A Passover Shiraz

$31-$40, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »
Apr 092010

2003 Carmel Kayoumi Shiraz

My office is open on both the Friday before and the Monday after Easter; however, each of us can choose to take one day off as an office holiday.  Good Friday was clearly the day that most of my coworkers picked, as there were only 4 of us in the office all day, but I think that those of us who came in on Friday had the better end of the deal by taking today off.  Last Friday was one of the quietest days I’ve ever had at work.  It was perfect for being productive, as well as for bonding with my coworkers, since we were able to eat lunch together around the lunchroom table.  By the time we all left the office on Friday, everyone was in a wonderful mood, enjoying the weather, and looking forward to a long, holiday weekend.  I celebrated by coming home and opening a bottle of the Shiraz.

The 2003 Carmel Kayoumi Shiraz (winery, snooth) was made with 100% Shiraz grapes and was a dark ruby color with flecks of garnet.  On the nose, there were blackberries, cedar, smoke, leather, and a touch of coffee.  In the mouth, there were blackberries, plums, cooking meat, smoke, and ground coffee.  The wine had high acidity, high tannins, and a medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $33, this kosher Shiraz was enjoyable both on its own and with grilled chicken I made for dinner.  It was also the wine that I used to make my charoset, which is chopped apples, ground walnuts, cinnamon, and wine.  The Kayoumi Shiraz mixed nicely with the other ingredients and resulted in a delicious addition to this year’s Passover celebration.

Overall: 3 corks

Posted by Alleigh at 9:00 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Woody Woodcutter’s Shiraz

$21-$30, 2 Corks, Prices, Ratings 5 Responses »
Dec 032009

After a crazy first two weeks at my new job, things have quieted down a little. In fact, I’ve realized that in a strange way, I miss the constant buzz of the bullpen, even when I’m enjoying the quiet of my new office. Substantively, Tuesday was a fairly quiet day in terms of my workload, but it was a particularly good day because I found out that I will be receiving a small holiday bonus at the end of December. I was shocked, to say the least. It will be small, but that’s not the point. To find out 9 days into my new job and immediately after delivering my first big project that I was being recognized for the hard work I’d already done was a wonderful feeling. Then, as if that wasn’t good enough, I met up with a former coworker for a couple of hours of good girl talk. After that, I was off to a condo board of directors meeting. When I finally walked in the door, I was exhausted. It was a good exhausted, but I was still just ready to put up my feet and relax. As I really enjoyed previous wines that I’ve had from Torbreck Vintners, I open a bottle of the 2005 Woodcutter’s Shiraz to help warm me up and settle into what was left of the evening.

The 2005 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz (winery, snooth) was a deep ruby color with purple flecks. On the nose, there were big, juicy blackberry, plum, and blackcurrant leaf aromas, which were followed by a tough of eucalyptus. In the mouth, there were heave smoky and cedar flavors, which matched the name of the wine. Those woody characteristics were followed by black cherry, blackcurrant, and medicinal flavors. The finish was dominated by the medicinal flavors. The wine had a surprising amount of acidity, medium body, and firm tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? Eh…if you have a bottle on hand, drink it, but I wouldn’t go searching it out either. At $23, this wine was a disappointment. I was looking for a woody, deep wine with hints of dark fruits to sink into and instead the Shiraz tasted like something that I bought at a pharmacy. I tried drinking the wine with food in an effort to tone down the medicinal characteristics, but had no such luck. It is rare that I don’t finish a bottle of wine, but unfortunately, this is one that I just couldn’t get into. If you’re looking for a good wine from Torbreck, I definitely suggest sticking with 2008 Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles, which costs the same, but is significantly better.

