The Adventures of AlisterComputeron

Well, I’ve taken a short break from blogging, but I’m hoping to get back into regularly posting about whatever’s on my mind.

The wife and I took a trip to Grand Junction, CO last weekend.  We toured the heart of Colorado wine country in and around Palisade.  There are some great wineries in the area, and we lugged home about three cases of wine.  My wife loves Syrah and Shiraz, so I think we got a bottle at nearly each winery we visited.  We came home with several bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, and a delicious little find – the Cabernet Franc – that I haven’t seen in the stores (maybe cuz I haven’t been looking for it).  Anyhoo, Cab Franc is widely used in blends, but vintners are starting to use it on its own.  It’s a bit more mellow than the Cab Sauvignon, but still has a lot of intensity.

We also picked up a few novelty varietals, too.  I found a great Merlot blush at a vineyard way off the beaten path that will be great chilled on a warm summer afternoon.  I don’t usually care for the sweeter wines, but this is quite tasty.

At the same vineyard that we got the Merlot blush, the vintner was was doing a barrel tasting of a Merlot that had been in the barrel for about six months.  My wife and I were lucky enough to get to sample this young wine.  Oh my gosh, it was fantastic!  He said he was going to bottle it early next year.

The prices were very reasonable, too.  When you can get a great bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for under 20 bucks, it makes it easy to build up a collection.

The great thing about wine tasting is that you get to try it before you buy it.  So everything we came home with is stuff we know we like.  I’ve spent the better part of many trips to the liquor store standing in the isle trying to decide between this one or that one.  Without being able to taste it first, or not having a recommendation on which to buy, it’s a kind of a game of chance.  Usually the odds are in your favor, but when you spend 15 bucks for a bottle and it’s not what you expect, it’s disappointing.

So now I have to get a new rack for my wine cellar (more accurately, an empty part of my basement).  And I’m looking forward to the next occasion when I can enjoy another great bottle.  Wednesday can be an occasion, right?