France Vs. Argentina

Argentina: Don Miguel Gascon, 2006 malbec. 50% french, 50% american oak aging. $15.99

France: J.P. Cheney, Founder's Reserve, merlot-cabernet, vin de pays d'oc, 14%. Bottle no. 02470

The Gascon is rich, fruity, and dry. It has a two-phase drinking experience, enjoyably complex, wheras the Cheney is mellow, subtle, and is fully integrated thus consistent from start to finish. With rich foods such as baked herbed goat cheese pyramids, prosciutto, and pate, the french merlot-cab shows off its sophistication, but the Argentinian malbec is confident and robust to stand up to Dinner. I would choose the Cheney for a fresh palate, or a relaxing hot bath, but the Gascon is intriguing enough to demand repeated taste-testing.

Score: I'd like to call it a draw, but...

France: 4 Argentina:4.1

-J. Floorburn

Another Go at B.C.?

At an old friend's birthday party at Sate Sato Indonesian restaurant tuesday evening I had the mild surprise of not being disgusted by not one, but two B.C. wines. Mission hill Cab Sav just leaves the Jackson Triggs in the dust. It may not be great but I sure had low expectations. Then some guy in a sweater I just met graciously bought the birthday girl a bottle of Hillside Estate 2005 merlot. (After he saw me scribbling away at the end of the table he asked, "were you drawing?" To which I replied, "ha, ha, no... I am reviewing this wine, just taking notes.") Wendeep exclaimed immediately upon sipping, "velvety!", impressive since the label itself says 'red velvet in a bottle'. It also says 'big, luscious' and I would agree. It is rather complex for a B.C. wine.

Just a thought on my obvious disdain for B.C. wine products: Maybe they are so over-priced that I just can't afford a drinkable one. What a shame considering the government subsidies.

Bye for now.

-J. Floorburn

Mediocre Label

Il Bastardo, Italy

This is my first attempt at 'Curb Appeal'. I chose this for the label but let me be clear: I do not like the label. B33phd1p was with me and said he has been avoiding this one for weeks because of the label, fair enough. Back at b33phd1p's ninth floor pad the air was fresh, the lap dog was excitable, the jack-o-lanterns glowing and the glasses clean. We set up a cheese board with figs and dates for later (we had three bottles and a date with wango apres work). Sitting on the patio we commenced aggressive sniffing. Amazing! The smell of vanilla was impossibly strong (which turned out to be true as there was a vanilla scented candle steadily burning a heavy corruption of our olfactories). B33phd1p put the candle out but the smell lingered. With our noses deep in our glasses and with very raucous laughter we both reported two very distinct stinks: wine and vanilla. I could definitely smell grapes, and not fresh ones either. This wine is way too acidic to have without food and it dried the tongue out like way oversteeped black tea. It also gets worse with breathing. One glass down and we recorked it with a loud: "NEXT!"

Rating: 1.2865 of 5

-J. Floorburn

P.S. Is that a bottle of Efes in the photo? I would greatly welcome a turkish beer at this point.

The Current Thing

At a recent party a couple of acquaintances of mine were drinking this tasty gaffer and they twice offered me a glass. I answered in a strong affirmative to both invitations but as I was already a bit tipsy (okay, i'll admit plastered)my response came out something like this: "yessh shertanly, I'm a journaliss you knoa! Nowsh my chanz to review it... haven tried it bafore." I no doubt drank those glasses and amazingly enough I sort of remembered what the bottle looked like so I could get one of my own when sober.

Amado Sur by Trivento 2006. 75% malbec, 15% syrah, 10% bonarda, and 14% alcohol. (Which I guess adds up to 114%.) Anyway, the colour is a deep cherry reddish-purple much like the inside of a blood orange. It smells of plum which is common but true with hints of caramel and hickory smoke. With a full round flavour and smooth, long finish it seems under-priced at $15.00. This is my current regular drinker. Argentina is killing it.

-J. Floorburn

HELLBENT 2006

There was thunder in the air on the night we went to the liquor merchant atop Olde Davie Street to procure this little spoke of South Australian wine from Kangarilla Road Winery.

In our possession now it is HELLBENT 2006 Red Wine.