Overall: 2 Corks

Posted by Alleigh at 8:50 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Woody Woodcutter's Shiraz

2 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »
Dec 032009

After a crazy first two weeks at my new job, things have quieted down a little. In fact, I’ve realized that in a strange way, I miss the constant buzz of the bullpen, even when I’m enjoying the quiet of my new office. Substantively, Tuesday was a fairly quiet day in terms of my workload, but it was a particularly good day because I found out that I will be receiving a small holiday bonus at the end of December. I was shocked, to say the least. It will be small, but that’s not the point. To find out 9 days into my new job and immediately after delivering my first big project that I was being recognized for the hard work I’d already done was a wonderful feeling. Then, as if that wasn’t good enough, I met up with a former coworker for a couple of hours of good girl talk. After that, I was off to a condo board of directors meeting. When I finally walked in the door, I was exhausted. It was a good exhausted, but I was still just ready to put up my feet and relax. As I really enjoyed previous wines that I’ve had from Torbreck Vintners, I open a bottle of the 2005 Woodcutter’s Shiraz to help warm me up and settle into what was left of the evening.

The 2005 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz (winery, snooth) was a deep ruby color with purple flecks. On the nose, there were big, juicy blackberry, plum, and blackcurrant leaf aromas, which were followed by a tough of eucalyptus. In the mouth, there were heave smoky and cedar flavors, which matched the name of the wine. Those woody characteristics were followed by black cherry, blackcurrant, and medicinal flavors. The finish was dominated by the medicinal flavors. The wine had a surprising amount of acidity, medium body, and firm tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? Eh…if you have a bottle on hand, drink it, but I wouldn’t go searching it out either. At $23, this wine was a disappointment. I was looking for a woody, deep wine with hints of dark fruits to sink into and instead the Shiraz tasted like something that I bought at a pharmacy. I tried drinking the wine with food in an effort to tone down the medicinal characteristics, but had no such luck. It is rare that I don’t finish a bottle of wine, but unfortunately, this is one that I just couldn’t get into. If you’re looking for a good wine from Torbreck, I definitely suggest sticking with 2008 Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles, which costs the same, but is significantly better.

Overall: 2 Corks

Posted by Alleigh at 8:50 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Celebrations With A First Class Shiraz

$31-$40, 3.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 5 Responses »
Oct 272009

Last week was a wild ride for me, and it culminated in an exciting, although slightly anxiety-filled, day on Friday. For the last couple of months, I’ve been looking to make my next career move and things finally fell into place last week, although they did so at a whirlwind pace.

Last Tuesday, I had my second interview for a position that I’d been pursuing for several weeks. That second interview was followed two days later by a third interview on Thursday, and, happily, a job offer first thing Friday morning. I couldn’t have been happier. By Friday afternoon, the deal was final and I’d let my current bosses know that I will be leaving. Telling them was a bittersweet moment, as I am sad to leave many of the people in my current office, but know this exciting new challenge is definitely something I could let pass me by. Without a doubt, this certainly is a reason to celebrate. So, on my way home from work on Friday, I couldn’t resist the urge to stop at my local wine store, Grand Cru Wine Bar & Cafe, for something fun to drink with dinner. Traveling first class definitely is my idea of indulgence and celebration, so when I saw the fun label on the 2007 First Class Shiraz, I couldn’t resist the temptation to buy it.

The 2007 First Class Shiraz (snooth) was a deep, inky, ruby color. On the nose, there were blackberry, black cherry, dust, smoke, blackcurrant leaf, and chocolate aromas. In the mouth, there were smoke, dark chocolate, blackberry, and blueberry flavors. The wine had good tannins and a full body. It was a little hot, but when it was paired with food, that seemed to help tone it down a little.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $35, this wine delivers a beautiful, velvety smoothness that is perfect for sinking into on a Friday after work. In celebration of my new job, Hubby and I ordered Chinese, which may not be a typical pairing for a Shiraz, but it worked. In particular, I think the soy sauce that I added to both my crab rangoon and my chicken with broccoli helped create a nice flavor blend. However, this Shiraz is definitely not a wine to pair with something spicy, as the wine enhanced the heat in the spiciness to the point of setting my mouth on fire. That said, if you’re looking for a solid, Australian Shiraz, the 2007 First Class is one worth considering.


