Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet (2006)

It’s been a while since we’ve had the time to blog but tonight is quiet. I made a pot of soup on Sunday to put away for tonight, so that is reheating and I have time to sit, have a glass of wine and stare out the window.

So, we are finishing some dregs tonight. . .I am having the rest of this Penfolds and Tom is having the last bit of a Tempranillo.

I really want to like this because I generally love a blend of Cabernet and Shiraz . And, who can argue with a name like Penfolds? But, honestly, I do have some reservations about this one. First, the positives: It is full of fruit in a characteristic Australian way. It really tastes  quite delicious, first sip. The color is deep purple in the glass. Now, the not-so-positive: It is a little thick on the palate. . .not too much nose. . .so fruity as to seem almost like grape juice. . .not a lot of complexity. However, having said this, I admit that I do enjoy this fruit-forward wine on a night like tonight — which is — a Monday. . .and we are just enjoying a glass of wine while we read the paper and wind down for the night. To summarize, I want to be accurate with my taste notes, but also be clear that this wine is a good middle-of-the-week quaff. Enjoy!

Chateau Fantin Bordeaux (2005)

It’s been awhile since our last blog entry. Life. Tends to get busy at times. But here we are on a Thursday evening. I was able to get home at a reasonable hour. I have dinner preparations started, we read the paper, we chatted about our day, we are listening to music.  Tom poured me a glass of this French Bordeaux that we had opened last night.  There’s a lot to experience with this wine. Certainly, there is tobacco on first sip. . .along with some ripe fruit. Light body — some might call it thin or acidic. Nice tannic quality. The finish has some spice, licorice, bacon and chocolate. Like I said. . .a lot going on with this one. I like it a lot.

I am going to make burgers in my cast iron skillet along with a fresh tossed salad and some sliced mangoes.

Cheers!

Cristobal 1492 Malbec

It’s been a long stretch of non-blogging due to a few extra-busy weeks, but here we are, back at it. It is Sunday night. We have already had our dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, steamed cauliflower and salad. I also made an apple-oatmeal-spice cake, which is cooling as I write this.  Dinner was scrumptious and so is this wine. I purchased this on Friday (on my way home from work) at Plum’s Market. It was on sale for $7.99 (regularly $10). Nothing not to like about this one. . .medium-bodied and spicy, structured tannins with a dense finish. Definitely makes me think of our son, Tony, who is still in South America. I know he would enjoy this wine from Mendoza.

Gran Bombero Garnacha (2006)

It’s Monday night. I took the day off after a busy weekend of work-related events. The day was beautiful–sunny and unseasonably warm for an early-March day in Michigan. I did some crocheting; I went for a run; and I spent time in the kitchen making spaghetti and meatballs (and coleslaw) for dinner.

This Spanish wine has a rich purple color. The nose is licorice and plums. It tastes deliciously spicy and the finish is surprisingly creamy — but, just when you think it might be a touch on the bland side,  a spicy bite on the finish saves the day.