In a small motor-car we recovered the miles of primeval forests of the Down Town's West End until the wooded ascent of the Barclay rise brought us to our home, Barclay Tower. This street bore an aspect more than usually sinister as we viewed it by night and without the accustomed crowds of locals and residents, we were often tempted to use the acetylene headlight despite the attention it might attract.

With this gourd, rumored to be 'from the vineyards just beyond the lake of fire', we returned to our room on the ninth floor of this dark tower, peaked-roofed, incredibly old, and crazily leaning backward, forward, and sideways.

It was a sense of routine which kept me from going mad when we uncorked the exquisite shiraz-cabernet. I had drilled myself in preparation for the crucial moment, and blind training saved me. Recognizing the soothing evil as no substance reachable by matter or material chemistry,

...I am forced into speech because men of this web logging site have refused to follow my advice without knowing why. In the midst of this daemoniac spectacle, I tasted a fresh horror which brought cries to my lips and sent me fumbling and staggering towards the unexpected....

"triumphant silky tannins, godlike surges of deadly berry sweetness, and plum-y impressions of sound like the chirpings and murmurings of objects unknown on earth or in the solar system !"

hey, it's really good ! @ $16.99

lilliputian delights

Ernest and Julio Gallo
Cabernet Sauvingnon

hey now, look at this little fella...

it's the Emmanuel Lewis of Great Stuff !

we actually enjoyed our tiny portions of this bottle of wine fit for air travel.

250 ml.
$3.49

Wine from the Fiend Folio

Name: Dis Tinto 2006
Region: Valencia
Location: south east of Spain
Frequency: Very Rare
Number Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 16.99 (on sale)
Move: so quickly
Hit Dice: 5
% In Lair: 14.5%
Treasure Type: Q (x3)
No. of Attacks: about 4
Damage/ Attack: palate drying
Special Attacks: 50 % Tempranillo, 50% Syrah
Special Defenses: nice label
Magic Resistance: Standard
Intelligence: Low
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Size: S (750 ml.)

Although usually invisible, this bottle of wine can materialise in the form of an animal, fire, a human being, and a mundane object. The most common depictions of this kind of wine show them as humanlike figures the size of small children. These morphed wines can live in human homes wearing the clothing of peasants, hunched and ugly, or may live on ships, smoke pipes and wear sailor clothing.

Legends tell of this wine as a house spirit of ambivalent nature; while it sometimes performs domestic chores, it can play malicious tricks if insulted or neglected.

labels

Good evening....

i'm starting to realize that i cannot easily detect plum, blackberry, or spices in any glass of wine.

i'm not even going to try tonight.

....the following wines were purchased and enjoyed purely from the labels alone.

Curb Appeal (new feature, AHEM.. i said NEW FEATURE)

it is 'Curb Appeal' week here at ManyWines HQ

we do this, maybe you do this ....

... i encourage you to post a wine purely purchased on label alone.
it does not have to be the greatest label you've seen (obviously), but one that has at the very least caught your attention.

buy it. drink it , take a picture of it.
and i now pronounce ... "CURB APPEAL WEEK !" *


so Here is...



The Red Sedan
2006 Product of Australia
Shiraz (77%)Malbec(23%)


dense purples
fruit with long finish

sleek as a red sedan and smooth as a leather interior



* ('curb appeal week 'duration may last longer than one week...or much less !)

GOON BAG

Here we have a fine (read: shitty) box (read: bag) of Franciscan burgundy, boxed (read: bagged) for Peller in San Fran; for Abbey in Truro, N.S., Winona, On., Kelowna, B.C., and de-boxed by Jesse Wilson and friends.

Now I paraphrase for temporary substitute first time wine reviewing journalist and regular life-long dungeon master and super-hero animator Mr. Jesse Wilson (pictured next to me with a lovely [read: gross] fountain of said wine flowing down his non-professional yet experienced gullet).

Not all bad. Not overly bitter, nor sweet--which is good, but not quite as good as others. Metallic. Overall pretty good, mind you I'm hungry, it's late and I've been on a wine hiatus. (Here I offered jesse some brie for palate-ball. -ed.) Excellent! Life is good. Takes the edge off. (Then Jesse explained the drinking technique we see in the photo.) I like to drink it from a stream, after all Willy Wonka says chocolate tastes better when mixed by waterfall. Let it fill your mouth all the way before swallowing, I call it the "wine-stein". (HA HA! Now I offered sharp cheddar. -ed.) This cheese makes it brazen and crass.