Overall: 3.5 Corks

Posted by Alleigh at 8:28 pm Tagged with: , , , , ,

Swapping Sparkling Shiraz

$11-$20, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 1 Response »
Oct 142009


After a long, crazy day at work, there is very little that helps me decompress like a glass of wine, except for a glass of wine paired with some knitting. While this can obviously be a dangerous pairing, particularly when drinking more than one glass of wine, it can also be a great way to unwind. In many ways, the type of I’m using yarn can enhance the tasting experience, as there is nothing quite like knitting with a luscious piece of yarn that glides through your fingers while drink a full-bodied, velvety red that fills your mouth in much the same way as the yarn fills your hands.

Not surprisingly, in the same way that wine lovers have social networks like Wine 2.0 or Boozemonkey, which bring together all aspects of the wine industry (wine lovers, winemakers, sommeliers, vineyards, wine marketers, wine bloggers, etc), knitters have the Ravelry, which brings together all aspects of the knitting industry (knitters, crocheters, designers, independent dyers, spinners, store owners, etc.). Being the joiner that I am, I love talking with other knitters on Ravlery. What’s even more exciting is that I found a wonderful forum of knitters that are also fellow wine lovers, so it was only natural that this group started arranging yarn and wine swaps.

Our most recent swap centered around sharing Australian wine. My swapper, DiverGrrl, bought most of the items she sent from local stores. With the help of sommelier Frederick Armstrong at Wine About It, she purchased a bottle of The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz and paired it with beautiful Imperial Stock Ranch yarn from Abundant Yarn. She also sent a cute sheep pin and stitch markers that she made herself.

The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz (winery, snooth) was Shiraz and Viognier grapes and had a very deep purplish ruby, with small persistent bubbles. On the nose, the Shiraz was very subtle, with mostly berry aromas. In the mouth, the wine was surprisingly fruity. There were blackberry, plum, cocoa powder, and licorice flavors, mixed with a hint of something medicinal—maybe eucalyptus. However, while I expected the wine to be very bubbly on the tongue, it was fizzier more than anything else, and the fizz faded rather quickly. The Shiraz had a full body with soft tannins, and the finish was short.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $16, this wine would be an ok choice if you’re dying to try a Sparkling Shiraz, but it’s not a wine that I would purposefully go looking for. I also think that I’ve decided that Sparkling Shiraz is just not my thing. It’s not that I would turn down a glass if it were offered, but I prefer the full body and the solid tannins of a good still Shiraz to the bubbles of a sparkling one. It just feels funny to have the heavier red wine mixed with bubbles, although it’s definitely something you should try if you haven’t already.

Thanks, DiverGrrl, for sending a great package of yarn and wine!

Overall: 3 Corks

Posted by Alleigh at 4:02 pm Tagged with: , , ,

Waiting, Wanting, Hoping for More

$31-$40, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »
May 182009

As a break from work on Friday, a coworker and I went to one of the best wine stores in the DC.  It’s a little distracting to know that this place is within walking distance from my office, but I try to limit my trips to a Friday afternoon treat.  On this particular visit, my friend and I focused on the Australian wines, since I said that I was looking to do more exploration of the reds from down under.  As a fan of Elderton winery, an appreciation that was shared by the wine guy from the store, my friend recommended the 2005 Elderton Shiraz (winery, snooth).

As you may have guessed, before writing up each wine, I do a little research on the winery.  Sometimes I find information that that gives a better perspective on the wine or speaks to a particular interest.  Considering the feedback in “green” wines that I received after last week’s reviews of the Benziger Signaterra wines, I thought the environmentally-friendly practices at Elderton were worth mentioning.  When I bought the wine, I was unaware of their winemaking philosophy, but I was interested to learn that Elderton was the first South Australia winery to use the Trees for Life Carbon Neutral program.  The program’s certification ensures that Elderton examines their carbon footprint and offsets their emissions by planting trees.  According to the website, in 2007, Elderton planted more than 4,000 trees with this in mind.  Additionally, the winery is in the process of switching to biodynamic viticulture and expects to release their first biodynamic Shiraz this year.  While the move towards biodynamic and organic wine is clearly still in transition, if the philosophy is something that is important to you, Elderton’s wines may be something that you want to explore.

