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| The wino, dignified. |
Tonight's selection:
Wine: "Place in the sun" 2011 Shiraz, by Zonnebloem Wines
Origin: South Africa
Price: $11.95 ($1.00 off sale)
Rating: 4 of 5 = PFG
I have already tried this wine last Saturday with an anonymous friend (JESSICA M) but was all guzzly-goo-sauce-tiger, and not interested in savoring anything but my own loud, smarmy voice. Sorry, Jess. I do recall my initial thought at the LCBO shelf was, "Shriaz from South Africa - that ain't right" (I have been to the the exalted Barossa valley in Australia where Shiraz is the gifted child), but the FAIRTRADE logo, the "under $15" price, and my craving for a punchy red sealed the deal. I was pleasantly elated to find it very drinkable, and so I took the brakes off that night. Tonight, however, I am giving it a fair shake and am actually tasting it. It's a mouthful, for sure; dry-as, and leaves a bit of acrid-yet-cherry sheen to linger on the back of the tongue, which I adore (and that, friends, is the extent of *that* kind of commentary). I'd love to have a lump of brie with this wine, or that espresso pecorino I had that one time...
LCBO website claims this variety as limited. I will buy this again, most definitely!
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| Place in the Sun Shiraz - Give it a Whirl! |
**MANIFESTO ** Just so I'm clear: I am not a wine expert, snob, nor sommelier. I am a very, very average lay-person who has been enjoying wine for 15 years. Now that I am of-an-age and remain about as financially solvent as I was 15 years ago, I am a great proponent of the budget bottle of vino for everyday occasions. My idea started halfway through a decent bottle of Chilean Cab, which (as with all things nowadays) ended up on facebook. The Dignified Winos Group was born! And deftly abandoned 3 days later (as with all things nowadays). I prefer reds, but nothing is off limits. The pitch:
"Book clubs are just dandy, but let's be honest - people join book clubs so they can drink shamelessly on a Tuesday. This group is for those of us on a budget and who have no shame.
It's simple: The challenge is to find the
best/cheapest wine - with themes! $15 maximum bottle price, ideally something new to your mouth. Everyone
brings a bottle of vino, taste, compare, review - sharing & revery
happens.
Additional options include: cheese, Mad Men re-runs, gossip, possibly even book reviews, who knows where it could lead.
Themes so far:
- by region, ie) Ontario only, Niagara only, Essex only, local only... Oz only, Via Italia!, Cali only - you get the picture
- Varietal-specific, ie) Chianti, Cab Sauv, Baco noir, etc. Can we have a NO MERLOT rule?
- BC's best (although prob more costly than $15 max)
- Celeb wine: Aykroyd, Coppola, Gretzky, Weir, Maynard .. it's fuckin endless.
- "Judge the book by it's cover" - select a vintage by it's label
Please share your suggestions and invite friends!"
Additional options include: cheese, Mad Men re-runs, gossip, possibly even book reviews, who knows where it could lead.
Themes so far:
- by region, ie) Ontario only, Niagara only, Essex only, local only... Oz only, Via Italia!, Cali only - you get the picture
- Varietal-specific, ie) Chianti, Cab Sauv, Baco noir, etc. Can we have a NO MERLOT rule?
- BC's best (although prob more costly than $15 max)
- Celeb wine: Aykroyd, Coppola, Gretzky, Weir, Maynard .. it's fuckin endless.
- "Judge the book by it's cover" - select a vintage by it's label
Please share your suggestions and invite friends!"
Rating system:
1 of 5 = LOS (leave on shelf)
2 of 5 = GTI (give to in-laws)
3 of 5 = MEH (meh)
4 of 5 = PFG (pretty fuckin good)
5 of 5 = TDF (to die for)
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