Slightly Off-Balance

Yes, I can read your mind and I know you are looking for some wine recommendations.

My friend Eileen, started participating in Wine Wednesdays, the brain child of Alana at Life on the Mom List.  Each Wednesday they selflessly consume bottles of wine to review.  I want to be selfless too!  (Or I just want an excuse to drink wine every Wednesday).

Drink wine?  I am really good at that!  Write about the wine I drink, hmmm… sounds fun.  It also sounds dangerous if I write while consuming, so I may need to work on the logistics. 

You may be thinking, “Paige what qualifies you to review wine’.  My response to this is if experience leads to wisdom, I am very wise about wine.

I must add that I am not being compensated or encouraged to drink any particular wine.  I am going to drink whatever I feel like drinking.  But if someone wants to give me wine to write about… I would love it!  But, be warned – honesty is my best worst quality.

Without further ado, I present my first review:  Hunt Cellars “Rhapsody in Red” Reserve Red Wine (2001)

Description per label: Hunt Cellars is dedicated to producing “Memorable Wines”.  Here is our 2001 Rhapsody in Red Reserve, a meritage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from our estate.

Smooth delicious flavors will dance on your palate teasing you with wild cherries, red, black and Bing cherry flavors with overtones of jammy cassis, vanilla, chocolate, coffee beans and the perfect induction of layered oak.  This lush delicious wine has been hand crafted in small lots and barrel aged 28 months in French and American oak creating perfect balance and concentrated Bordeaux varietal flavors.

Review:  There are two types of days that call for a unique bottle of wine: a fabulous day and a horrible one.  On a great day, you mark the occasion with something special, you want to savor the memory of this day.  On my son’s first day of kindergarten, I drank a good bottle to celebrate not severely warping him… yet.  On a bad day you look for something amazing that has the power to erase the day.  When my daughter emptied my make-up drawer into the bath, it took an exceptional bottle to keep me from giving her away. 

When I sat down to enjoy this wine, it had been a day of highs and lows.  We had new furniture delivered and the sofa was perfect, better than expected; but the rug was an atrocity and the table was damaged.  With each sip, the negative aspects of the day dissipated and I was transported to a dreamy place of gourmet food, flattering lighting and soft music.  My first impression was smooth chocolate, but not sweet.  It is a big, chewy wine that has subtle tannins through the finish.  This deep wine did not smack me with fruit, but rather lulled me with accents of cherry and coffee.  I am confident that this bottle could suit the best or worst day.  Although, the current retail price demands this level of pleasure, so as not to disappoint (price appears at the bottom).

They say that when a person loses one of their five senses, it makes their other senses more acute.  This exceptional wine proves that true.  The winemaker, and owner, David Hunt is blind and it certainly has enhanced his sense of taste and smell. 

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this “memorable” meritage as a 9.

Suggested pairings: Steak, lamb, game and the day you lose your job or win the lottery.

Alcohol Content: 13.9%

Price: Purchased for $35.  Current retail price: $90 *A note about the price, I won’t always review something this expensive.  In fact, my next bottle will be under $10!