Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

It’s summer again, and time to break out the summery clothes after the weeklong autumn and winter we just endured. I mean, it took almost an hour to dry off my car in the sun after all that rain. Unbelievable! It’s also time for the Carpe Vinum “Third-Summer-of-the-Year” Wine Newsletter Spectacular and Tasting Announcement for the End of September! This week we’re featuring all fine wines of our good friends from Australia!

You know what all this sunny weather reminds me of? No, not the global warming problems and the resulting apocalyptic scenarios . . . it reminds me of Australia! Having never been there, I can say for certain that it’s beautiful and sunny like this all the time! And you know what that sunny weather is good for? Grapes! And you know what grapes are good for? If you said “raisins”, you’re close! If you said “frozen grape juice concentrate”, you’re even closer! If you said “fairly harmless slingshot projectiles”, you’re not totally wrong, but the answer we’ve all been looking for is: Wine!

When we think of Australia, we all think of insane khaki-wearing, crocodile-wrestling naturalists like our dear departed Steve Irwin, wannabe croc-wrestler Paul Hogan, and pseudo-Aussie-actor-gone-crackpot Mel Gibson. Ooh, and we also think of swimsuit model Elle MacPherson. A lot. With all that in mind, I think the Aussie wine most resembles Steve Irwin. The wines tend to be bold and fearless, strong enough to wrestle crocs and other wildlife, yet have enough finesse to release said wild critters back into nature unharmed (but perhaps a bit agitated). And like Elle MacPherson, the wines are beautiful, full-bodied and smooth. The wines are way more versatile than Paul Hogan. But, like Mel Gibson, they’re pretty fruity.

Of course, these are all generalizations, both of the actors and the wines. Aussie wines have best been known for their boldness and power, and those are the ones I like the most. I’ve got a selection of strong fruity reds and whites (considering it is still summer-of-sorts). The first wine of note is The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz. I brought this into the shop last year, and it sold out before I was able to try it, myself. Most sparkling shiraz retails over $30-$40, but this one is under $15 and only a limited amount is made, so it’ll go quick. After that we’ve got a Viognier, a Shiraz and a number of wonderful blends which are, in my opinion, really where it’s at.

Also: We’ve got some music in-house tomorrow night, as well! It’s my good friends Bill and Eve and possibly Jason with the acoustic version of the project Floating Pointe! They’ll be entertaining us from 7:00 until about 9-ish. In keeping with the Australian theme, perhaps if we ask nicely maybe they could do renditions of songs of popular Aussie bands like Men at Work or . . . um . . . AC/DC . . .

So Friday, September 29th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Australia!!!
Hanenhof 2004 Viognier, Barossa
The Black Chook NV Sparkling Shiraz, McLarren Vale
Four Sisters 2004 Shiraz, Southeastern Australia
Swings & Roundabouts 2004 Kiss Chasey Red (Cab. Sauv, Merlot, Shiraz), Western Australia
Glaetzer 2004 Wallace (Grenache, Shiraz), Barossa

More Wines Like Steve!!!
Torbreck 2004 VMR (Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne), Barossa
Massena 2004 Moonlight Run (Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro, Cinsault), Barossa
A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Grenache!

M