2004 Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon

2004 Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon.
Argentina.


This is the best low end bottle I have imbibed in a very long time. I was very impressed by the multi dimensional yet smooth flavors and finished the bottle in a very short period of time with another person. In fact, I enjoyed this bottle so much that I got lost in the state of enjoyment, and made very few descriptive notes to write about. The slightly out of focus label is also indicative of my Bacchian state of mind at the time. Damn, I guess I will have to buy another bottle....

2003 KWV Pinotage

Vintage: 2003

Winery: KWV 1

Grape: Pinotage

Country: South Africa

So what comes from South Africa besides Dave Matthews, wondrous wildlife, great white encounters, and one of the top rugby teams in the world? Pinotage!

This beautiful ruby colored wine is the product of a mixture of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, that results in a very unique wine that is disdained by wine snobs. Do not listen to them. This well balanced yet inexpensive wine tastes of cherry and truffles. Although the Pinot Noir tastes are still identifiable, the mixture of Cinsault, by itself an uninteresting grape, adds some interesting flavors that this reviewer spent the whole bottle trying to identify, unsuccessfully. Despite the lack of success, it was time well spent with Bacchus.

1 KWV is not a winery, per se, but a wine co-operative.

Cum Mortuis In Lingua Mortua

Although modern zymology along with the help of pubology has determined with historical precision Charlie Mops was the person who invented beer, there has been no similar determination for the fruit of the vine. Evidence suggests the ancient beverage may have been first produced by persons in what is now Georgia as early as 6000 BC, and Iran as early as 5000 BC. It was also imbibed by the ancient Greeks, Hebrews, and Egyptians, as well as others. Even with the many references to wine in ancient texts, literature, and religious writings, the specific origins of the drink are still unknown. I hope to discover its origins, as the more I imbibe, the more I hear the voices of wise and long-passed vintners, and see the scenes of ancient Bacchic revels played out in my head. I think I am close to discovering wine's origins, and invite you to join me on my journey.

Photo: Bacchus at Clos Pegase