Angels and Visions

What's better than steaming, freshly roasted coffee beans that are immediately ground and drunk? Two Hands, Angel's Share, Shiraz 2008, that's what. Nice deep dark purple colour with a nose of strawberries, vanilla and toasted coconut. Medium bodied, seductive, luscious style - not a typical Oz sledgehammer. Smooth as silk, delicious and irresistible with almost sweet redcurrant fruit and milk chocolate supported by beautiful soft oak. Wow. For $28 buy a case, if it was $20 I'd buy it all.
A bit cheaper is the Cono Sur, Vision, Syrah 2007 from Chile. Dark purple also, this is a full bodied, dense, chewy concentrated wine, the kind that leaves you with an ugly purple tongue. Almost the opposite of the the Two Hands shiraz, this more austere style very much reminded me of a Rhone syrah rather than a new world shiraz. Black cherry fruit, crunchy green peppers with a little dirt mixed in. Not bad at all, but it's kinda tough to sip and a much better food wine. Overall impression: "Good" wine, good price too - $16.
Another bargain from Chile (boy I hope their recent whopper of an earthquake doesn't affect their wine...and I hope the country and it's people recover well in general) is the Concha y Toro, Trio, Merlot-Carmenere-Cabernet, Rapel Valley, 2008. The Trio series is usually good value but not what you would call "wow" wine, however Mr. Parker gave this one 90 points. Moderately deep colour with a nose of cassis and spice, it is full bodied, silky with good fruit and lovely smooth tannins. Hints of vanilla. Good wine, and bargain of the month at $15, but not quite a "wow".
Cheers!