It's been awhile

Between travel overseas and life in general...it's been awhile since my last post.....would you believe in the UK we had some GREAT wines!  French, Italian, Australian, S. African...and believe it or not...very reasonably priced.  In 3 weeks we only saw ONE U.S. brand on any wine list...it was always the same winery....from the Central Coast....for you trivia buffs (and baby boomers)...here is a hint whose winery it was:  If you look really hard...you might see Davey Crockett or Dan'l Boone in the hills around this winery.....

but....so glad to be back and drinking some great, complex wine again...speaking of....
Last night was SYRAH (or Shiraz) night for our wine group....3 couples....3 brown bags of a premium Syrah/Shiraz......

In Bag #1....was a big, Jammy, fruity, spicy, licoricey, Very YUMMY, dark inky purple liquid...that just exploded in your mouth....and had an incredibly long finish.  You COULD describe this wine in ONE word (as one of our favorite Central Coast Winemakers does....and has been quoted in the paper...), but there may be minors reading this..so I'll keep it G rated!  This wine was a definite a WOWZER...and with a piece of jalapeno  cheese....OMG....fireworks in your mouth.

In Bag #2.....was another BIG, jammy, fruity dark purple liquid....more minerality and limestone here....spice and white pepper, cocoa.....nice legs (and we do like legs)...nice long finish....good structure, complex and again...the cheese and more flavorful foods...really brought out the flavors....which went on and on.....then onto

Bag #3......Definitely a different animal (or fruit) here.  Lighter bouquet....much more subtle than the two above...kinda sexy..a tease...a very nice fragrant nose that challenged the senses.....slightly less of a finish than the others, less alcohol,  but definitely much more food friendly....  If it hadn't been Syrah night.....we would have questioned if it was the same grape....absolutely lovely.......then...after having sipped (many times and many wines)...and eaten...and sipped again..and again.......the moment of truth!

WHAT was in Bag #1?  #2? #3?...and...which one was RATED by our esteemed (and by then slightly tipsy) group as The #1 winner..the #2 winner and the #3 winner (because...there are no losers)!

Starting with Bag #3 (and the #3 winner)....  Yes...our friend and major wine guy Paul...as usual...would throw something different, challenging and unique (from his esteemed cellar),  into the mix....it was a "little" syrah (or hint:  sirah).....as in Petite Sirah...an '03 from the Sonoma Coast.

Bag #2 (and the #2 winner)....from Dr. Mike....a wine you really HAD to get your HANDS around (and THAT my friends, should be a HINT)....an  '07 Two Hands Shiraz from the Barossa Valley.....and

#1 Winner.......from the Central Coast...an '08 Syrah of Epoch proportions (yes..another HINT).....Block B Syrah from Epoch Estate Winery.....

All the wines came in very close.....and so hard to pick "a winner" as each had their own, singular characteristics.....and were SOOOOO good and YUMMY!  So....

Until Next Wine....

K Syrah/sirah/shiraz!

As always.....your comments mostly appreciated...and you can email them to me at: askinut2@socal.rr.com

Cheers!
don
(and...if you can't guess WHICH California Winery kept appearing on the wine lists in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales...email me for the answer...or...if you CAN guess...email me!)