Sunday, August 30, 2009

Luzon Jumilla

Bodegas Luzon
Jumilla
Monastrell, Syrah
Jumilla, Spain2007
14%
$6.89 -- COSTCO, Austin, TX

Color: Dark red with a slight purple tinge
Nose: Raspberry and tobacco
Body: Medium
Front: Pepper
Middle: Dark cherry
Back: Some sort of spice...thyme? Oregano?
Burns clean?: Yes
Cap: Cork

This is a great bottle of wine for this price. Not sure how it'll age, as the tannins are very soft, but it's fruity yet earthy, powerful yet structured. It's good with the olives and the cold leftover steak on my plate this evening, but I think any sort of light food it'd be great for, and would be a super hot-weather red wine. It's not a powerhouse wine, but it's a delightful surprise!

Vincent Saincrit Bordeaux

Germain-Saincrit Vignerons
Grand vin de Bordeaux
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Bordeaux
Berson, Gironde, France2005
13%
$8.69 -- COSTCO, Austin, TX

Color: Medium strawberry
Nose: Blackberries, saddle leather
Body: Medium
Front: Sour berries
Middle: Soft tannins, wood
Back: Cigar wrapper
Burns clean?: Yes
Cap: Cork

This will be the first of several Bordeaux experiments in the coming months. I've had a couple of them that I liked, but they were all kind of old. Rumor has it the 2005 vintage is so awesome that even the cheapest bottles aren't bad. That would seem to be true in the case of this wine.

Still, it's not for the white zinfandel lover, and it's not for dinner -- it won't stand up to much intensity in food, but it's good with light antipasti. It's brighter fruit at the start than some Bordeaux I've had, even the Merlot-heavy ones of the Right Bank. But it's not super complex overall, or rich. I tried it decanted for an hour, and then the next day as well, and it seemed to peak early. It has that lovely sour berry flavor that I like in so many French wines, and like so many such wines, it goes well with almost any musical accompaniment.

Simi Landslide Cabernet

Simi Winery
Landslide Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley
Sonoma, California, USA2005
14.5%
$26.99 -- COSTCO, Austin, TX

Color: Dark ruby
Nose: Tobacco and cherry
Body: Full
Front: Cherry
Middle: Smoke, cedar
Back: Tannins, raspberry chocolate
Burns clean?: Yes
Cap: Cork

It's been awhile since I posted: it's just been too hot to drink wine. Sorry.

Ha ha! Just kidding. I've just been drinking cases of things I've already reviewed here, in the interests of saving money. But armed with a COSTCO membership, I'm back, with a bunch of things I've never tried before.

This one I'll probably buy more of, to lay down for awhile. It took about three hours for it to open into its full loveliness, and even then the tannins were pretty stout. But this is a lush, heavy Cabernet, with a really interesting flavor profile and clear structure. With grilled New York strip and grilled zucchini (with plenty of Tony's to spice it up) it was a great combination.

I was listening to Red Revelations, by Jace Everett, when I drank this one, and while I wouldn't go so far as to say the Simi was a revelation, it certainly seemed to make revelations happen more smoothly.