There you have it. No rating. Not recommended, not discouraged. Somehow entirely enjoyed.

-J. Floorburn

P.S. Sorry for the recent narcissistic run of self-portraits.

Nighty night.

Fungus?!

After turkey stew our co-hosts Heather and W. D. Allen entertained us with a sort of fancier-than-late-harvest 2005 botrytis semillon by Bimbadgen Estate (Australia) and a game of scrabble. Other guests included Wendeep Oaksminder and an old standby named Lightfoot.

Apparantly botrytis is a greyish mould one WANTS growing on grapes as it draws water out of the fruit thus concentrating flavours and sugars. I understand it is a dicey task of controlling the alcohol levels and will easily fall below official 'wine' standards (leaving one with a 'cider' or a 'cooler' perhaps?) Then, using God knows what procedure, the fungus and other impurities are removed, extracted, exiled, killed, 'shaken down', or sent to Abu Graib for all I know, and we are left with quite an amazing beverage, definitely for sipping not chugging.

Notice the golden colour. I tastes just like it looks plus apricotty, citrusy, leathery (in a good way), syrupy, spicy and a half million other things. W. D. himself contemplated: "one could virtually never run out of adjectives to describe this".

-J. Floorburn

Pascual Toso

During thankstaking leftover turkey stew, an associate of mine and co-host for the evening W. D. Allen offered me a glass of (I think previously uncorked) Pascual Toso malbec. 100% malbec that is, 2007 from "las Barracas" estate of the Maipu region, Argentina. (I am naturally too classy to have enquired of my host the price but may ammend this post in the future.)



The nose on this beauty has deep black cherry and even coffee if you wait for it. CLASSY. I figured by the smell it might taste a bit tannicky but lo: dry and smooth as silk. This can't be cheap but worth the probable splurge. An absolute pleasure.



-J. Floorburn

And you thought you loved Oprah...

Well my friends, you haven't met OMRAH. Mmmmmmmmmm.

A shipwrecked 2005 drunken Shiraz hailing from the banks of Western Australia -this beauty is not one to make you get caught in the nets - she will have you riding on the high tide till you're looking for the message in the bottle - and this is what it says:

Lady in the streets. Freak in the sheets - just like Oprah.

Blueberries, plum, spice. At $21.99, a cast above my fiscal compass and let me tell you "knot" an eyepatch wasted. This little treasure chest will have you diving into your next glass like Arturo Miranda.

Will pair well with a cozy pair of your boyfriend's socks and/or a hilarious night beside the boats. Arrrrrr.

Docking in at 14.5% alcohol

Recommended for the sailor in all of us.

4 of 5

where am I ?

fishcage

fishcage shiraz viogner 2006
South Eastern Austrailia

blackberry, plum, cherry oh my !

...we're off to drink this Viognier, this wonderful Viognier of Oz !...tralia

It is a Shiraz (93%) and Viognier (7%) ...the nose has spicy components, and the palate is all the before mentioned medly of fruit. but you knew that......  

c'mon what IS the point of this !!!! ????

I initially considered cellaring this one until 2010. But alas... i opened it, and had a good glass !  I doubt it will be re-considered for re-cellaring at this time.

14$ alc./vol
750 ml.
%14.99

contains 'sulphites'

ahoy hoy !!

make way, make way ! i have spent $36.99 !

it IS Yellow Label WOLF BLASS 2006 Cab Sav

1500 ml

wango got 2 glasses.. i reviewed the rest .

RED HEADED STEP SON

As if I were Geppetto, i found my son at the local Super Valu @ Davie. He was there, amongst the bright, bold and beautiful autumnesque pumkins. Lacking melanin and a pretty face, this albino was surely mine to find. With one foul swoop, we approached full, and complete adoption.

Ol' Geppetto needed a quick cat nap since it was almost happy hour and there was work to do.

Upon my workbench, a glass of vino, tools for carving, and a fathers will to mould a son into what he was meant to be. Knowing nothing of how this fine child will meld with my love and perserverence, he became.   

Thus child I present to you tonight, without name until I found this wine I will speak of.  

