Saturday Walk Around Tasting at The Gourmet Shop, Columbia, SC 6/4/2011

Our favorite wine rep, Jenny from Ben Arnold, hosted this event from 2 to 5 PM. It was a blistering hot 97 degrees outside, so we all hung around the air conditioned wine room. Her 4 wines were 2 Southern Hemisphere, and 2 California. Some of the usual suspects were out of town, but they still drew a pretty big crowd. As usual, everyone was well satisfied.

• 2009 Conundrum Wines White 87 Points

  USA, California

  We are all pretty familiar with this wine, and it almost never disappoints. It may be somewhat hard to figure out when and where to drink it, but it is never hard to enjoy it. Of course the blend is super secret, but who cares? A little sweet. Kind of heavy. We have a pretty floral nose. There is some weighty structure. There are fruit flavors from all over the planet. The finish tastes like honey. Still a bargain for this quality. Almost every one can enjoy this.

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• 2009 d'Arenberg The Hermit Crab 86 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  I kind of liked this. Not your every day typical varietal combination; 72% Viognier, and 28% Marsanne. This one seems to work. The Marsanne tends to balance the oily flabbiness of the Viognier with an acid based structure that tastes like a pretty good idea. Has a full nose of floral and fruit characteristics. Has a really nice flavor and aroma of peaches. There is some tropical fruit, and especially some lemon to back this up, and even a touch of apricot. Feels moderately heavy in the mouth, but still has a good dose of acid to keep things interesting. Could they have made a really great Viognier, and a decent Marsanne with these grape individually?

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• 2008 Trivento Syrah Reserve 84 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  At this point, there is not a lot here to review. There is nothing wrong, but things are kind of closed, or maybe this wine is a little on the thin side. It seems very simple and one dimensional, like a cheap, Cental Coast grocery store wine from California. It has plenty of color. The nose is kind of weedy and stemy. I've swirled in the glass, and swished around in the mouth, hoping to loosen up some flavor. There is a gamy blueberry beginning to appear. The tannins are quite silky and civilized. I'm getting some medium heavy toast oak, they say American, which may at this time be masking the fruit and other flavor characteristics. There is some sour milk acidity. My conclusion is that this is probably a pretty decent wine that is not showing good now.

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• 2009 Edmeades Winery Zinfandel Mendocino County 87 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Zinfandel has a real home in Mendocino County, and this is no exception. We have a ripe, in your face, fruit forward wine, that also has some elegance and structure. Not over the top and jammy, just Zinfandel the way we like it. Spicy and smokey on the nose. Roasted, but controlled fruit. Not very tannic. Balanced, easy on the palate. Grapey finish.

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