As for the 2005 Shiraz itself, it had a medium-to-deep purplish-ruby color that signaled the complexity of the wine.  On the nose, I was excited by everything I found.  The sweet black fruit aromas—black cherry, blackberry, blueberry—dominated, but didn’t overpower.  Beyond the fruits, I smelled sweet spices—mostly licorice, cloves, and some powdered cocoa.  Hiding behind all of those aromas, a light touch of vanilla and black pepper rounded out the wine.  In the mouth, I was a bit taken aback by how “hot” the wine was, which I admit made me feel that the alcohol was slightly out of balance with the flavors, the acidity, and the tannins.  The alcohol actually seemed to take away from the juiciness of the black fruits.  Those flavors, though, matched what I found on the nose and were followed by licorice, cloves, powered cocoa, and nutmeg flavors, which added a spicy, sweetness.  The intensity of the tannins matched the intensity of the flavors, so the tightening around my gums, combined with the full-body of the wine, added to the depth.  It was the alcohol level that didn’t work for me.

Was this worth a glass after work?  Sure.  To be honest, I feel like I should be more excited about this wine.  It was very complex, offering a wide range of aromas and flavors.  However, the high alcohol took away enough that it left me wanting more from it.  That said, at $30, the 2005 Elderton Shiraz is a wine that has a lot to offer from a winery that is trying to be eco-conscious.  The wine drinks ok on its own, but is better paired with food to help tone down the alcohol.  It was with food that the wine really showed its potential.    

Overall: 3 Corks

Posted by Alleigh at 3:29 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Is That A Red Wine In Your Champagne Glass?

$11-$20, 2 Corks, Prices, Ratings 3 Responses »
Apr 242009


The other night I was feeling very experimental.  I’d had a few surprises at work that all turned out really well, so I figured I’d keep testing my luck.  I admit, it was probably a mistake. 


My WSET instructor mentioned in class that Australians love red sparkling wine and that one of their favorite wine tricks to play on Americans is to hand them a glass and watch for a  reaction, since our palates aren’t really used to red sparklers—rose, sure, full-bodied red, not so much.  That should probably have been my hint to stay away from the sparkling red wines, but I was too intrigued by the idea to say no when I saw the bottle of Hardy’s Sparkling Shiraz.

The grapes for Hardy’s Sparkling Shiraz (vineyard, snooth) were grown in South Australia, specifically in the McLaren Vale and Padthaway.  The wine was a deep, inky purple, so it was difficult to see the bubbles, but when I looked closely, the glass was full of rapidly rising, small bubbles.  The wine had a deep, fruit stew smell that was dominated by plums.  In the mouth, the wine was surprisingly light feeling and the bubbles were ver persistent.  The pluminess on the nose was just as strong in the mouth.   The plum flavors were followed by a by a hint of menthol, which gave the wine a very medicinal taste.  All together, the wine tasted like thick Dr. Pepper, with tiny champagne-type bubbles instead of the big, soda carbonation-type bubbles.

Is this worth a glass after work?  Eh…I think that depends on whether or not sparkling red wines are your thing.  At $19, buying a bottle of Hardy’s Sparkling Shiraz was a worthwhile experiment, but it confirmed that I prefer my bubbly to be light and refreshing, not heavy and dense.  I tried judging the wine on its merits as a shiraz rather than on my bubbly taste preference, since that was the purpose of this experiment, but even doing that, I think this sparkler was just OK.  It was too stewy to be anything more than that.   

Overall: 2 corks


Posted by Alleigh at 4:11 pm Tagged with: , , ,
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