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Posts tagged ‘wine label’

The Scribbler: A Label Just For Me….

With a name like ‘The Scribbler’ it seems like this bottle and I were pre-destined to enjoy a prolonged romance with each other.

A salacious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (61%) and Shiraz (39%), the various qualities these two varieties makes this 2009 Yalumba vintage, ‘The Scribbler’ the perfect bottle to compliment a wide array of different cuisines.

I drank the first bottle over a classic Roast Lamb dinner, the second with my signature Beef Pot Pie, and a third bottle with a Thai Basil & Chili stir fry, where the subtle herbaceous kick of the Cab Sav worked wonders with the chili. Still in the throws of our courtship, this list will undoubtably double by the end of the year.

A punchy mouthful, the Scribbler will deliver your tastebuds a layered hit of red plum & blackcurrent flavour, herbs and a licorice spice. At an excellent price point (around $25), you’ll find yourself coming back for more. May as well buy the case.

One thing I will say – I like this wine on the second day, as opposed to the first – this short amount of aeration makes a subtle difference. By all accounts, this wine will also mature very well on the shelf for 10 years before drinking.

The Scribbler is one of many Yalumba wines, and is often described as the bottle that preempts ‘The Signature‘ – the best Barrosa-grown Cab Sav / Shiraz blend the brand has to offer. A wine floozie like myself could easily be wooed into an affair with The Scribblers big cousin, The Signature.

I recommend you venture over to the Yalumba website to take a peek at its collection of wines with similarly intriguing names, including The Cigar, The Strapper, and my personal favourite – The Octavius.

Happy drinking :)

Wine Safari (Part One): Vinden Estate

Rockbare

Remember the sexy little bottle of Mojo I wrote about a while ago?

Well, I’d like to introduce you to Mojo’s cousin – the equally fabulous Rockbare Shiraz.

Made by the same winemaker, Tim Burvill, the 2010 Rockbare delivers a punchy, luscious mouthful of flavour characteristic of McLaren Vale Shiraz grapes. As Burvill has said, “My goal was to make pure and intense wines, using only varieties that are suited to the region from which the are grown…”

Though this wine packs a full-bodied punch, it’s velvety tannins will charm you into filling up your glass again and again. I’m such a sucker for a rich Shiraz… suffice to say that this bottle, once opened, was never reunited with it’s lid.

A dark and seductive glass of Rockbare smacks of ripe fruits – blackberry, plum, raspberry and a hint of licorice. A highly memorable drink. It’s the kind of wine you’ll Google using your smartphone over dinner – you want to know the story behind the wine as you drink it. All I can say is bless wine, and bless technology.

As far as price goes, this one is definitely punching above it’s weight. You can pick up a bottle of Rockbare for about $18 – $25 depending on where you buy it. You can order online directly from from the website for $21.95, and get 10% off if you buy a dozen.

Finally, I’d just like to make a note about the the label. Normally I’m not a fan of plain labels, but this one is a nice balance of clean and elegant – it oozes sophistication. The back is also interesting – with a printed photo of the Rockbare team and the winemakers’ signatures, it personifies the contents of the bottle ever so subtly, alluding to the history & the idea behind its production.

5 stars from me! One to be enjoyed over dinner or for a special occasion – whichever tickles your fancy. ;)

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