~$35US Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

A ginormous blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Sirah, and Charbono @ 15.2% ABV. Extremely deep, inky purple. Intense blackberry, plums, and spicy stewed apples on the nose. Tasted very rich and extracted. If Hostess combined their Apple Pie and Blueberry Pies, liquified them crust-and-all, it would taste something like this wine. Some oak (which was kept in check) and mild tannins helped balanced the massive fruit - giving the wine some finesse. Super easy to drink, and easy to appreciate the craft and balance. Pair with hearty grilled meats.

A benchmark American wine in 2005, and a joy to drink. One to share with friends.

~$40US 100% Shiraz, Mclaren Vale Australia

This is the upper-tier Shiraz by Marquis Philips. It was deep deep purple - almost black in the glass. Super-intense nose of black fruits, some licorice and basil, and a huge cloud of alcohol. The intensity and juiciness of the nose makes this wine pretty attractive. Huge amounts of concentrated blackberry fruits and grape jam, then some mocha and dark chocolate. This much fruit is tough to keep in balance; the soft tannins and the alcoholic bite tried, but could not stand up to the fruit. Finished more like a fine spirit - an aged rum or tequila than a wine. I am not sure what this would be like in 10-15 years, or after 5-8 hours in the decanter - but hopefully some of the alcohol would blow off and the fruit soften and round out. This is hard to recommend when the MP Sarah’s Blend or the Mollydooker Shiraz’s can be had at less than half the price and offer a very similar experience, overall.

Well-made, but an untamed, wild wine, massive in all respects.

~ $18US Paso Robles 50% Cabernet Sauvignon / 45% Merlot / 5% Petit Verdot

This Bordeaux-via-Cali blend poured a bricky-red colour and presented a strong strawberries and cream nose. Tasted very red-fruity and juicy, then a huge burst of super-woody oak. The wood gave some vanilla and creaminess, and there was little structure and balance. The flavors felt very disjointed and awkward - almost like they combined 2 entirely different wines to make it (a fruit monster and oak monster). Definitely a learning experience, and not my favorite in style.

Like eating a strawberry shortcake in the lumber aisle of Home Depot.

~$6US Belgian Trappist Ale 9.2%ABV

Deep copper color, poured with a 1-2″ head, which subsided after about a minute. Had a slightly shy, fruit-salady nose. Rich mouth-coating on the palate, where it exploded with chinese 5-spice powder, more fruit, then honey. Gentle hops give the ale superb balance and disguise the 9.2% ABV. To me, the 8 is more in-balance than the big-daddy Rochefort 10.

A classic Belgian ale, every beer-lover should try.

~$14US 100% Cabernet Franc

This medium ruby Chinon delivers a crazy nose of grilled asparagus, jalapenos peppers, and some black cherries deep in the background. Great balance of acidity and medium tanins makes this an killer food wine; we really enjoyed it with calzones (a proscuitto+pineapple and a meatball). This wine is a “Vegetable Bomb”. New World Fruitbombers  beware; you are probably not going to love this, but you should try it to see what the other side of the world looks like.

Stylish, and great with food, especially vegetables.