Wine Value

I put on a wine tasting for a local service group. Two whites and two reds were served that I picked for easy to taste differences and some great values.

The tasting started with the Indaba Chenin Blanc 2009. I have blogged about it before and it still the best tasting wine for summer for all foods for under $10.

Second in the tasting was the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from Sole Beech of New Zealand. Also under $10 a bottle, the classic smell and flavor of grapefruit zest leapt out of the glass so easily that ever taster in the group recognized it. Great summer seafood wine.

The Cono Sur Carmenere was spectacular again. Previously blogged here, the taste of the chocolate, the smoothness and the sweet oak flavors combined in the wine to make just a juicy drink. I would like this with spicy hot jalapeno seasoned foods.

Back to South Africa for the final wine and Indaba again, but this time the red Shiraz was stunning for under $10 a bottle. Easy to find smells of smoke, bacon and spice should encourage you to serve this with your next barbque.

Rain Won

Three surface pumps running for 14 hours and the water refuses to keep pouring back in the basement. Thankfully, the wine cellar is just high enough to escape any damage. And look on the bright side, half the crap I would have thrown out when we retire is already trashed.

Just a quickie, I have to get back to the bucket brigade.

2009 Indaba Chenin Blanc is the white wine of the month, season and probably year. Wonderful peachy-minerally flavors and aromas. Pleases the wine expert and rookie equally. Great appetizer wine before a holiday meal, great cheese and cracker, great book club and all around great wine value.

Back to the buckets.