Hello,
My favorite everyday red wine: Penfold's Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet. It is a blend of Shiraz (Syrah) and Cabernet grapes by Penfold's, one of the oldest Australian wineries.
I have been drinking this wine for about 4 years. I enjoy it alone, with cheese, with various red meat dishes and salmon (grilled or cedar planked), and with a medium cigar.
You will likely find either the 2003 or 2004 vintage at your local store. The wine retails for $12 to $13, and can be found on sale for as little as $7.99. Penfolds is a generally available wine, although with their wide range of classes of wines, from super-premiums like their Grange through the lowest level, entitled Rawson's Retreat, no store is likely to have them all. The Koonunga Hills range is just above he Rawson's Retreat in price, and is generally available at wine retailers like grocery stores. I find it a good value, excellent when it is on sale.
Here are the tasting notes on the wine from the Penfolds.com site (I happen to agree with them):
2003 vintage: Winemaker comments by Peter Gago
Colour: Dark red.
Nose: Spicy, dark fruit aromas of quince and fig, hints of olive and liquorice, smokey meats and
a gamey overtone. Aromas of dark chocolate and fruitcake develop against a background of
well-mellowed, subtle, yet spicy oak.
Palate: A medium-bodied wine with flavours at release of stewed quince, rhubarb and ripe dark fruits with further black olive notes adding a savoury tone to the finish. The tannins are soft and fine and integrate well with the balanced background spicy oak.
Colour: Dark red.
Nose: Spicy, dark fruit aromas of quince and fig, hints of olive and liquorice, smokey meats and
a gamey overtone. Aromas of dark chocolate and fruitcake develop against a background of
well-mellowed, subtle, yet spicy oak.
Palate: A medium-bodied wine with flavours at release of stewed quince, rhubarb and ripe dark fruits with further black olive notes adding a savoury tone to the finish. The tannins are soft and fine and integrate well with the balanced background spicy oak.
2004 Vintage: Winemaker comments by Peter Gago
Colour: Deep red.
Nose: A complex nose with elements of assorted spices, chocolate and cedary oak - with glimpses of red capsicum, tobacco and pepper. Despite its youth, this is true to an old fashioned Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet nose!
Palate: A balanced wine with a continuum of flavour throughout. The Cabernet Sauvignon
influence is more profound on the palate than the nose with chocolate and mocha flavours
clasping raspberry and blackberry fruits. A rich sweet mid-palate and finish are firmed by ripe,
prominent tannins.
Colour: Deep red.
Nose: A complex nose with elements of assorted spices, chocolate and cedary oak - with glimpses of red capsicum, tobacco and pepper. Despite its youth, this is true to an old fashioned Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet nose!
Palate: A balanced wine with a continuum of flavour throughout. The Cabernet Sauvignon
influence is more profound on the palate than the nose with chocolate and mocha flavours
clasping raspberry and blackberry fruits. A rich sweet mid-palate and finish are firmed by ripe,
prominent tannins.
I have served this wine on many occasions to people who know wine and they have all liked it. It is not a wine that will "blow you away," but it is a medium-bodied, somewhat fruity wine with nice hints of other flavors and a nice tannin content.
Check this readily-available wine out and let me know what you think.
The Wine Saver
2 comments:
Red wine...my favorite too!
Nice! I like red wine as they do have more flavor than white wine. I also do like to have a glass of wine everyday as it has been proven that wine helps with the heart.
Corey Glenn
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