Artful

Some wines have it all - they taste good, have a good price and look pretty good too - the label, that is. The Bonny Doon, Domaine des Blaguers, Syrah, 2003 is bottled by a California-owned winery in the south of France. This is dark, brooding stuff. All meat and leather nose. Full bodied but soft and smooth with cloves, savoury and earth. Full of character. If you like old world style, this is a "wow". Less than twenty bucks, shudda bought a case... Oh, and check out the cool artwork on the label...not very old world!

Next wine has an very classy label - one of the classiest I have come upon. The picture doesn't do it justice. And the product in the glass is pretty good too - made from grenache planted in the 1890's!! This is the Atteca, Old Vines, 2006 from Spain. Initially it was quite lively with blue/black fruits but after a few hours it closed right down. Dense and structured, there's a lot hiding in there waiting to come. Best to put it away for a few years. Serious and "good" wine, good value at $23.









Now a wine with one of the ugliest labels I've seen in a while - the Casa Silva, Reserva, Carmenere, 2006 from Chile. Dark purple with a classic carmenere nose, intense blueberry bramble. Full bodied with soft, chewy tannins. Fruit driven - rich fieldberry jam flavour but without the jammy texture. With time, a little tobacco appears. Solid wine, good stuff, well priced at $15. Just dump the label, guys!!
A short note on a wow wine - The Saltram, Mamre Brook, Barossa Shiraz 2005 is a winner and very well priced at $24. Classic full bodied Barossa shiraz, I only got a little taste of it (and it had already been open for 24 hours). Unfortunately more got spilled than I managed to scrounge in my glass - look for this one and buy it, I will be.
Cheers - Spring's here!!!