violets tease you into your first sip.

Then you take a taste – POW! It smacks you in the face with its intense, hearty dark fruits. Then as if you said the safe word, it backs off and finishes with a smooth mellow velvety texture.

The girl next to me took my advice and tried some too. She said, “The finish on this wine feels like silk lingerie slipping over my thighs”. You bet I gave her my card. Someone who enjoys wine as much as I do? And owns lingerie? And has thighs?

Get it HERE for $19.99.

Baer Cellars Winery Homemade Syrah

I was at a cook-out and my buddy, Elias,  had a bottle of Rhubarb/Raspberry wine that his Uncle, Father and Brothers made. It seems someone in his family has been making wine since 1949. Well the fruit wine was tasty, not too sweet. The only other fruit wine I had drank in the past was Boone’s Farm,  I was surprised by the Rhubarb/Raspberry wine. It was a drink for adults, not something for high schoolers. So, Elias, went home and brought back a private label Syrah for me to try, He called this a Shiraz, and since this was made in Minnesota (from California grapes), I will say this Syrah is made in the Aussie/Minnesota style.

I opened the bottle not knowing what to expect. The color was  a medium ruby color and the nose was a little tight, but had a mellow dark fruit aroma. Then the taste, not terribly complex, but definitely well balanced red fruit, with just a  touch of spice on the finish. One sip leads to another, very, very drinkable. It reminded me of a more strawberry version of Woop Woop (see review), which is a cheapwinefinder favorite.

If you are lucky enough to be offered a homemade wine by a family that knows how to make wine, jump at that chance. Thanks, Elias.

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