My First Wine Reviews!

I wrote these for the prominent publication Texas Business Weekly. Hope you enjoy!

Jacob’s Creek

2004 Shiraz Cabernet

$6-$8

Imagine walking into the sequel of your favorite film. You pay your five bucks (you’re a grad student- it’s the matinee) and settle in for the show. Lights down. Curtains up. The film begins. Within five minutes you realize that this film is about as much fun as a Think n’ Drink with L. Ron Hubbard.

Such were my sentiments while drinking the 2004 Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet. Those of you who know wine will say, “Well that’s what you get when you buy your wine from the sale bin at HEB.” To you I would respond: 1) I bought it at Randall’s and 2) I have $120,000 in student loans, so back off! A few months ago I tasted the 2003 vintage and found it most charming. The 2004, on the other hand, reminded me of Jar-Jar Binks: painful, cheap, and in the end more than a little nauseating. This vintage has all the sweetness of pine needles and finishes like a shot of Listerine.

I like to think of wines in terms of the occasion for which they are best suited. The Jacob’s Creek 2004 Shiraz Cab is a perfect second-date-which-you-hope-is-your-last-because-you-can’t-really-date-someone-who-thinks-hernias-make-good-cocktail-conversation-wine. Enjoy!

Driftwood Vineyards

2005 Viognier

$20

I can imagine one of my tan, carb-free friends from California furling their Botox-injected brow and saying harshly, “No good wine comes out of Texas!” I might have tended to agree with them, until I tried this delightful wine.

Driftwood Vineyards- which you can visit on your way to or from an artery-clogging trip to the Salt Lick- has struck gold with this delicious bouquet. The first sniff reveals a nose of honeysuckle and apricot with a subtle suggestion of freshly-picked Asian pear. A sip confirms the fruity aroma and adds the complexity of lemon peel and sweet orange. This wine finishes smooth without lingering too long or too sweetly.

Best occasion for this magical brew: watching the sunset over Lake Austin while snuggling with your special someone.

Here is the first draft of the Jacob's Creek:

Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet

Vintage 2004

Imagine walking into a movie sequel. You loved the original and read solid reviews of the current film. You pay your five bucks (you’re a grad student so you have to see the matinee) pull out the bag of peanut M&M’s that are melting in your pocket and settle in for the show. Lights down. Curtains up. The film begins. Within five minutes you realize you liked the first film but, that this film feel like a bad date and you spend the rest of the time asking yourself exactly what that sticky stuff under your seat is.

This is how I felt drinking the 2004 Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet. Those of you who drink wine will surely say, “Well that’s what you get when you buy your wine from the sale bin at HEB.” To you I would respond twofold: 1) I bought it at Randall’s and 2) I have $120,000 in student loans, so back off! However, back to my analogy, the stunning prequel I spoke of is the 2003 vintage under the same label, which I tried a few months ago and found most charming. It had a tart and rich head with mellow sides and a perky yet lush finish. The 2004, on the other hand, reminded me of Jar-Jar Binks: painful, cheap, and in the end more than a little nauseating. The blueberry essence of the 2003 is replaced by something closer to pine needles and the finish tastes a little like Listerine.

I like to think of wines in terms of the occasion for which they are best suited. The Jacob’s Creek 2004 Shiraz Cab is a perfect second-date-which-you-hope-is-your-last-because-you-can’t-really-date-someone-who-thinks-toe-jam-makes-good-cocktail-conversation. Enjoy!