I haven’t written about a wine for a while, not because I haven’t been drinking them, but because I haven’t been drinking much that was new.

H3 or Horse Heaven Hills 2008 is a lush, smooth Merlot, well rounded for it’s age. The nose is mild with blackberries and a hint of something earthier. The texture is smooth and lush with no discernible hint of tannin. The blackberry/raspberry carries through, maybe adding a hint of cherry. The berry mix continues into the finish which is understated, but surprises with its longevity.

The most endearing quality of this wine is drinkabiliy. While it is not overly challenging, it holds a nice complexity which keeps my interest. It might not be a must-have, but it is definitely nice for a change.

Having a friend who owns a wine shop means that every once in a while, you get in on the good stuff.

If you enjoy a fruity Australian Shiraz and don’t mind spending $85 a bottle, this Mollydooker Carnival of Love is one to try. The color was absent, in that it was so completely dark, I might as well have been looking into an inkwell. In fact, you might want to drink this one under subdued lighting, as we all walked away with stained tongues and teeth. To me it tasted of boysenberry. Other people picked out blueberry and raspberry, and as Tom aptly called it, “All the IHOP syrup flavors.” Though you might expect so much fruit and sweetness to be an uncontrolled monster, there was a cohesive balance which gave in a disciplined power. There may have been some tannin, but not enough for me to worry about. The finish lingered pleasantly.

This wine is everything I like about Australian wine making. It’s bold, and unapologetic.I would rate this an “I’m not worthy.” Wine Spectator gives it a 94. I’m not arguing. Oops. Turns out that 94 is for the 2009 vintage, but Jose gives it a 95.

Also today, I learned about the dooker shake.

Whisker’s Blake throws me for a bit of a loop. Other people who review it talk about the rich chocolate, caramel, and coffee, which are there in the nose and on the tongue, but no one talks about the oak. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a bad thing. I know some people don’t like to taste too much oak, but when mixed with the sweetness of Whisker’s Blake, it provides an odd contrast which makes me want to pick up a bottle occasionally.

Anyway, to round out the basics, Whiskers Blake has a light ruby color. The nose is caramel. It tastes of oak, caramel, and coffee  It’s sweet without being syrupy.It finishes dry. And here, it runs about $15, not a bad price for a port. It might not be to everyone’s liking, but I would give it an 88.

Capitalism might have its failings, but what a wonderful world we live in where a beautiful wine born in the sunny south of France, can be aged, bottled, and retailed in the heartland of America for under $15.

Georges (50% Carignan – 40% Black Grenache – 5% Mourvèdre – 5% Syrah) is grown on old vines rooted in sandy limestone. In the  The nose is smoky with a mineral tinge, like burning cedar needle. I can only describe what happens next as a roller-coaster ride. At first, the wine is velvety on the tongue, but the flavor builds in intensity to a strong, peppery tartness which rides into the finish before settling into smooth mineral. Gliding into the station, as soon as my car comes to a complete stop, I am ready to exit and get back in line.

I like Cabs. I like them fruity. I like them oaky. I like them young. I like them aged. France, Australia, California, or South America I like Cabs.

This Trivento Reserve is a fine Cabernet, especially for its quite reasonable price. It can be had for $9 here in Iowa, and I’m not the only one who likes it. Wine Enthusiast gives it a well-deserved 90 points. Lately, this has been my go-to Cab, both because of the price and flavor. I could go into all the details about the fruit flavor, the umami, or the sweet cherry finish, but I think I can best some up my feelings on this wine by what I said after I pour out the first glass to breathe. I noticed a drop running down the side of the bottle, wiped it off with my finger, licked my finger clean and said, “Yum.”

On hearing that I’d had a bad day, my friend Jose, prince of a man that he is, pulled a bottle of this wonderful Chateau Simard Bordeaux down from the shelf and put it in a bag for me. I know that I really should save it for a rainy day or a special occasion, but today seemed rainy enough, so I opened it.

Wow, this is the smoothest wine I’ve ever had right out of the bottle. The nose is mineral, but very faint, almost a mineral water. If my color-blindness does not deceive me, the core is a deep ruby. On tasting, a strong but elusive cedar hits mid-palate. Any tannic qualities are smooth to the point of non-existence. Other than the cedar, this wine screams subtlety. It holds a faint hint of the fruit, but has also started to pick up the leather and tobacco flavors  of a more mature wine. However, the mature flavors are subtle, more like walking into a study which as been closed up for several years and contains only the memory of the aromas, rather than standing too close to a dirty biker. The long finish of crushed leaves and mineral is palpable.

Marques de Caceres Dry Rose 2008

My friend, Jose, is a pusher. He wants everyone in the world to learn about wine. A while ago, he asked me for help with his web presence. I insisted that I didn’t like wine, but he kept giving me a bottle here and a bottle there, insisting that I try a new vintage when I was in the store, slowly training my palate, so that I could appreciate the more complex flavors. Now I am hooked.

This Marques de Caceres is a great summer wine. It has the airiness of a rose, but the earthiness of a Granache, which is the red part of the blend. The cost is low, but properly chilled, it is very enjoyable.