Good Dog ... Bad Dog

What a great name for a wine.  So creative!

When we opened this wine last week, I did not like it. Not smooth or tasty.  But it has grown on me as I've had another glass.  Smoky at the beginning and blackberry finish at the end.  It's inexpensive so it's a bit tangy and not as smooth as others.  I might try it again.

Good dog...

...bad dog

2007 Red

Mostly shiraz blended with Cab Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cab Franc

South Eastern Australia

Bottle Shock

Have you seen the movie, Bottle Shock?  It tells the story of the California wine industry and the contest between French & California wines.  An Englishman with a French wine shop visited the California wines and set up the contest.  The California wines won, earning respect for their wines. 

After the credits, I learned that Stag's Leap was the winery the movies is based on.  I'll be picking up some of their wine on my next shopping trip.

Recent Wines

I've been saving these bottles for awhile & haven't had time to enter them here.

Red Knot

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon 

South Australia

Decent wine from our wine club...not any better than a normal wine from the grocery store.

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Marques de la Concordia

Crianza 2005

Rioja

After having a fantastic Rioja in Austin, I asked the guy at Specs to recommend a Rioja.  This one is much less expensive, but still worth drinking.  I really enjoyed this one and will get some more bottles for the future

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MA

Reserve Chardonnay

2008

Maipo Valley

Another one from our local wine club.  It was a decent Chardonnay, but I'd prefer a less expensive one that has as much flavor as this one...like Barefoot or Yellow Tail Chard.

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Lucky Star

2007 Zinfandel

Lodi

Neither Steve or I liked this one much.

Casas de Pirque

Out of the wines we get from our local wine club, this was better than normal.  We enjoyed sipping on it, but it was much better the following day.

Casas de Pirque

Reserva

2007 Maipo Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Deliciously complex, rich & polished, exhibiting rich plum, blackberry & spice.

Borghese Chardonnay

Yummy & rich!!!

That's Borghese's Chardonnay.  We tasted this wine after a private tour of the vineyard.  This wine is often used at wine dinners and paired with a steak.  It holds up well because it is so rich...not too buttery nor too oakey.  Just right!

Last night, I cooked a rib-eye soaked in Cognac - very tasty - with potato balls & sauteed mushrooms.  We had shrimp salad set in a half avocado.  To end the meal, I made Chocolate Mousse.  When I first started making the mousse, it wasn't turning out right.  After I whipped the chocolate smooth, I folded in more egg whites.  It set well and had a deep chocolate flavor.

Borghese

2005 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

North Fork of Long Island

Nestled in the North Fork of Long Island's Bordelaise microclimate, Castello di Borghese Vineyard has crafted classically proportioned wines since 1973.  Blessed with a 210 day growing season and sandy soils, Long Island's first estate vineyard ferments vintage after vintage of critically acclaimed wines.

Estancia Cabernet

A few weeks ago we had April & Jesse Saginor for dinner. They brought a bottle of Estancia Cab which was fun to drink.  A nice Cab!  We'll drink this again

Estancia

2007

Cabernet Sauvignon

Paso Robles

After sunset, temperatures drop as marine fog sweeps in, lingering until dawn.  These cool evenings & warm days create a longer growing season, allowing grapes to ripen to perfection.  

Deeply concentrated & intensely flavorful displaying dense black currant, lush chocolate, & dark cherry fruit flavors followed by a long, supple finish.