From the Cellar

Three Wine Company 2010 Old Vines Field Blend (California)

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Category: Uncorked Tonight

(April 15, 2015) ... When I was in Portugal my favourite wines were the ones labeled "field blend".  They were wines from vineyards that were planted quickly after the phylloxera epidemic and the Portuguese at the time had to get vines into the ground so they could make wine (now that's a culture with priorities) - the problem was that nobody knew what they were planting.  Today, thru DNA testing they are finding out what is in their vineyards, but over the years these fields have made such excellent wines that they refuse to rip them out for the sake a homogeneity - instead they keep them and continue to make excellent wines from them.  So when I saw "Field Blend" on this label I wondered what a California version would taste like - though I am pretty sure they have a good idea what's in the bottle.  Nose of plum and black cherry and a palate loaded with tons of spice, baked plum, black cherry, some cedary-vanilla and the sensation of alcohol heat (which is a little unpleasant) ... alas not as rich, smooth and complex as their Portuguese counterparts but quite drinkable in a pinch.

A Passover Miracle (Israel)

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Category: Uncorked Tonight

(April 3, 2015) ... I'm at a Passover dinner and I've been charged with picking the wine from a certain section of the wine cellar. Kosher wines aren't a very exciting category in general but there are usually one or two that surprise. I know the ones I had chosen tonight were ones I have tried in the past and enjoyed, but now they have some years on them, would they still have the same impressive impact?

I guess I'm about to find out.

Starting off with a Dalton 2009 Shiraz, oak aged from Israel ... The fruit seems to have abandoned this one six years from vintage date, but retains some Shiraz character in its pepperyness, but then there is also plenty of smoky and oaky notes too. It was drinkable but not something all that enjoyable - probably better with grilled meat than a baked brisket.

Second wine out of the cellar fared a little better: Golan 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, two years older and also from Israel ... Here there was an element of fruit coming through, in the form of plum, cocoa, and strawberry, a little more on the dried fruit side with a chalkiness from the remaining tannins and a fair amount of acidity. Also found a freeze dried raspberry finish in here ... Best bottle of the two tried.