Odd Couple

Hey Wine Lovers!

Before you read too far into this post, I want you to write down De Bortoli, get in your car, drive to the Wine Discount Center, go inside and ask for this wine. Next fill up your car's back seat, trunk, passenger seat and wherever you can fit this wine and go home and finish reading my blog. It is only $5.79 a bottle!!

It is a Chardonnay from Australia (I know what you're thinking... another Chardonnay!) that drinks light with touches of citrus and melon with a well balanced finish. I usually don't get too excited about Chardonnay, unless of course it is from France, but I can't write about them because they are too expensive for my blog, but this one for the money is a beaut! The De Bortoli family has been making wine since 1928 when Vittorio De Bortoli produced his first wine, a Shiraz from South Eastern Australia. They have a number of labels in their portfolio and some pretty highly rated wines.

The next entry for today is a Shiraz Tempranillo blend from Spain's Bodegas Mercedes Eguren. This wine will set you back $8.99 and has been rated 90 points! Wait until you get your mouth around this juicy little number! It is jam packed with dark fruit with a touch of leather that runs into a long balanced finish with just the right amount of tannin to dance on the back of your throat. This wine drinks much better than the price would indicate, not to mention the high rating. The blend of this wine is 50% for each varietal and it shows in it's complexity.

I'm sure most of you have heard of Shiraz but maybe Tempranillo is a little foreign. This grape is to Spain as Sangiovese is to Italy... one of their most planted and widely used grapes that can make a very ugly tannic wine that you would want to stay away from, or it can make a very elegant wine that could stand up to the world's best offerings. Don't be afraid to try this wine, you will be quite content!

Cheers!

J