Penfolds Shiraz Cabernet Koonunga Hill 2006

My friend, Erin, introduced me to the fantastic San Diego Wine Company last Saturday. After a fun, do-it-yourself wine tasting (10 for $10!), we stocked up on low priced, high rated wines from around the world. One of the wines I selected was an Australian blend of Shiraz and Cabernet. What drew my eye was both the high, 90 something rating and the low price of $7.99. I think we got a mini bottle of this as a wedding present, but I drank it when I was stressed out and was paying attention more to alcohol content than flavor.

L: I am impressed by this wine's flavor for the price. It is deliciously briny like all good cabs should be. Yum. My Internet research suggests that Aussies are big fans of mixing Cabernet and Shiraz. I think I approve. 7 out of 10

R: I didn't care much for this. I think the mixture diluted the best qualities of the Cabernet, and emphasized the Shiraz a bit much. I'll take these varietals separately please. 4/10

Trevisiol Prosecco, Italy

I haven't enjoyed prosecco in the past. Too sweet. I like my champagne dry as a bone and crisp as a winter wind. Wow, those are crappy metaphors. Anyway, I found Trevisiol to be surprisingly tasty. It had a sort of apple-y, pear-y taste but it wasn't TOO sweet. Very good with salty snacks. My research tells me that it costs about $13 a bottle. No bad at all for a tasty treat like Trevisiol. For bubbly, I give it a 6.

Toso Vino Espumoso, Mendoza, Argentina

A little Spanish lesson for you... vino = wine. espumoso = bubbly. You can probably infer what kind of wine, si?

I tried this sparkling wine last night at a local wine bar and was impressed by it's flavor and price. I'm always looking for non-nasty, non-bank breaking sparkling wines. I found Toso to be exactly as it was described in the menu, "crisp," "clean," with a finish that hinted of "citrus." I could have made up my own adjectives, but these did nicely. It wasn't the best champagne-type-beverage I've ever had, but a little research showed that I could get a bottle for $10! My teacher's salary finds that price muy sabroso. 5 out of 10.

Stump Hill Shiraz: Australia 2004

I just realized I am being sort of redundant labeling this wine as Australian since all shiraz comes from down under. This bottle came in the same shipment as the Paringa from yesterday's post.

• L: After doing a side by side taste test, I went back and changed my score of the Paringa. It is duller than today's wine. Stump Hill was drier, which I definitely like. It left my tongue dry and tingly unlike the Paringa which fell pretty flat. The Stump Hill also has a much more interesting aroma - nice and leathery. I am a big fan of aromas. My favorite beers all have really strong floral aromas - but I digress. I give the Stump Hill a score of 6 out of 10.
• R: Better wine than the last. More tannic, better flavor, better aftertaste, better aroma. I thought this one was slightly peppery. It also had a more complex set of flavors than the last. There wasn't really anything special that stood out about it, but it wasn't bland. 6/10.