Layer Cake Shiraz
2013
South Australia
14.5% alcohol
~$15

I've seen this label around and have always been curious to try it. The name put me off at first; cake doesn't really fit my image of wine. But I've been in the mood for a Shiraz, and it was at Trader Joe's on Sunday. Today I decided to crack it open.

Typical of the grape, this wine was a deep opaque purple red. The immediate bouquet gave some toasty notes along with some cherry and blackberry. The wine is immediately sweet on the tongue.  Very nice mouthfeel. Other than that, a solid wine, good for drinking on its own.

The label says chocolate and mocha. I didn't get chocolate at the first couple sips, but I can sort of taste it now. Definitely some bitterness there.

9/10 solid wine for drinking.

2013 Shiraz Rosemount Estate
South Australia
13.5% alcohol

Wining while grading.

Deep purplish red hue.
warm toasty bouquet with caramel, chocolate, and vanilla notes
wine itself is meaty, slightly smoky, on the sweetish end of things
aftertaste is a little bitter, biley, acrid.

from the label "blackberry, plum and cherry." "oak."

7/10

Long Hiatus! 

Lots of things happened - moved back to Los Angeles, got a job, entered a relationship, ended a relationship. Now back to wines.

Today I'm drinking a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ghost Pines

2011

13.8% alcohol.

This is a blend of grapes from different regions, called a "Winemaker's Blend."  It is vinted and bottled by Louis M. Martini winery.

The bouquet was hard to detect for me as my initial impressions were of alcohol. After swirling for a bit, I got warm buttery notes, probably the roasted vanilla that is stated on the label. The vanilla really extends to the tongue as well, giving the wine almost a caramel taste that took me by surprise. It's not as spicy as some cabernets and the aftertaste is quite smooth and clean, with only a hint of lingering astringency. This is a great drinking wine by itself, but I would probably pair it with cheese or even fruit (though I'm having it with Jack-In-The-Box). 

I don't have the receipt but I think this was in the $17-20 price range at Vons.

Very smooth tasting and mild for a cabernet, almost sweet. All good things in my book.

8/10.