Insurrection

Shame on me.  I was scolded following my last blog post from some of my work co-horts.  Not because of their lack of like for my selection; but for the mere fact that I had given praise to a label we personally do not distribute.  Hey, I am equal opportunity baby.  If I receive a bottle worthy of a post...you are going to know about it.  That being said, I was presented almost immediately with a bottle that was sure to wow me.  Let's see how it went...

Another cool bottle!  2013 Insurrection, Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon from SE Australia was quite a treat!  Very big, bold flavor of spice and berries with a long, smooth finish.  Oh my, I want another bottle ASAP!  This bottle runs about $17.00 and comes in with a rating of 91 points.  It is also a Gold Medal winner of the World Wine Championships.  This one will be on my go-to list going forward.  Thank you, Mr. Rutledge.

This wine was sourced from cool climate vineyards in two regions in SE Australia:  Padthaway and Langhorne Creek.  In these environments, the grapes need thick skins to withstand extreme temperature swings.  The warm days develop intense aromas and flavors and cool nights maintain the robust character of the grapes.  Insurrection fruit was left on the vine as long as possible to concentrate those flavors.  It was night harvested to maintain freshness and rotary fermented to enhance its power.  It is aged for 9 months in French and American oak to contribute to the spice.  Alcohol logs in at 15.5%...making a very serious statement!

For more information on Insurrection, visit:  www.insurrectionwines.com

19 Crimes

I'm a sucker for a cool bottle.  I'm an even bigger sucker for a cool story that goes along with a cool bottle.  19 Crimes is such a find.  And, even better, a great red blend.  The men featured on the wine labels are not those of fiction.  They were flesh and blood!  Criminals, artists and scholars.  In history they share the bond of receiving "punishment by transportation" for violation of one of 19 crimes and becoming the first settlers of a new nation. Thousands of people were exiled from England to Australia during the 18th and 19th Century for these crimes. The first ship of mainly petty theifs and political prisoners arrived to serve their time at this far away penal colony.  These criminals went on to found the first settlement, called Sydney, and then later Adelaide.  About the time that Brittain stopped this practice, vines were planted not far from Adelaide in the Barossa Valley.  Knowing the history, the label of the wine makes more sense, referring to the 19 offenses that got people a one way trip Down Under.   (Check it out...19crimes.com)

I purchased this 2014 Red Blend from my local World Market.  Love the aroma of strong vanilla and spice.  Smooth and deep.  We are looking at a beautiful blend of Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Yummy! Under $10 a bottle for this find.  I have to add this to my new favorites list.

Do yourself a favor and try this one out.  I do not think you will be disappointed if you are a lover of red blends.  Sip on!