Highlights of the Week
I've been slacking a bit!
I've tried a number of new things since the last entry. The highlight was a 1994 Chateau Gaillarteau Bordeaux Superior,
shared with BrewGal, BrewGuy and my lovely Wife. This wine gives proof positive to the advice about aging quality French wines. It was remarkably aromatic and flavorful for having spent 10 years in the cellar. The color was beginning to turn orange, normal for older wines. The formerly strong oak and tannins had mellowed but not disappeared. I thought it was very strong overall and I'm happy to have gotten the chance to try it. BrewGal brought this one back with her from France. You may see it on a wine list somewhere but I expect it will be very, very pricey. We also sampled a 1995 Haut-Medoc 
which was a bit too earthy and oaky to be pleasant. It will hold up well to strong food flavors but isn't great for just tasting.
The most remarkable of the wines we tried that evening was the 2004 Elk Run Sweet Katharine
red desert wine. This was made partially from Vinifera Grapes, which simply means that the grapes are of the European variety. (I originally mistook this term for noble rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea. Used in Tokay and Sauternes.) The wine had a distinct lactic flavor which leads me to believe that somewhere along the line bacteria were involved in the fermentation process. It was quite sweet, along the lines of a Muscat or Port, but also distinctly different from either of those. Personally I didn't care for it. It would probably go really well with Creme Brulee or any milk desert that contains Grand Marnier.
Some other highlights:
I tried some inexpensive ($8) Spanish wine which wasn't worth it, some pretty pricey Cabernet which was a poor substitute for what I was really looking for and so on. I'm going to try out the WineLog widget to see if it fits on the page, look for that shortly. Nothing much else worth talking about! Take care.
I've tried a number of new things since the last entry. The highlight was a 1994 Chateau Gaillarteau Bordeaux Superior,
shared with BrewGal, BrewGuy and my lovely Wife. This wine gives proof positive to the advice about aging quality French wines. It was remarkably aromatic and flavorful for having spent 10 years in the cellar. The color was beginning to turn orange, normal for older wines. The formerly strong oak and tannins had mellowed but not disappeared. I thought it was very strong overall and I'm happy to have gotten the chance to try it. BrewGal brought this one back with her from France. You may see it on a wine list somewhere but I expect it will be very, very pricey. We also sampled a 1995 Haut-Medoc which was a bit too earthy and oaky to be pleasant. It will hold up well to strong food flavors but isn't great for just tasting.The most remarkable of the wines we tried that evening was the 2004 Elk Run Sweet Katharine
red desert wine. This was made partially from Vinifera Grapes, which simply means that the grapes are of the European variety. (I originally mistook this term for noble rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea. Used in Tokay and Sauternes.) The wine had a distinct lactic flavor which leads me to believe that somewhere along the line bacteria were involved in the fermentation process. It was quite sweet, along the lines of a Muscat or Port, but also distinctly different from either of those. Personally I didn't care for it. It would probably go really well with Creme Brulee or any milk desert that contains Grand Marnier. Some other highlights:
- A high rating on WineLog prompted me to try out the latest Bogle Merlot. I tried all the Bogles a couple of years back and thought they were so-so, inexpensive but certainly not remarkable in any way. I'm happy to say they've improved significantly in quality. I plan to try out their Cabernet to see if the improvement is found there as well. The prices have gone up a little bit since 2003 the Merlot is a good deal today and recommended.
- Another recommendation, this one from BrewGuy (indirectly) is the 2005 Acacia Pinot Noir. I found this at CostCo for $20 over the weekend and picked up a couple of bottles. It's very good for this price, a delicious fruity Pinot without any serious defects. Strongly recommended if you can get it for $20.
- Two recommendations from ZinGal are now on my wanted list. The Pride Cabernet Sauvignon and anything from Anderson Conn Valley. If you happen to see these in a local store, please let me know!
I tried some inexpensive ($8) Spanish wine which wasn't worth it, some pretty pricey Cabernet which was a poor substitute for what I was really looking for and so on. I'm going to try out the WineLog widget to see if it fits on the page, look for that shortly. Nothing much else worth talking about! Take care.