2008 Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley Shiraz

2008 Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley Shiraz
Varietal:  Shiraz
Cost per bottle: $12


"The '08 Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley Shiraz is a wine of great depth of color reflecting that splendid red wine vintage. After an early start, the vintage was marked by perfect harvest weather, warm days and cool nights during February. This was then followed by a burst of heat at the end."

It is interesting that the description talks about the weather, rather than the flavor.  They must have been trying to be polite.  I think this wine is already too old in 2012.  It isn't horrid, but the alcohol content overpowers the flavor it is supposed to have.  Skip it.

2007 Vina Robles "Signature" Estate Cuvée Paso Robles Red Blend

2007 Vina Robles "Signature" Estate Cuvée Paso Robles Red Blend
Varietal:  66% Petit Verdot, 34% Petite Sirah
Cost per bottle: $35

"The "Signature" Estate Cuvée from Vina Robles is a deep, dark and earthy blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. It's intense, rich and full-bodied with layers of flavors - blackberries, hints of cedar, cinnamon and black currant accents. The ripe, silky tannins provide a smooth, balanced finish."

For the first time, I think the commercial description is spot-on accurate.  This really is an extremely rich red.  Even the color is deep and layered, with a purple sheen over the ruby red.  A must try for those who love a bold red.

2009 Quivira Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
Varietal:  Zinfandel
Cost per bottle: $19


"Ruggedly enigmatic and powerfully built, Zinfandel is the reigning celebrity of Dry Creek Valley. Both complex and down-to-earth, it also displays a bit of an edgy darker quality. The '09 is beautifully balanced and even–it was an exceptional vintage that allowed the Zinfandel clusters to ripen much more uniformly than usual throughout the valley."

This one has a rich red color with a tart berry smell.  It has a bold flavor that is almost too strong, but also delicious.  There is a juicy quality that makes up for the tartness. If you're a fan of dark, dry reds, this is for you.   If you only like sweet reds, stay away.

2007 Renteria Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Renteria Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Varietal:  Cabernet
Cost per bottle: $23+


"This Cabernet is a blend of grapes from two very different Napa Valley vineyards that complement each other well. The Steltzner Vineyard in Stags Leap produces a very pretty, elegant wine with dark fruit aromas, soft, velvety tannins, and an abundance of acidity. The Shooting Star Vineyard in Pope Valley produces a much firmer wine with big, bold tannins and raspberry, herbal aromatics. The resulting wines have a rich depth of aromas, both from the fruit and barrel aging, and a full but soft palate with concentrated flavors."

This one was a disappointment.  I usually like Cabernet Sauvignon, but not this one.  It's too sharp in smell and taste.  That must be what they meant by 'an abundance of acidity'.  It is too acidic to be able to taste any fruity notes, and it leaves your tongue dry after you swallow.  There is nothing soft or velvety about it.

2008 Locati Cellars Columbia Valley Barbera

2008 Locati Cellars Columbia Valley Barbera
Varietal:  Barbera
Cost per bottle: $26


"This Barbera, a variety originating in northwest Italy's Piedmont region, finds a beautiful expression in the Lonesome Springs Vineyard. Jumping from the glass are bright aromatics of huckleberries, allspice and lemon rind. Bridging the best of the old and new worlds, the palate combines an earthy character and lively acidity with ripe red cherries and raspberries. "

This wine is so smooth!  It rolls into your mouth and leaves no trace when swallowed.  It looks and smells like red berries while having a grown-up wine flavor.  I think this is the first time I've had Barbera, and now I wonder where it has been all my life.

This one is meant to be sipped and savored.  Probably great for sharing too, but I'm not sure that I like any of you enough to give up a glass. My precccioussss! I feel sad that the wine sample bottle is so tiny.

Shirt.Woot is awesome

I ordered this shirt a little over a week ago.  It is called Mort-Vivant (Living Dead).  It is in the style of Alphonse Mucha's work.

It arrived today and I thought they had sent me a Mens size shirt.  They didn't.

It turns out that the sizing had changed and I didn't notice.  Woot's Womens shirts had been a straight-down cut in Juniors-like sizing, so I had been ordering an WXL which was still pretty snug over my chest.  The new shirts are supposed to have room for a little curve in the bust and hips.

To be honest, I don't usually read the shirt descriptions. They always make up a little story to go with the design and I don't care enough to read them.  Because of my tl;dr attitude, I missed the bright gold box at the bottom announcing the size/style changes.  In the new style of shirt, I needed a Medium.

Woot does not do returns/exchanges, but they are taking pity on me and sending the size I really need even though it was my own fault for not reading the description.

They don't want me to return the shirt I already received, so I need to find a new home for it.


Womens XL - Chest 23" (46" around) - Length 28".  It is 100% cotton and likely to shrink a little.

Mort-vivant

Lava Cap '07 Reserve El Dorado Merlot

Lava Cap '07 Reserve El Dorado Merlot
Varietal:  92% Merlot, 8% Sangiovese
Cost per bottle: $20


"The grapes for Lava Cap’s '07 "Reserve" Merlot were grown exclusively in their estate vineyard and hand-harvested. Cold soaked for 72 hours, the juice was then inoculated with specially selected cultured yeast strains. The wine was aged for 15 months in small French Oak barrels. Final blending included 8% Sangiovese for a sleek, velvety, full-bodied finish. This elegant, well-structured wine has clean notes of ripe cherry, anise, green apple and chocolate balanced with juicy tannins."

Interesting color - it looks like blood that has been out just long enough to begin oxidizing.  It even gives the illusion of plasma separation when you tilt the glass.  I'm not saying that as a negative.

It is tart, but not sour or bitter.  I'm not fond of anise or green apple, so this Merlot wouldn't be my very first choice but I wouldn't turn it down either.  It is a good one for those that do like those flavors.  The finish is very smooth, no aftertaste.