Monday, April 5, 2010

The long Easter weekend - New world rules....

Friday started with a glass of leftover Kaiken MAlbec. It had been sealed and refridged since being open a couple of days before. Drinkable but not much more...
Time to open a Piramimma Grenache from the cellar. My thoughts were two - one to try this bad boy because I'm a big G fan and the second because a new release of it will be coming to your friendly local Provincial Monopoly store in the next few weeks. It was very nice, Aussie fruit to be sure, but not overwhelming. Made me wish for a Piramimma GSM...now that would be a wine I'd like to try!

Saturday was another great day - sunny, warm and nice until midafternoon. Steaks on the bar-B were called for so that meant a big Cab from the sous sol. Hmmm, how about the Trapiche Fincas Las Palmas 2007. This big brother to the Broquel line aquitted himself well. Opaque, the colour of eggplant - Oh wait, I'm a wine writer I better come up with something better than that! Opaque, aubergine almost pitch in colour. Cassis aromas with chocolate playing a close second fiddle are very much in your glass if not in your face! Not too dry, well strucured and pretty long with moderate tannins. Very nice wine with some nice rare beef.

Sunday - A lovely day, cool but sunny and warm for the 4th of April. Off to a good friend's place for both Easters - Greek Orthodox and Non Orthodox. We came bearing gifts of good wine and were treated to the classical Greek easter feast of an entire roast lamb on a spit over coals in the backyard. It started with spinach and cheese pies with a glass of Copolla's Director's Cut Cabernet 2007. Sipping this wonderful wine while picking at the lamb as it passed the 4 hour mark slowly rotating over hot coals was heaven on earth. OK, so maybe I wasn't sipping. What's halfway between a sip and a guzzle? Back to the lamb, you turkey skin lovers out there pay attention!. You have not lived until you're had the crackley outer skin of a still spinning, rotisseried lamb that is being lovingly basted with a blend of home grown olive oil, lemon, oregano and pepper. The cab has enough acidity to pair with the rich lamb and oil and enough fruit to finish long. Glorious, and gone too soon! Next up was a bottle of Ebenezer Shiraz, 2004. Again, a big fruity wine that is more than capable of standing up to the main course combination of lamb, lemon potatoes, homemade tzatziki. This one had a nose of smoked meat, barnyard and black fruits that blew off to reveal some coffee notes and more dark fruit.
I just wish I'd brought more of both!

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