Humphrey Wine Club

The wines that the nice man at Que Syrah chose for us...

 

2008 Kennedy Shah "La Vie en Rouge" (August 2011)

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A little nervous after a surprising start we recently had with one of it's brethren A Wine Club Wine, turned out to be totally unwarranted.  The first sip was wonderful, and it really didn't change much as our dinner was consumed.  Deep in color, at the purple end of the scale it's got a jammy nose.  Big fruit flavors up front they soften at the back of the palette to a spicy(ish) chocolate(ish) finish.

Someone has thought long and hard about what to put in the bottle, and there's no doubt they've got this blend right.  This may be a red happiest without food as the most enjoyable tastes were after our simple meal was all gone...

And, it helped us out on our quest for the Wine Century Club A Century Club Contributor...

Filed under: 2008 Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Consumed Malbec Merlot Petit Verdot Red Syrah Washington
 

2008 Sirius Bordeaux Blanc Sauvignon et Muscadelle (Christmas 2010)

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OK.  Really quite pale, not a lot of nose, perhaps flowery if you have to have a description.  Light and fresh with a pretty long finish, it worked ok with our meal of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and corn.  It probably could just as easily be a sit in the sun wine, with or without snacks, as much as it could do the same in front of the TV - although I think we'd feel a bit better being in the sun.

Filed under: 2008 Bordeaux Consumed France Muscadelle White
 

2008 Planeta "La Segreta" Rosso (September 2010)

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We had a simple mushroom risotto for dinner and the urge for a wine to go with it.  This selection was just fine, but if you just wanted a glass of wine while you watch TV, or read a book this would work out equally as fine.

It's got some earthy tones going on, which sort of suggest we got it right for a dish majoring in mushrooms, but it was also smooth and fruity suggesting there's a lot of other things it would work with, but as noted already, really doesn't have to have food.  If there were tannins there when the bottle was first placed in our cellar, they're all but gone a year later...

It's a little brighter in the purple range if you care.  And in most situations, probably hard to have just one glass.

Filed under: 2008 Consumed Merlot Nero d'Avola Red Sicily Syrah
 

2008 Elizabeth Rose

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Interesting Pinot.  Darker in color than expected. 

Not a particularly big nose, but there's a nose, kind of fruity, but orchard fruity not fruit salad fruity.  A bit of acid up front, but not at the finish. Not as much fruit on the palette as the nose, and a sort of smooth earthy note all the way through.

And, it's certifed Organic if that's relevant to anything.

Filed under: 2008 Consumed Napa Valley Pinot Noir Red
 

2008 Sineann Red Table Wine [November, 2010]

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Table Wine is the perfect name.  It's a good comforting wine.  Perfect for our house-made Nachos (heavy on the avocado, light on the jalapenos...)

Nothing complicated, nothing complex, just good and comforting.  It's got some fruit upfront, perhaps blackberry but maybe more berry compote-like (without the 5 extra cups of sugar).  Consistant from start to finish, nothing much on the tannin side, just a gentle acidity at the very end.

Oh, and it has a glass(?) cork.  Not sure I'm happy about that, but it's also the absolute very first time I've seen (or even heard about) a glass cork so there's plenty of time to sway me, especially after I find out some of the pros & cons other people have come across.

Filed under: 2008 Consumed Oregon Red
 

2008 Capestrano Passerina Marche (Christmas 2010)

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Not surprisingly (although maybe there's an opportunity out there?) none of our Tasting Notes suggested a pairing with Potato Salad A Daring Kitchen Article but we may have found one...

We tend to agree with 'Our Wine Guy's Philosophy' that when pairing with food you want a really strong match of characteristics or the exact opposite.  We think this wine went with the tangy sweetness of our Potato Salad simply because it was a strong match with upfront acidic and lingering in the acidity.  Not crazy punch you in the mouth acidic, but there all the time. Not a lot on the nose, perhaps a little more as it warmed up.

Probably not hard to argue it benefits from food, and probably not just a vinegar based sauce.  Perhaps tomatoes in a sauce, or even a salad? Or any salad with a 'strong' dressing?

Filed under: 2008 Consumed Italy Passerina White
 

2008 Errazuriz Single Vineyard (March 2011)

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Yum!

We chose this to drink with a Gumbo A Daring Kitchen Article we made at home and have nothing to suggest anything other than we made a great choice. 

Lots of blackberry on the nose that only became more pronounced as it warmed up a little.  But it reminded us a little of Asian foods if that makes sense which we guess means we got a hint of soy?  Quite earthy, almost Grenache-like at the start, but it softened and opened up as it warmed up (probably benefiting from some good swirls in the glass too).  The earthiness became a bit more subtle over time, but was still there throughout.

Our Gumbo was at the milder end of the scale, but we're pretty certain a stronger one would also have benefited from the Errazuriz!

Filed under: 2008 Acongagua Valley Carmenere Chile Consumed Red
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