Today's Tasting!

If you're reading this, you probably missed out on our tasting this weekend. The wines today are FAB-ulous, but to give you some insider info, here's what they are, and some brief tasting notes. It'll be like you were there!:

Lindauer Non-Vintage Brut
This New Zealand sparkling wine, normally $17 is a steal from us--until the price goes back up--for $12. It's dry, pointed and full of character. It's so pleasing and easy to drink--it has touches of limes, grapefruit and roses so it's going to be compelling to many, and that's as it should be!

Château Noël St.-Laurent 2002 Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc
People came in asking for the rare wine we were talking about, and this is it. 100 cases of it were made (for the world to share). It's a blend of Rhône Valley white varietals, and it's quite seductive. It has a perfumed nose reminiscent of orange flowers and lime shortbread. The flavors--really unique--are equally attention getting: hints of fig, citrus, shortbread, and a lightly nutty finish. Exceptional wine, beats the crap out of the Conundrum and it's cheaper ($20)!

An 2000 Negra
Spanish wine--that's where the bargains are. Even at $35, this is some kind of wine! The wine is deep and intense, but it has qualities that one usually finds in fabulously expensive Bordeaux. An equivalent wine from that storied region might sell for $250. Coffee cream chocolate, violets, asphalt, and black raspberry chip combine as the principals in the beautiful, please-God-let-me-keep-smelling-this-wine aromatics. The flavors start with a cherry, raspberry canvas colored by black tea, tobacco, spice box, bavarian cream, and lavender--particularly on the finish, which is the Energizer bunny of finishes: you won't want to talk after swallowing for fear of losing the haunting quality of those flavors too soon! All this from a wine from Majorca (Mallorca)!!! That little island in the Mediterranean that the French and Spanish battled over for so long? Yes, and clearly there's more in Majorca than just summer homes for the British upper class! Incidentally, the bottle we tasted from was opened on 10/13, and it was still outstanding on 10/16, further evidence that it's going to be a loooooong-lived wine!

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge 2003 Shiraz Barossa Valley
Like a super sludgy Shiraz smoothie! The depth and velvety-ness are extraordinary. Like most Aussie wine, it's not nuanced, but who cares? It was meant for immediate enjoyment (or within 5 years), and let me tell you what kind of enjoying you can do with this! While I'm sure many can think of interesting things to do with this wine and ice cream, it would be a shame to sully it with anything other than your saliva! It shows tarry black plum and currant fruit with bittersweet chocolate on the back end, with a host of spices and herbs unfolding throughout the finish. This is a limited production wine, though we should have some for a few weeks. Don't miss out!!

MBM