***+ $ Loma Gorda, 2006, Almansa, Spain - Wine Review and Rating

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Review: Loma Gorda is a value-price red Spanish wine, made from a combination of old vine grapes, 65% garnacha (grenache) and 35% syrah from the Almansa region of Spain. Alcohol is a modest 13%.

In the glass, Loma Gorda, 2006, is medium dark red, with distinct purple overtones. We are trying this one young. Cool, and right from the bottle upon opening, aromas are of sweet, rubbery red fruit. On the palate, intense and inky red and black currants - or maybe pomegranates? - touch your tongue and upper mouth, bringing a touch of deep plum and pepper along. Finish is moderately lengthy, still robed in tannins, and generally balanced. Can be put to rest for a few years too. Likely a modest decant will also serve it well.

Intense, but could still work well with foods that could be balanced out by its peppery acid. Three stars with a plus for intensity. Outstanding value.

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*** $$ 2003 Bleasdale Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek, Australia

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Original Review, September, 2007:

This is a combination of 51% shiraz and 49% cabernet sauvignon, from the Potts Family vineyards in Langhorne Creek, Australia.

In the glass, it shows as mid/dark red. The aroma is hot of raspberry and alcohol, with a touch of concord grape and hint of woody spice. On the palate, dark plum fills the front, with a somewhat inky, silky ride into the corners of the mouth. The finish is accentuated by a lightly acidic tang. Not quite old world, not quite new. Not a big wine, not shy. I’d try again. Three stars out of five.

By comparison, Robert Parker awarded 89 points and said, “Bleasdale produces some of the most reliable as well as fairly priced wines from Langhorne Creek that are good choices for both neophytes and connoisseurs. Aged in neutral American and French hogsheads (500 liters), the 2003 Shiraz/Cabernet (51% and 49% respectively) possesses an opaque ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of herb-tinged black currant fruit, high-class cigar smoke, dried herbs, weedy sweet currants, and spice. Its layered mouthfeel and silky texture suggest it can be drunk now and over the next 3-4 years."

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Updated Review, May, 2009: A year and a half later... Aroma is more subdued now, classic Aussie shiraz, not particularly big. Nice, complex, layered middle palate with spices and ripe currant fruit. Finish still brings the acids into the corners of your mouth. Makes it best with food. Still a solid three-star offering.

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Zutphen Study: Wine Adds Five Years to Life, More Than Beer, Dutch Study Finds

An ongoing longitudinal health study from the town of Zutphen, Netherlands, yields a result that is probably not a surprise to many of us: drinking wine, especially red wine, in moderation, may add years to your life. The Journal of Epidemeology and Community Health reported on the findings this week, and described an average five year extension of life-span for wine drinkers who drank, on average, less than half a glass of wine - mostly red wine - per day. According to reporting by Bloomberg, this compared to an average 2.5 year extension of life-span for those who drank beer in addition to wine.

Decanter Magazine: How do You Gracefully Report on Your own Demise?

In an article this week titled "Wine writers fall victim to recession", Decanter magazine starts off with this lead:

"The days of the print-based US wine writer are numbered, according to Decanter columnist Linda Murphy."

One paragraph later, the magazine creates its own irony with a bright red hotlink:

Click here to subscribe to Decanter magazine

Of course, the hotlink is to the PRINT version of Decanter. Gotta love it.

**** Pu-erh Tea, Yunnan Province, China - Review and Rating

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Review: Let's consider something in the non-wine category today: Pu-erh tea from the Yunnan province in China creates a deep, dark brew, much the color of coffee in the cup.

I get mine loose, from The Tea Farm. I use about one tablespoon for eight ounces of boiled water, steeping for just over five minutes.

Aromas are earthy and woody - a walk through a New England forest after a September rainfall. Yummy.

On the palate, the earthiness slides into a deep, lightly-funky robe of silt - quite creamy and robust. I could drink this for days. Four stars because - once I am in a tea-drinking mood - I could not be tempted to veer from this selection.

Pu-erh is a unique tea in that it is known to grow even richer, smoother and more robust with age. I've got a pound or two in the basement now - I may need to add to the stocks.