TESTING THE SENSES (JUST DON’T CALL ME PERCIVAL)

Big Bad Lou, our good friend and RNDC/Barkley rep, came by to test my mettle with a little brown-baggin’ – the kind I am usually up for, but with this lousy head cold, I had to pull my proverbial shit together and focus like Bobby Fisher as we trotted through 2 Tuscan wines and 5 in the bags:

Brancaia Tre IGT 2008. Grade=Outstanding. This amazing little “Super-Tuscan” blend (I am beginning to hate that descriptor though) is 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its showing of juicy red and black fruits, dusty tannins and well-balanced acidity make it a terrific, medium-to-full-bodied hit.

Brancaia Chianti Classico DOCG 2006. Grade=Outstanding. Mainly Sangiovese with just a bit of Merlot, this big Chianti Classico shows off some black cherry, cedar and earthy swagger. Clean, sturdy tannins frame notes of plum, black currants and wet stones.

The remainder in brown bags:

Abbye de St. Ferme Les Vignes du Soir Bordeaux Superieur 2006. Grade=Outstanding. I was a bit stunned by this one as I picked this wine as New World and I was dead wrong. Cab and Merlot in a Bordeaux context, this is drinking really nice. What really sleighs me though is what I will be able to sell this for, so stay tuned…

Kendall-Jackson Summation Red California 2007. Grade=Outstanding. Guess this is what the old Meritage was, a blend of Cab, Merlot and others show off a pretty nice, medium-bodied red that is soft, fruity, with a bit of jammy blueberry and blackberry fruit character.

Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red Paso Robles 2008. Grade=Outstanding. This little red blend was the only one I could guess correctly – that it was from Paso Robles. Jammy with sweet black and blue fruits, lots of peppery baking spices and some baked earth underpinnings.

Bogle Phantom California 2007. Grade=Outstanding. This has been one of our favorite wines around here, and this vintage is sure to please all you Phantom fans. Zinfandel, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah come together in a sweet-black-fruited orgy of black pepper, blueberry compote, dusty, silty tannins, and a luxurious finish.

Bogle Petite Sirah California 2007. Grade=Outstanding. This showed as my favorite of all of them and wouldn’t you believe this clocks in under $10 a bottle? A benchmark for Petite Sirah, this little monster has a lot of exuberant, juicy black fruit and baking spice. A steal!