White and Red Wonders

Hello Wine Lovers!

What a beautiful day we had in Chicagoland! Happy Halloween to all of you. Which leads me to my first wine to talk about... Wolftrap from South Africa. The name is so appropriate for this Halloween day. First off many of you may have forgotten this area of the world for wine but South Africa has certainly been holding their own on the wine world lately and this is another example. This is a blend of 68% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 2% Viognier, in other words a Rhone blend. (Rhone being a region in Southern France) This wine is full of dark berries, blackberries and cherries with a touch of smoke and a little chocolate on the palate. It has just enough oak to give it character and a nice long finish. A perfect match for grilling or BBQ ribs. At around $9.99 give this wine a try, you will not be disappointed!

My white for today is a Peter Lehmann Selection 2006 Barossa Semillon from Australia. This wine is bright and delicate with a greenish gold color. On the nose you smell lemon zest and in the mouth you taste tropical fruit with a refreshingly clean and crisp finish. This wine is more complex than the $9.99 price tag. It has a lot of punch in the mid range and has a long finish with a lot of dancing on your tongue.

Both of these wines are a little off the "norm" of what many drink, trust me when I say you will enjoy!

Cheers

J

A Pair of Drinkers

Hello Wine Lovers!

Fall is officially here and the leaves are changing to vibrant colors, there is the smell of burning logs in the air, you wake up with frost on your lawn and you anticipate the upcoming holidays and family get togethers.

Here is two wines you can bring to your get togethers that will not force you to take out a second mortgage and will impress your family and friends!

Round Hill Oak Free Chardonnay is my first selection to talk about. You ask "Why is he talking about Chardonnay when I know he doesn't like most Chardonnays?" Well I'll tell ya... this is not like most California Chardonnay due to the fact this wine has not even been close to an oak barrel. It is clean and crisp with bright fruit flavors of green apple, lemon and pear with a soft finish that lingers in your mouth. At $6.99 you will be blown away.

The next wine for today's entry is Tilia Cabernet from Argentina. This bottle will set you back $7.99 and will also floor you! Tilia is the Latin name for Linden, which is a traditional tree in Mendoza whose flowers are used to make a relaxing herbal tea. Many vineyard workers and their families enjoy a cup of this tea after a long day working the vines. This wine is sustainably farmed which is another positive! You will find a dark purple color with a nose of sweet spice, red fruits and a touch of tobacco. The palate will give you cassis fruit, red currant and a touch of cedar. It finishes soft with enough tannin to add structure and length to the finish.

You will not go wrong when you show up at your friend's house or family's house with these bottles in hand!

Cheers

J

Spanish Wonder

Hello Wine Lovers!

What a beautiful weeken d, perfect for the last minute get together with friends on the patio and a casual dinner with a cigar chaser.Which brings to mind my entry for today, 2005 Las Rocas Garnacha from Spain. This wine is perfect for the grille with your favorite cut of the cow. It is made from low production vines that are between 70 and 100 years old. The mouth is full of raspberries, pepper and a touch of fig with a full well rounded finish. It is soft enough for our girls in our lives but has enough backbone for us guys. It is sourced from vineyards high in the mountains which of course puts a strain on the vine which in turn, produces a small berry with intense juice. Now for the kicker... this little number will cost you a whopping $8.99 a bottle! That's right, your eyes are not playing tricks on you... buy this now! You will not be disappointed!

Cheers!

J