The Chances We Take With Old Wine

If you have ever had the opportunity to taste and/or drink old red wine you know it can be hit or miss.  Well, I decided to try a 1987 Orlando Alexander's Coonawarra Cabernet.  Believe me this was a huge miss.  I have to admit, looking at the bottle I thought there was a small chance it could be okay-ish.  The cork came out fine.  Didn't crumble but there was definitely staining right to the top.  When I poured it in the glass it looked brick red which is expected for an old red.  I swirled it in the glass like the typical wine wanker to 'give it some air' of course.  I can tell you here and now it did not need air.  It needed resuscitating.  It was dead, kaput, lifeless and it smelt terrible. Regardless, I decided to taste it.  Guess who need resuscitating after the taste.  I really can't describe the taste except to say it was not good and if you happen to have some, try it now, and I mean get off your computer and try it now.  You may be lucky enough to have a couple of good bottles but be prepared to do what I did and pour it down the sink.  There is always a risk that older wines will be 'over the hill' but believe me, when you get the chance to taste old red wine, do it.  It could well be a hit.  'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Gold, Silver or Bronze. Let The Consumer Decide

Reading the local rag today, the results of a wine show were published indicating which wines won a gold, silver or bronze medal.  In case you didn't know, in the wine show world this doesn't mean a wine came first, second or third.  It is based on a point scoring system.  The more points, the better the medal.  Surely there must be some good wines amongst the ones that didn't win a medal...surely. Believe me there are. These wine shows have their place, but the judges are normally experts about wine whether it be the technical side of making the stuff, being able to identify flaws with it or how it is supposed to taste.  They make a decision on how good the wine is in their opinion only.  How often do people go into a bottle shop and see a heap of medals stuck to a bottle and think it must be good so, they buy a bottle?  They totally disregard the bottle sitting beside it because it doesn't have the same amount of bling or no bling at all.  My opinion is that the medals must influence a persons decision about a wine.  I challenge any wine judge or even a wine journalist to tell me I should like a wine because he/she likes a wine.  Do yourself a favour.  If you get the opportunity, go along to wine tastings at your local bottleshop or visit a couple of wineries, taste a few different wines and form your own opinion.  Taste is a personal thing, don't you think?  'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

A Red Wine Special & A White Wine Special

A wine special can mean different things to different people.  It all comes down to income, mood, if it's a gift, if it's to match a particular meal or simply cheap.  Either way we are almost always on the look out for the special wine at a special bargain basement, rock bottom, value for money, not-to-be-missed price and, they are definitely out there.  Today, I have a couple to suit a white wine & a red wine consumer.  One at the bargain basement price.  The other, great value for money.  The first is a Chardonnay from the cool climate Adelaide Hills area. Those who look at my blog know about Naked Owl reds.  Well, this white reads just as good as their reds. A 2011 version so, obviously very, very young and lean which makes it an easy drinking style for a 25+ degrees day outside, on the deck with your chicken caesar salad lunch.  Winemarket have it at $62.00 a dozen (plus postage) which makes it worth a crack.  The other is a shiraz from, the well known family of Hardy's.  It is their 2007 HRB(Hardys Reserve Bin) D641 (no idea but it looks impressive) Shiraz. It is a blend of McLaren Vale and Clare Valley shiraz so you are definitely on a winner there.  RRP for this is $40 a bottle but, Kemenys have it at half price. James Halliday even tempts you to "...keep your hands off it" and gave it 94 points. Did I mention it has won 5 gold medals at various wine shows?  If it wasn't for my latest purchase from a little boutique Barossan winery, I'd be on to both of these. 'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Shakespeare. Playwright, Poet or Plonko?

Correct me if I'm wrong but, William Shakespeare was a poet and playwright, right (did you like that?)?  It appears he didn't mind a wine or two either.  He is quoted as saying, "Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used".  Well used.  What does that actually mean?  I realise there are scientist out there that say how much wine we should or can drink a day without doing too much damage to our bodies but, everybody is different and every body is different.  I used to drink copious quantities of beer with reckless abandonment and wake up the same day wishing I hadn't done that to myself and vowing never to do it again.  So have a large percentage of the population over the age of 18.  I reckon I am at an age where I know how much I can drink without going to bed and the room spinning.  I don't need a scientist to tell me how much I should or should not be drinking.  Music soothes the savage beast, they say but, alcohol is the social lubricant.  Okay, so there are those that do not know their limitations and those that get drunk deliberately.  But surely it is a personal conscientious decision?  I think everybody knows the consequences of drinking too much without being lectured to by scientists, friends or their mum & dad.  Enjoy it. Surely that is what it is all about.  'Til next time but remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

A Bargain!!! About Time I Hear You Say

Every now and then we all buy that "special" bottle of wine that costs just a little bit more than we would normally like to pay then put it away for a "special" occasion. There is absolutely nothing wrong that of course but, what if it is the only bottle you have and friends or rellies drop by unexpectedly? Never fear BWS is here!!! Okay so they are everywhere which means you can grab an excellent bargain they have on offer until Tuesday. They are Penfolds Rawson's Retreat and Lindeman's Bin Range for $5.00 a bottle (6 or more) which is better than half price. Both of the ranges are very reliable wines and represent excellent value. My only advice would be, if you are looking at the Lindeman's Bin 45 Cabernet, try and find the 2009 vintage. Don't get me wrong the 2010 is good too but, if you are thinking of buying a dozen, the 2009 has two or three years cellaring potential. 'Till next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Additives or Alcohol? The Truth About Those "Wine" Headaches

I read a very good article today in the Weekend Australian written by Max Allen regarding wine additives.  In the article he quotes some of his readers stating they ended up with a headache from drinking wine because of the preservatives or additives.  Some were honest and said it was because of how many glasses of wine they had to drink to really appreciate the wine. I have deliberately included the following paragraph from the article to assist you with forming an opinion about wine additives.
"Creina Stockley, health and regulatory information manager for the Australian Wine Research Institute, hears similar concerns all the time. And she points out that while a few people are genuinely allergic to some wine additives (primarily sulphur dioxide), by far the primary cause of adverse reactions is - ahem - the alcohol, present in far higher concentration than any other component in wine. In other words, she says, it is highly unlikely that processing aids or additives are the wicked culprits they're often made out to be."
I can't put the whole article here, obviously, but another very interesting point Creina Stockly goes on to say is, "...you'll find more (preservatives) in supermarket sausages or burgers, and much more - 10 times the amount - in dried apricots or sliced apple".
Interesting don't you think?  I would really like to hear what you reckon.  'Till next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Sparklings!! Get Your Sparklings!! New Years Eve is a Comin'

As is well known amongst the wine, beer or spirit drinking community, the drink to see out the old year or see in the new one is of course, sparkling wine. I'm not one for Champagne normally but, with BWS currently having a 25% sale on sparkling wine (for 6 or more) it is the perfect time for me to purchase something different to squeeze in between the Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. In all honesty, I reckon there could be a sparkly red cracked at lunch & dinner. Oh and ladies, don't forget to try a Moscato with your breakfast instead of a sparkling white. They are a little bit sweeter with a slight spritz instead of the acidic full on fizz of the other brekky wine. And please, please, please buy Australian. There are some very good Aussie sparklies at half the price of Moet and Billecart-Salmon (French stuff). Happy New Year and remember live simply,laugh often, wine alot.