 

Everything fitting. Like the Lodi Old Vines of Zinfandel  of "Gnarly Head" I sip tonight, my child is complete. 

Much like my son, this wine is 'head pruned' --meaning the shoots grow directly out of the head of the trunk with no trellis system. 

These Old Vines produce fewer grapes...which in turn creates a more intense flavoured wine that explodes on inpact...in the mouth. With layers of jammy blackberries, cassis and spice, start with Gnarly Vines, end with a Gnarly Wine!

...also a possible after-thought, I may smash his head --"that explodes on inpact"!

<3

Casa de Campo Reserve Malbec Shiraz

You know, the problem with "knowing" about "good" wines is this: with such a wide selection of well-reviewed wines on our little blog, it is difficult not to stick to the proven standards. For this reason, tonight I purchased Wolf Trap and Sasyr, both previously reviewed by me - and both still drinking extremely well. But the third bottle? Well let's try something new, shall we comrades? And here she comes - a comely little something something from that little mongrel of a South American Nazi hideout: Argentina!

It is Malbec and Shiraz, and my first impressions are pretty and nice. Wino11's first words upon tasting? "Mmm...lovely". Say no more, m'lady - say no more. I have favored Argentina's Trivento Shiraz for some time, and this sleek number has the same deep, sassy tonguecaress - but tempered with the ditzy hurrah of a young inbred Spanish malbec.

Blackberries. Butter. Caramel. Currant. Oh boy. Some acidity - but it fades, gently. Malbec and Shiraz have fairly generic reputations, but in this case the two commingle like Simon and Garfunkle. Or Hart and Mould, if you will - and I know you will.

Pictured with its white sister.


13.5 alc. / vol.
750 ml - $17

Rating: 3.9
Feels like: 3.9

Orson Welles Commercial

FOUR-BALL IN THE FACE-POCKET

2006 MOSEL-SARA-RUWER Riesling (qualitätsewein !)

Welcome. this evening it is our great pleasure, you to represent ...'Black Kitty Riesling'. This taking out number was discovered in the Chilliwack alcohol depot. This elegant representation is for desert [SIC] this evening, for the thank saying dinner 2008.

… and is so good my friends.
so super+good.
sweet sweet drop with flowers. 
the 500 ml-bottle will, having it, fight with the important loved for the last drop.
B33PhD1P = 0
WANGO = 1

(being ready for thank saying dinner 2009 !)

500 ml
9/5 % alc./vol
it's under-priced !

Duck Pond Syrah 2005

The pleasant surprise of the Duck Pond cab sav almost set me up for disappointment here.  But, alas Columbia Valley comes through once more.  It is quite light for being a whopping 15% alcohol by volume.  And nicely priced by the Yachats Village Grocery @ $8.49 US.  I saved this one for home.

The nose is mostly midrange with some deep plum and the mouth is midrange all the way through.  Interesting bout of palate-ball pitting the Syrah against brie, soft swiss ementhal, strawberries, and dried figs.  The strawberries were a shocker, they made the wine taste like banana!!  (This alone is worth another experiment).  However, the swiss won the match.

Pick someone you like and get them drunk.

Rating: 4

Special note: Check out the illustration of the Hooded Merganser on the label.

-J. Floorburn

Beringer Zinfandel

An unexpected blogging. I went to visit my folks, and was poured a glass of Beringer Zinfandel. It has an acidic opening, but finishes rather smooth... all things considered. Luckily another visiter was an Irish, extra-aged, white cheddar. This cheese quickly proved to be the highlight of the encounter, and actually bumped the wine up from an $11.99 disappointment, to a moderate 14 dollar. The cheese won (in a sportsmanlike manner I might add) a rigorous back-and-forth match of palate-ball, and was saved as best-for-last. In typical U.S. fashion, you just don't get what you pay for.

Next up was an Australian Shiraz, U-Brew, five bucks a bottle. Surprisingly A-OK! This young guy (aged for one year) took that Zinfandel and made it look like dollar wine. Palate-ball commenced with Marmite thinly spread on a cracker; and what was looking like a potential upset, resulted in a draw. Bringing out the best of each player and an improved backhand.

