I have been reading enough of the posts regarding MP as a good QPR, so I went out to find some. Well, I could not find the Shiraz or Cab, but I did find the Sarah's Blend ($17). The bottle does not indicate what the blend is, though WS reviewed previous vintages and listed the blend as Shiraz, Cab, and Merlot. Here are my notes:

Deep red/medium purple to the rim. Nose of blueberries and cream with a slight mineral edge. On the palate this wine was a fruit bomb. Heavy blueberry and cream with a slight hint of cocoa. If the grape blend stayed consistent with the 2000, then I would have to say that it is dominated by the Shiraz in terms of percentages (i.e. blueberries and cream being my indicator). But, again, there is no immediate way to tell.

This is a very nice wine for immediate consumption. The fruit overlaoads the palate to the point of being overbearing (almost to the point of flabbiness in the mouth feel). There is no real tannic structure, no backbone, thus I fear aging might be risky. A quaffer, not a keeper. 87 pts.

Peace.

Can't remember the exact figures, but the blend is between 45-50 percent shiraz and almost equal parts cab and merlot, with the cab a percentage point or two higher. It's something like 47-28-25 and please, no wisecracks about the "measurements.''

Man! Finally, someone is paying more for wine that I do here in the felony state of KY. There is a (wine)god...

Glad you liked the Sarah's Blend...good stuff for an everyday drinker.

Hey kybo,

that may be true, but I failed to mention that I bought it at a boutique wine store, none of my discount places (Sams, Binnys, Wine Discount Center) had it. Given the mark up at this particular boutique--no doubt to pay for the rent!!--I would assume that it is probably a $10-12 wine...but, alas, I was desperate! I hope that this news does not rain on your parade!

Peace.

Thanks King,

I figured shiraz dominated...the only time I get blueberries and cream is with Aussie shiraz (and most notably with shiraz aged in Fench oak, but again, thanks to the paucity of information on the label, there is no way to tell), and that the cocoa was from the cab and merlot. However, that profile was defnitely in the rear, and even though according to your information nearly half the wine to be the cab and merlot, that component did nothing to add to the backbone of this wine...

Peace.

I had this for the first time last night. Although a nice wine, it is nowhere near as compelling as the reg Shiraz. I agree that it is overbearing and one dimensional. jb Rating 84 pts. I have 2 left. I may gift them off.

jb

jb, you may have had an off-bottle. I'd suggest trying another. I've had three bottles so far and they've all been in the 90-91 point range. The Shiraz is a solid 92-93.

Just not my style, my man. I am finishing off the bottle opened yesterday as we speak. Now about 87-88 pts. Opened up a little more. Just doesn't show the complexities I had hoped. Revlis concurred with my findings. Still good, just not my cup of tea. I was wrong about the Shiraz the first time around, so who know's. I've had 5 bottles of the shiraz so far. One $hitty, four outstanding. 91 pts for the shiraz.

jb

Still better than the Chapoutier, huh?

I agree with Board-O as far as score...it hit the 91- 92 point mark after being uncorked 24 hours. The fruit definitely dominates over tannin and the wine's critics equate this with flabbiness and I can see why people think this. To each his own.

I liked the Shiraz and Cab even better and am keeping an eye for more.

Yes, still better than the Chapoutier. I still have one bottle of that left. I am hoping the poor showing was either a) bottle variation (unlikely as we had 2 bottles that night) or b) lack of decanting. Otherwise, I just got screwed on 3 poorly stored bottles of a supposedly great wine. I will give the last bottle a good decanting and use my best stems, as well as keep my fingers crossed.

jb

My best guess fgor that Chapoutier would be poor shipping or storage (not yours), altrhough it didn't have that heavy, flat taste that many cooked wines exhibit. Maybe it just needs a lot of time. I find it difficult to judge how much age a young Rhone requires.

JB,
Truly believe you got a stinker of a bottle. This stuff has been very consistent with us. The Queen likes it best.
I honestly believe, at least per my tastes, that the 2001 needs to rest for a year and then let's see what we have. If you can't wait . . . decant the snot out of it. Ninety minutes plus so it will settle down. And by the by, I'm in the fifth hour of a Sebastiani Alexander Valley 1999, the one rated WS 91. Reminds me of the Sonoma Cask 97, maybe a little more extracted. The Sonoma was $12.99. This one $19.99. And I still think it's a buy for those of us who consider under $20 bottles a bargain. Very nice juice and I post its own thread.

[ 11-04-2002, 10:45 PM: Message edited by: King of Hearts ]

Must agree with KoH, jb. I've tasted Syrahs for an evening side-by-side with you and our opinions were relatively similar. Give this another try.

"decant the snot out of it."

I just can't keep up with all the technical jargon around here.

Picked up the techno-speak from Dennis Johns when we visited White Cottage last year and he spoke about aerating his wines thusly: "We aerate the snot out of them.''

[ 11-05-2002, 10:27 AM: Message edited by: King of Hearts ]

Well, contrary to the organi-mastics, anything that gets the snot out gets special dispensation from the excessive fining and flitering tag!!

Anyone in NJ interested in this wine, listen up. The Buy Rite Liquors on Rt. 72 in Manahawkin has a couple of cases left at $14 per. This isn't exactly a wine hotbed, so I don't think the people are aware how hot this wine is right now.

jb

I know that place on 72. I refuse to go there since I picked up a bottle of Alderbrook 97 OVOC Zinfadel that was listed on the rack at $14 and when I brought it up to the counter it rang up like $18 so I pointed out the sign to the manager and instead of selling it to me for the "advertised" price he basically said tough ****e if you want it $18. but like you said its not exactly a hotbed for wine lovers although I do remember he had quite a few Granges.

Bump.

Hey Theograd- where'd you find it? It sounds like we hang in similar neighborhoods and I'm desperate to pick up a couple (the 2000 was great, and my daughter Sara was born in 2001!)

Perchance is the store you found it at on Clybourn? do tell.

Found it! HOward came through for me. 3 last bottles on hold. Yeehah.