Australian Shiraz

2004 John Duval, Entity ($42) -- Barrosa Valley, Australia . 750 cases produced. I almost selected this wine for Wine Blogging Wednesday, but decided to savor this tremendous wine during last night's snow storm and today's Snow Day without rushing to post my review. If you think the kids are having a blast today, I managed to go skiing this morning with my son, play tennis with Polly, and now we are off to the Playhouse in an hour or so for dinner and a play. Unfortunately, I doubt the wine selection will be as fine as Chez Jens'.

As many of you know John Duval was the winemaker for Penfolds Grange during the 80's and 90's. It is outstanding that for about $40, one can experience such a master winemaker.

In the meantime, I am finishing off the remnants of last night's bottle. I very much like the Plexus, but I may have found a new favorite. This wine reminds me of a dense, intense Cote-Rotie or Hermitage because of its elegance. Strength and beauty in one. Also, it was still going strong the next day without any extaordinary preservation methods. (It sat on the bar with a cork in it.)

Parker raved about this wine. I leave it up to you to figure the points awarded. (For those that dislike the whole 100 point scoring system, I suggest posting his reviews without the numbers!):

"The 2004 Entity (100% Shiraz) is even more profound than the Plexus. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by a magical, sweet creme de cassis, blackberry, camphor, espresso roast, and subtle wood-scented perfume. A fabulous attack, voluptuous, full-bodied mid-palate, multi-layered texture and finish suggest this brilliant Shiraz should drink beautifully for 12-15+ years."

Wine Blogging Wednesday -- #30

What: WBW is the international internet wine tasting event held monthly. Lenn, a proud new father, is the mastermind. Details and past postings are here.

Host/Hostess: This month's event is hosted by Tim at Winecast.

Theme: New World Syrah

The Wine: 2001 Finca Flichman, Paisaje de Barrancas ($16)

This is Tupungato's little sister, also from Mendoza, Argentina. I raved about finding a bottle of Tupungato last week when I found a six-pack in the back closet. Sadly, there was no more at the warehouse. The Barrancas is more refined and subtle as it is a blend of Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (75/20/5) fermented in stainless steel, aged 12 months in new French and American oak (50/50).

Moderate but alluring nose, with soft, round complex fruit flavors and a medium finish. Would be great with food. If you can find some, give it a swirl!

Lately I have been on a Syrah kick as I find it is a great food wine and each region and winemaker can bring out a range of expressions in the wine. It is complex and approachable when young and evolves in your glass after several hours.

Superbowl Wine

2003 Weingut Robert Weil, Riesling ($30) -- Rheingau, Kabinett Halbtrocken. I know, I know almost any wine will do here given the range of food options (and 90% of the population will scream for beer), but I am going to a party thrown by a wine store owner. I was tempted to bring the 2002 Lynch Bages, but I don't think subtlety works well at these events.

I think the Riesling is an inspired choice as the first wine to start the activities in a few hours, and two hours before the actual kick-off. Chilled slightly, with steel and minerality and enough sugar to ward off the meanest guacamole dip.

Later, I will segue to a Petite Sirah by Rosenblum. The concept again is to go with a wine that can take on any food thrown at it. Come on, let's see what the salsa and nachos got today. This is our house! And if there are any steak sandwiches, we're talking touchdown!

Now, if only da Bears can make it an interesting game in the second half!

Robert Pecota Cabernet

1997 Robert Pecota, Kara's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($38) -- Napa Valley. Found this straggler at a big store that was blowing out some old inventory. I figured 97 was a big year for Napa Cabs so what the hell, it should have some stuffing. I can't say whether it was the storage conditions or the age of the wine, but most of the fruit was gone. It didn't taste as delicate and fragile as a 1970's Napa Cab from a good producer but it was headed that way. It reminded me of some of the average 1998 Napa Cabs, 98 being a relatively difficult year.

Fading elusive nose, with tight, straight-forward un-complex flavors and a medium finish. As the 97 is well regarded by others I can only assume that this is a badly stored bottle. In most vintages the Kara's Vineyard Cabs are blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, fermented in stainless steel and aged for 20 months or so in mostly new French oak.

Last year Pecota sold his vineyard and winery (but not the name as he has bought new property and will continue to make wine there) to Jess Jackson where he will produce the Atalon brand.

Pecota Family Sells Calistoga Estate . . . Will Launch New Vineyard and Winery

In July, 2006, Robert Pecota and his family sold their Calistoga winery and estate vineyard, established in 1978, to Artisan and Estates, owned by Jess Jackson of Kendall-Jackson fame. It will become the home of the high-end Atalon brand of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Pecota family has retained ownership of the Robert Pecota Winery name and all Pecota-branded wines, and has acquired another property close by on Bennett Lane just across the Napa River from Chateau Montelena. Plans are to plant 22 of the 27 acres to grapes, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, while devoting the balance to a home and small winery. Until the new winery is operational, the family will continue to produce wines at its former facility.

It will be interesting to re-taste the Pecota wines from the new vineyards when they are released.

Another Garage Wine Blog

I have not been keeping up with the proliferation of new wine blogs, but today I stumbled onto a real "garage" wine blog.

Jean-Luc Thunevin is the real garagiste as one of the first garage winemakers in St-Emilion with his label, Chateau Valandraud. Two of the books I have devoured recently, "Noble Rot" and Parker's "World's Greatest Wine Estates", devote much coverage to Jean-Luc's role in the whole Movement. In fact, he has gone from making wine in his backyard to being listed in Parker's book as one of the world's greatest wine "estates". His wine is on my short list to buy.

Well, from one Wine Garage (oops, Warehouse!) to another, welcome!

Argentine Wine Find

2002 Finca Flichman, Paisaje de Tupungato ($16) -- Estate bottled from Mendoza, Argentina. Did you ever find a $20 bill in a pair of pants tucked way back in your closet? I just found this wine after more than a year in the back closet.

Tupungato is a blend of Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon aged in American and French oak for 12 months and then 6 months in bottle. Flichman makes a lower-end value wine also.

Actually it got an extra year of bottle aging back in the vault as it went missing. I thought the whole wooden case was corked, if that is possible, because when I opened the crate, it reeked of TCA. (Can a whole case be corked? I thought of dragging the box outside in case I infected the entire shop!)

The wine is stunning for $16 with full-bodied fruit, soft tannins and a medium to long finish. It pays to clean out the closet from time to time. The bad news on waiting so long is that the warehouse is out having gone through 130 six-packs. Damn! If you find any grab it. The last 5 bottles here are going back into hiding.