Duck Pond Cab Sav '03

Whilst camping in the eye of a rain and wind storm at Tillicum Beach on the Oregon coast, I sampled the Cabernet Sauvignon by Duck Pond.  A couple things about this wine I find ominous:  the name, and that it is from Columbia Valley, Washington.  

I wasn't expecting much as this bottle is $8.49 US @ Fred Meyer, but it is really OK.  M. Orange's first impression was: "Wow, there's nothing wrong with that at all."  We passed the bottle and a block of Tillamook famous cheddar cheese around a game of scrabble in the van while the storm shook the van like a martini.  Tillamook, Oregon is so famous for its cheese that the local high school football team is called the Tilliamook Cheesemakers.  My camping date Wendeep Oaksminder suggested that the pee wee team should be called the Tillamook Teat Squeezers.  Naturally, I asked Wendeep what she is doing for the rest of her life.

In my semi-professional opinion this wine is made special by its year: 2003.  Don't tell the americans that it is grossly underpriced. 

Coming soon: a review of the Duck Pond Syrah.

14.5%

Rating: 4.6 of 5

Feels like: more

-J. Floorburn

Hécula

It's Castańo again with a 2004 vineyard of the Monstrell - Hécula !

I purchased this for approximately 16 dollars. BCLS.

During this time I had Floorburn on the phone through the transaction (something about spanish mediocrity had me remembering...)

It turns out this vineyard is the predecessor to Floorburn's review of Castańo Monstrella 2005.

Monstrell is the Spanish name for the fragrant, dark and naturally tannic mourvèdre grape of southern France. Rich blackberry, plum, chocolate, orange and spice. Good fruit concentration and weight with dark chocolate on the finish.

My first sip had me saying things like 'omg', and 'lol' and 'a/s/l' ? ...what's wrong with that, right ? wrong ! It turns out....

...i really enjoyed the first half of the bottle... but Floorburn's review had me delve deeper into Hecula's shadow game... so deep i performed a tarot card reading to solve this review.

...of the four cards that i drew randomly, and that were facing me... one remained.

'completion '

, i say no more.

rating : four of five.

feels like : i liked it.

14 % alc./vol/

lot : 2789

Product of Spain

Bogle

Californian cabernet sauvignon
$10.49 US @ Fred Meyer

I must confess I bought this for the name. I just love a few good rounds of boggle regularly.
Didn't play boggle this time, however, I shared this bottle with an American stranger named Jimmie at Rex's house during and after we blew open a large pinata filled with books, tapes, fireworks, candy, etc. I played a little palate-ball with some chile coated dried mango (from the pinata) and a slice of Sara Lee fieldberry pie fresh from the oven. The wine stood up to everything we threw at it. It parried especially well with the bottle-long political discussion the left-wing Canadian stranger (me) had with the left-wing American stranger (Jimmie). (A little too well as our host Rex made fun of us from the next room with wise cracks about the $700 billion bail-out and the Oval Office and other clever quips I'm proud to be the butt of.)

Overall: Decent value esp. with the dollar these days.
Rating: 3

-J. Floorburn

Wyndham Estates Bin 999 Merlot

It is TERRIBLE.

I just poured out my first glass. Bullshit.

No photo, nothing more.

2005 Sasyr Sangiovese & Syrah

In a word? Smooth. This Italian beauty is smooth like Marvin Gaye. Smooth like Drew Barrymore's buttocks. Smooth like Hindu philosophy.

So basically, it's smooth. It quite literally obsorbs into the tongue, rendering passe the whole clumsy notion of swallowing.

At $19.99, this one is for special occasions only. Know what I mean? Yeah you do.


13.8 alc. / vol.
750 ml - $20

Rating: 4.2
Feels like: 4.3

PALATE-BALL #3

Spanish Mediocrity + Popcorn fork =

Corked Sophistication

Gran Lurton Cabernet Sauvignon
Argentinian tinto '05
About $30
14%

This photo does not do it justice.

When a house guest is already at your house when you get home late from work and she offers you a glass of this wine, don't bother taking your shoes off before checking your chin for drool and announcing proudly that as a journalist and now a host you would be remiss if not in acquiescence to such a generous and appropriate offering. This is a 'no shirt, no shoes, no service' wine that dare I say is too good even for housepants unless you are independently wealthy and drink such as a matter of course (of which I am and do not). As a peasant, I deem it excellent.

