Friday, May 20, 2011

2009 Layer Cake Shiraz has strong pedigree and is only $15

Jayson Woodbridge (Hundred Acre fame- if you don't know, you need to) and his team have developed an AWESOME everyday drinker in their 2009 Shiraz.  The full blackberry fruit, light smooth tannins, and depth and concentration are unmatched at this price point.  This will go nicely with grilled meats.  I will be buying a case of this a.s.a.p. and you should too.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

2008 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny is a value...Even at $60

I usually try to talk about value wines, but value is relative, right? In this economy, buying a bottle of wine over $30 seems to be a splurge. However, when I spotted the lofty rating (97 WA) and price of $60, the rating/ price calculator in my head screamed BUY!!  I brought the bottle to a dinner party last weekend, with excitement, to try. Needless to say, the wine blew me away. The rich blend of black fruits and cherry, smooth tannins, and complexity all came together beautifully in great balance. One of the litmus tests of how good a wine is, happened at the party. My friend let his wife try some....and she didn't give it back!  (he wasn't happy!). When you find a wine like this, the tough part comes when you realize that you only have one bottle left! I'd recommend trying to find this wine and stock up, or get on the mailing list a.s.a.p.!