Bommarito Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

This was a very pleasant surprise! I picked up this bottle of wine without really knowing anything about it. Val at Chardonnay Bay Wine Shop in Woodstock, Illinois recommended it to me when I was shopping for some new wines to try.

I paid $20 and some change. This cab was right up my alley! Rich in dark fruit, I was picking up some black rasberries with an underlying cassis. Add to that some nice spice/leather/vanilla.........Noice!!! Very well balanced in the mouth, smooth tannin/light grip, and a medium finish. When I found out that this wine comes out of the Whitehall Lane family I was pleasantly surprised, as I am a big fan of their wines. This cab was a nice "drinker" all by itself.....one worthy of savoring every sip..........

Ahhhhhhh....must find some more......

Until next time,

Sips 'n Nibbles

Think out of the box....OR...IN THE BOX!!!

Have you finally given in to your curiosities? Have you found yourself looking over your shoulder in your favorite wine shoppe to see if anyone is watching, knowing that you might be risking your "Wine Connoisseur" status........go ahead.......grab the "box" wine and give it a try!
There are serveral different winemakers offering decent wines in a convenient box. I will have to say, for everyday drinking, I think they are a great option. The pricing is great, the ease of use, fantastic........so I say....."HEY, why not?!?!?"
NOW.....here's a really cool way to keep the box in a very stylish manner....
I came across a company that makes handmade custom wine cabinets for boxed wine.
They look awesome, and are very affordable! (Just think of all the money you will save by drinking the boxed wine!!!
Take a jaunt on over to Boxed Wine Cabinet Co. and see what they have to offer. For direct contact here is their info:
Boxed Wine Cabinet Co.
P.O. Box 4814Whitefish, MT 59937
ph: 406-270-6939alt: 406-471-1331
damon@boxedwinecabinetco.com

Be sure to give me some feedback/comments on the various "Boxed Wines" that you've tried and what you thought about them.........I'd love to hear it and pass it along!

So for now,
Sips 'n Nibbles
Gary

Looking for Good, Affordable Pinot Noir?

Being a "red" drinker, and my wife being a "white" drinker (actually a Reisling girl), there are times when I need a wine that will cross the boundries. I have found that a Pinot Noir does the job with great finesse and subtle sophistication. She is always willing to try a new wine with me, and many times will share in a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or the like, but the wine that I find to be a great "Go To" is the Pinot Noir! This holds true in mixed company also. Not sure what everyone likes...........grab a Pinot Noir.......
The really good ones can be pretty pricey, or I should rephrase that, the really expensive ones can be pricey....huh....what's he saying????
I word it like that because now it is very common to find some really good PN's at an affordable price. I've blogged about the McManis before, and there are others out there worth getting your hands on, but you have to do some looking and trying.
In the April '09 issue of Wine & Spirits they had a nice little write up on PN's and ended with a nice list of "Good, Cheap Pinot". I don't care for the word cheap, although there are some cheap wines out there.......these aren't them. Here is a list of nice, affordable Pinot Noirs that you can look for with confidence. I am listing them just like they were in the magazine, with the score given to each by WS:

Andrew Rich 06 Willamette Valley Cuvee B - WS92 - $24
De Loach 07 Russian River Valley - WS92 $24
MacMurray Ranch 06 Sonoma Coast - WS92 - $24
Summerland 07 Santa Barbara County - WS91 - $24
J. Lynne 07 Russian River Valley - WS91 - $22
Brancott Vineyards 06 Marlborough Reserve - WS91 - $19
Pencarrow 06 Martinborough - WS91 - $19
Girasole Vineyards 07 Mendocino - WS90 - $16
Vintisquero 06 Casablanca Valley Reserva - WS87 - $13
McManis 07 California - WS86 - $11
Bad Dog Ranch 06 California - WS88 - $10
Fat Cat 07 California - EV - $7

Take the time to look for some of these, or make some new discoveries. I think it's a good idea to keep some Pinot Noirs on hand for those occasions where you have mixed company, and desire to serve one varietal.
Let me know what you think about Pinot Noir and what some of your favorites are!

Til next time,
Sips 'n Nibbles

Wine Advocate gives the 2007 Mollydooker Wine Ratings!!!!

The Wine Advocate has just released the Australia issue, and all of the 2007 Mollydooker's were rated 90-98 points. They received the first, second, third, equal fourth and equal fifth highest scores of the 2007 Aussie wines!
Here is a list of the Mollydooker wines and their Wine Advocate Ratings:

08 The Violinist Verdelho 90 pts (07 = 90 pts; 06 = 90 pts) "...the fragrant nose offers up notes of baking spices, pit fruits, melon, and floral aromas... creamy texture, ripe flavors, and excellent balance."

07 The Scooter Merlot 91 pts (06 = 91 pts first vintage)"This lengthy effort over-delivers for its modest price. It might even help restore Merlot's tattered reputation."

07 The Maitre D' Cabernet Sauvignon 92 pts (06 = 91 pts; 05 = 92 pts) "It reveals an enticing nose of spice box, scorched earth, smoke, black currant, and blackberry followed by a velvety-textured, layered, savory Cabernet with excellent depth and balance."

07 Two Left Feet Blend 93 pts (06 = 93 pts; 05 = 94 pts)"A glass-coating opaque purple... array of violets, scorched earth, smoke, black cherry, and blueberry ...loads of spicy, savory blue and black fruits, silky tannin, and a very long finish."

07 The Boxer Shiraz 93 pts (06 = 94 pts; 05 = 95 pts)"Dense and rich on the palate, it has layers of succulent fruit, lots of spice, and a lengthy finish. It is surprisingly elegant for its size."

07 Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 94 pts (06 = 95 pts first vintage)"Super-concentrated, layered, and intense on the palate, it has a velvety texture, luscious flavors, and impeccable balance."

07 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 95 pts (06 = 96 pts first vintage) "Opulent on the palate, this glossy effort will evolve for another 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now and over the next decade."

07 Enchanted Path Shiraz/Cabernet 95+ pts (06 = 94 pts; 05 = 96 pts)"Purple/black colored, it has a brooding bouquet of spice box, toasty oak, mineral, espresso, black currant, and blueberry."

07 Carnival of Love Shiraz 96 pts (06 = 97 pts; 05 = 99 pts)"Opulent on the palate, this glossy Shiraz has serious depth of flavor, great concentration, excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a pure, silky finish."

07 Velvet Glove Shiraz 98 pts (06 = 99 pts first vintage)"Voluptuous and sexy on the palate, this totally hedonistic effort has plenty of structure and a 60+ second finish. It will be difficult to keep one's hands off this beauty but it will drink well through 2027 for those who can withstand the seduction."

Congratulations to Sarah & Sparky and everyone at Mollydooker Wines! You never let us down!!

I have been a fan of their wines since their collaboration with Dan Philips and the Marquis/Philips line of wines. Marquis/Philips is still out there, but is a collaboration between Dan Philips and "Australian" wine makers......not the same goods as before. BUT...if you come across a bottle that mentions Sarah & Sparky on the back label......GRAB IT! You won't regret it. I just grabbed a Marquis/Philips '04 Shiraz 9 yesterday......gonna uncork that bad boy tonite. My wife bought me one of these for my birthday 2 years ago and it was absolutely killer.
It was an exciting day when the Mollydooker wines were first available.

My personal Mollydooker favorite is Two Left Feet.....an awesome red blend. Kind of like my favorite Marquis/Philips is the Sarah's Blend.

Leave a comment about YOUR favorite Mollydooker!!!

That's it for now.......
Sips 'n Nibbles