Unlike some that have 17 or so legs popping out of one miniskirt, this has two sinewy, smooth, shapely gams suggestively crossed under a sheer, silky gown. "Do they go all the way up?" I privately wondered inside my unworthy working-class mind. In an attempt to sound sophisticated I made some remark about 'fruity noses' and 'mellow tones' and 'subtlety' but my guest (who brought the bottle, remember) promptly corrected me with only a faint snort that it is 'Complex' and 'Plummy' and a few other epicurean observations that would be libellous for me to attempt to paraphrase. In retrospect I can say that it is manly AND ladylike, yet niether macho NOR pretentious. This wine is better than me.

Rating: n/a (I'm not qualified)

Feels like: 5 of 5

-J. Floorburn

Spanish Mediocrity

Castano Monastrella
Spain 2005 14%
About $15 @ the Cedar College

There must be a crazy mark-up on this like everything else at the Cottage B&W store, totally not worth $15.

Despite looking nice on a grassy backdrop, this wine is all over the place-- it doesn't know whether it's coming or going. It smells like raisins. It is an acid bomb dropped on your tongue with nary a balance and rather a flavourless bore with no finish. The most complementary thing i can say is: it's dry. I played a little palate-ball with some leftover cold garlic popcorn which was satisfyingly fitting.

Rating: 1.5
Feels like: A Rip Off

-J. Floorburn

The Show

The Show
2006 Cab Sav
California

This has been our favorite $plurging wine. It's just awesome.
Tastes like buttery vanilla and the best cigar you've ever had. (only if you like cigars)

that's it.

now you go try it, i'll even buy you a bottle.

inquire within....

750 ml
13.9% alc./vol.
$18.99

Bend In The River Riesling 2006

Thus you represent me, a man, who has a 10 nap on its couch. Represent me now to look beautifully in accordance with believing a container of the Riesling wine at the most which means freshly waked up directions is offered. The bare beauty demands of these the gushing number respect immediately. Man, I would like to really drink the material !! It was, thus well to you knows you ? We enjoy any “Thai Away Home” with this meal and enjoy any “Ramones”. My house is clean and the dog is contents. Clearly, freshly, with flowers. Everything is good.

750 ml

10.5 alc./vol

feels like : n/a (lost in translation)

Product of Germany

POLISH THIS! The Wine Of Bourbon

Wow, remember that word they took out of the dictionary: respec? Well this wine demands it; this wine of bourbons. It is Knob Creek, it is 50% alcohol and it is delicious. It starts sweet and makes Mr. John Danielson look like something to clean the barnacles, or molars, off the bottom of the tub with. Smooth town.

PALATE-BALL #2 ?

The Wine Of Beers

Let's not kid ourselves kids; beer is best. This, fine madams/sirs, is Pilsener Urquell - the wine of beer. Brewed over there since 1842 in Pilsen, Bohemia (Plzeň, Czech Republic), it is the easiest-drinking beer known to most beer-drinking British Columbians. The taste is low-sugary, and not as unnecessarily complex as Stella Artois. Or stupid like a Tom Robbins. It is a sensible brew for working sensibilities. Here's the thing, it's only $15.30 for six regular-sized (500 mL) cans. No time for smalls town, when you're working for 5 pm everyday. When I don't feel like beer, I drink Pilsener Urquell. Or when I do, or vice versa.

HOUS WIN

Columbia Valley
2006
the magnificent wine co.

Cabernet Sauvignon 73%
Merlot 10%
Syrah 8%
Angiovese 5%
Malbec 2%
Cabernet Franc 2%


Wow, this is a nice wine! This drinks real well; for beside a campfire. It was $8.88 USD and is having one of those labels like a gig flyer for an Eric's Trip show. It is the melting pot (see above), where different holidays, and hats, are acknowledged without ridicule. It is, in essence, a hat unto itself. Waking up in the morning, dressing itself, and putting itself on. Even if tight over the disproportionately larger part, and right out the front door for a leisurely stroll to the post. Mailing postcards to loved ones.

wine

type: red

amount: one glass

taste: rad

see: red colored with legs

smell: kinda wine-y

location: a brown chair

accompanied by: my horrible creature of a dog Frankie

music : averkiou