What's a Yellow Tail?

We all know that I like a good value and enjoy a wine that is rich in taste, history, and overall fun! I would rather support a local or boutique winery/brewery than buy some corporate brand that mass distributes their products. For this reason, brands like Yellow Tail, Kendall Jackson, Beringer, and Miller are not my typical purchase. I feel like I just pay for advertising and big CEO paychecks. After reading a bit about Yellow Tail's history I might actually become a customer again for a few reasons.

Yellow Tail has always seemed to be a value wine that is kind of the "popular" thing to drink. People see plenty of advertisements and are drawn into this rapid movement of sales and increased distribution from this South Eastern Australian winery. This sixth generation family owned company has deep roots in Italy and delivers quality wines at a low price, even if you pay a bit more per bottle to see a kangaroo on the magazine pages. I have tried basically every varietal they sell, but I enjoy the Pinot Noir the most.

This pinot smells like blackberry brandy served in an oak glass. It has a soft taste of dark cherries and smoke. The aftertaste is like a vanilla flavored cigar that lingers for minutes. It is a bit dry and earthy, but I like that in a pinot noir. I personally tried it with slices of marble jack cheese and venison bacon. The bacon was a bit heavy and greasy for this wine, but what can I say I am poor. I envision this wine going best with a pasta that has a meaty-mushroom sauce.

We have now talked about two great values for Pinot Noir and nobody has yet to argue a better value. While a ten spot in your pocket can buy you Mark West, in most places you could score the Yellow Tail for $6-8.

Please remove yourself off a high horse if you are a wine snob, because I dare you to try this wine and tell me your thoughts!

Cheers!

Unbridled Passion: Wild Horse Cabernet

My boss Mark had bought blackberries from a farmers market yesterday and offered me a handful on his way out of the liquor store. I threw back the handful of blackberries and the delicious taste lingered in my mouth for the next ten minutes or so. The Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon had a similar effect on my taste buds and honestly tastes like the freshest blackberries with a slight hint of clove. It pours plum colored and full bodied in the glass which looks almost like a glass of grape juice...I guess that's what it is in the long run. When it hit my palate it was intense at first, but finished so soft and clean. This is definitely the best cab I have had from Paso Robles ( which means "pass of the oaks"-this cab is aged in French, American, and Hungarian barrels). Paso Robles is an appellation on California's Central Coast and is most popular for pinot noir. Wild Horse was actually one of the first wineries to make high quality wine in the area, but isn't the only company 25 years later. Estancia, J. Lohr, and Justin are other wine producers who have helped make the area famous with help from the soil, climate, and wide range of growing conditions that allow these wineries to basically produce any variety of wine. The Wild Horse website said the Cab could benefit from 10-15 years of cellaring. I must address this thought because I am not at a point in my life where I could resist drinking a bottle this good for ten years. It would sit in my cellar(assuming I had one) and literally call my name out every day/night until I finally caved and ended up drinking it straight out of the bottle. It was blackberry velvet in a glass and fully worth the price tag!

Any thoughts on this bottle or other Wild Horse wines??

Cabernet Sauvignon 91%, Malbec 6%, Blaufrankisch 2%, Syrah 1%
Alcohol: 13.9%
Case Production: 37,000
Release Date: January 2007
Suggested (CA) Retail: $20

*Big Red- thanks for this tasty treat!!

Pinot For The People!

I love Pinot Noir.
I favor it over other varieties due to it's consistent approachability. It's not because of the movie Sideways, either....just for the record.

I decided to write about Mark West Pinot Noir for a few reasons. First, I'm drinking it right now. Second, it's a staple in our store (festy). Third, I can't pick out a better bottle of Pinot for the price. We've sold this bottle for over 2 years now at $9.99, and not only has it been our best selling Pinot Noir, it's been one of our best selling bottles of wine.

If you check out the website, it really exemplifies the concept they're trying to convey in their wine: Pinot for the people.

This wine brings some serious fruit. The color is very light, and the nose has a soft raspberry component along with a slight toastiness. On the palate I experience a bit of cherry/raspberry, with a dash of cocoa, and a drop of toasty strawberry for the finish.

I'll give this wine two thumbs up completely based on value. To get this much fruit out of a pinot noir, normally you have to pay at least 15-17 dollars minimum.
Even if you don't like wine, or have never even tried it, this is a great bottle to start with.

Okay, I'm about finished now. What I want from you....is your feedback!
I know there are people who have visited this website and not posted anything. (That means you--Nate, Mark, and Chris!)

Until next time.......whether your glass is half full, or half empty, .......I just hope it's at least got something in it.

Cheers!

Ben

Wine Library TV!!!

If you haven't heard of him, it's time to saddle up and get ready for the ride. Gary Vaynerchuk, host of Wine Library TV, has been busy charming, educating, and enthusiastically entertaining his blogger website audience for about 3 years now. Gary has over 500 episodes available on his website. He does about three to four shows a week on his website, and has gained national media attention while doing so. With appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres Show (twice), Late Night with Conan O'Brien (twice), CNBC's Mad Money, and ABC's Nightline, Gary Vaynerchuk is gaining the respect and admiration of thousands of Americans across the globe, all in a quest to achieve his goal.
His goal is admirably challenging. To change the wine world by teaching people to branch out and conquer the intimidation that is felt when the subject of wine is in the room. He believes in trusting your pallet, no matter what, and trying new things whenever an opportunity presents itself to do so.
You will love his witty sense of humor and his contagious zest for life.....and good wine too! With non-stop references and trademarks such as the "oak monster", "sniffy sniff" his archive of shows will keep you wanting to soak up more of what he has to say.

Check it out today! You can even podcast his show on iTunes!

For 1st time viewers, I recommend episode #148: How To Get Your Pallet Trained.

This is a CLASSIC episode that really captures the great lengths Gary will go to get the point across......his way.

Alright, this ends my 1st official post on WE DRINK MORE! Until next time.........

What up and thanks for reading!

Greetings for my first post! This blog may head into many different directions, but we must never forget our roots. My roots stem from a passion to always try new things whether it be a new wine, cliff jumping, or trying to go after a lady that is out of my league. I am not afraid to drink Argentian Malbecs, rich Imperial Stouts, and liquors like St. Brendan's or Svedka. This blog is about tasting and exceeding your previous boundaries. I am not an expert and will never claim to be, so follow suit. Instead of buying fancy wines and trying to impress readers, I will continue on as a bargain shopper who loves a great value. Throughout this process my goal is too have the most fun and to always drink responsibly...most of the time ha! Please join me on this adventure and include your thoughts, tasting notes, opinions, sarcastic comments, jokes, pictures, etc...