Second Time's a Charm

This last week I bought the most expensive bottle of wine I have ever bought. I have tried more expensive wines, but never purchased anything this expensive. I have kept my eye on this wine for the last 6 or 7 weeks. The wine I bought was the d'Arenberg 2005 Dead Arm Shiraz. I looked at several of the local stores comparing prices, which ranged between 60-65 dollars a bottle, except where I found it for 52 dollars. Now I have a 52 dollar bottle of wine. It's funny to think that I own a wine I won't be trying for a decade or longer. While I was buying this wine I also picked up a bottle of d'Arenberg's 2004 Footbolt Shiraz which retails around 18 dollars a bottle. Both of these wines are from the Mclaren Vale region in South Australia. I hold a special place in my heart for this region. I have toured this area three different times, loving it each time I was there.

I have just been waiting for an excuse to try this wine. Thursday night was the perfect time. I just started my internship, and since I didn't have to go in on Friday I thought it would be great timing to celebrate this beginning, or should I say, dampen the anxiety I feel due to starting this internship, with a bottle of red. Jessi and I were disappointed. There was a good bouquet of raspberries, and even some solid fruit on the palate, but there was a tidal wave of harsh acidity that ruined the wine for us both. I decided to give this wine another try, so I took the first bottle back and traded it in for another bottle of the same. I am so glad I did this. This evening Jessi and I were able to enjoy a solid wine without the harsh palate stripping tannins. The bouquet exhibited a simple, yet rich smell of raspberry, with a hint of black pepper as well. The mouth feel was definitely dry, yet full of body. This wine's black fruit, and cedar components left me chewing even though no food was in my mouth. In addition, I tasted the distinct flavor of the Mclaren Vale. I LOVE this flavor. It is impossible for me to describe this flavor to you, but it is there. While living in Australia we tried hundreds of McLaren Vale wines and we were able to distinguish the Mclaren Vale's unique flavor, imparted by it's unique terroir. It is amazing how wine can bring you back to earlier times, which are usually enjoyable because when wine is involved life is usually good! I would give the 2004 Footbolt Shiraz 89+. As Jessi and I were enjoying a glass together I leaned over and said we should get a case. She quickly reminded me that, although we enjoy good wine, we are still poor graduate students. A man can still dream.