Issue XV: Sean Minor Pinot Noir Carneros Edition

Sean Minor Pinot Noir Carneros 

Ahhh, here we see that noble grape, Pinot Noir, rearing its head once again. It can be a finicky grape, very temperamental, the wine world’s version of that old adage of when it’s good, it can be very good, wonderful, among the best that wine can be and offer and a beautiful, gorgeous, splendid, magnificent concoction, but when it’s bad, it can be very bad, astringent and grimy and stomach churning. Obviously, by its inclusion here, this is one of the former.

It’s strange how some of these wines can be stumbled upon. This particular one came from a business associate with whom I shared a common interest in wines, an interest which was later picked up by a friend of mine who was within that same circle. He strongly suggested I try the Cab from this winery, which I did, after a fashion, as Cabs are not really my preference. I did, however, enjoy that one enormously and it will be eventually making its way in a future installment.

When it came time for me to leave the world tour I was doing and come back stateside, I started at the south end of the wine store and worked my way north. So, after tinkering with Cabs and Syrahs and Merlots and Zins, I eventually made my way to the Pinot Noir section and started sifting through that. Upon finding the label, I was pretty excited, due to that great experience with the Cab. Every accolade I heaped upon the A By Acacia wine (HSC Installment 10) I would also extend here, though I would give this the slight nod for smoothness. It’s one of those that makes my mouth very happy to have this wine in it, like taking sips of silk. Delicious!

This wine clocks in generally around $15 and is usually not on SPA. It is, however, a Mixed, as I will pick up bottles of it (or the A By Acacia – I kind of trade off) when I’ve got the urge and the hankerin’ that only a glass of Pinot will fill.

 

Issue XIV: Penfold’s Koonunga Hill Shiraz Edition

Penfold’s Koonunga Hill Shiraz 

This is one of the most well-worn and well-known wines from Australia, by one of the most renowned vineyards and with good reason. Like a good friend, it never lets you down and is always there when you need it and even if you branch out and go elsewhere for a bit, it’s always welcoming when you return.

I’ve written at length about my fondness for the Shiraz grape and my preference for a medium-bodied wine, but the #5 Shiraz/Cab from this same manufacturer I like slightly better. The small amounts of roundness, body and smoothness it adds are just right. With this Shiraz solo, it’s ever so slightly rougher and the taste, while still notably very good, is just a touch down. Say if it were a number scale and the Shiraz/Cab was an 8 (I don’t rank them that way – just using this as an example touchpoint), this would be a 7.5 or 7.75. On certain occasions, this one would be preferable, while on others (and frankly, most of the time, for me), the other one would be the better choice, but you really can’t go wrong with either.

For $11 or less a bottle (often you can find this for below $10), this is another one priced well enough  to pick up, even when not on SPA, but I generally will get the other one, if neither is on SPA. If this is on SPA and the other isn’t, I probably will get this. Given the availability, this is a very durable wine, just like the other, but in my actual practice, it is more of a Mixed rather than Standard.