Banshee Rosé 2019

Oh I love Banshee's wine so much, and this Rosé in no exception! The 2019 vintage is salmon in color and made with 48% Sangiovese, 25% Grenache, 16% Syrah, 8% Barbera, and 3% Zinfandel. Cantaloupe is all over it, with honeydew melon, lemon, and toast. I could smell it all night! This is not a quaffing rosé. This is one that you want to cradle and savor.

Listen to Mike and Joey talk about it on Grapes & Capes Episode #3!

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Grapes & Capes Episode #3: Robots don't eat cookies

Michael and Joey read The Ultimates #1 and Vision #1 while tasting Oak Farm Vineyards Fiano, La Crema Sonoma Chardonny, and Banshee Rosé. Wines provided by Colangelo & Partners.

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Wine #1: Oak Farm Vineyards 2018/2019, sitting on the leese

Comics #1: The Ultimates #1 (2002)

Wine #2: La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2018, New World wine vs Old World wine, effects of oak, what is Zinfandel

Comics #2: Vision #1 (2015), Tom King's Batman, War of Jokes and Riddles, Tom King's comicsgate controversy, Scarlet Witch

Wine #3: Banshee Rosé 2019, how they make pink wine, orange wine, dry rosé vs sweet rosé

Comics #3: the death of Deadshot, DC Universe Infinite, HBO Max, call Tony Stark at 212-970-4133, Marvel getting cosmic

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Quickie: San Silvestro Ottone I Barbera 2018

Barbera is an extremely versatile red wine that you can pair with virtually any food or just drink by itself. So it’s a common suggestion of mine for when you don’t know what’s being served or you want one bottle to pair with multiple courses. San Silvestro’s Ottone I Barbera is only $10 and it’s absolutely delicious. It’s medium bodied with soft tannin and bright acidity, and there’s notes of cherries, blackberries, and a little leather and tobacco. Next time you need a middle of the week wine for tacos or pizza, give this guy a try!

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Wine Review: Buck Shack Small Batch Red Wine 2016

October is Shannon Ridge Month on TheWineStalker.net!

In 1995, Clay Shannon discovered a magnificent piece of property in the hills overlooking Clear Lake in Lake County, thirty-five miles north of Napa’s famed vineyards. He quickly set out to develop vineyards, Clay’s vision was simple: "We wanted to grow the best fruit in the world,” says Clay, “but we wanted to do it in a way that made us happy living there... The landscape is rugged and wild, and so are our neighbors – we’re surrounded by wildlife. We’ve got ducks, geese, deer, raccoons, quail, golden eagles, bald eagles, wild turkey, chipmunks and bobcats that visit us regularly. We are also visited commonly by bears, mountain lions and elk." 

Shannon Ridge is passionate about preserving their land, not only for great vineyard sites, but for the wild creatures which share the property. Their sustainability practices integrate a flock of sheep that clean the vineyards, remove the excess canopy, and reduce the need for chemicals, while providing natural fertilizer. “Sustainability wasn’t some philosophical concept;" says Clay, "it is the way we live our lives.”

All of October is dedicated to Shannon Ridge! This is review #5 of 8, and you can read all of the reviews I've done so far by clicking here.

On the Shannon Ridge property was a skinning shed called the "Ye Old Buck Shack" that had stood there for a hundred years. So they restored it and converted it into a whiskey bar, and named a line of their wines after it. Buck Shack has a Cabernet Sauvignon, Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Red Wine blend. Today I'm reviewing the 2016 Red Wine, which is a blend of mainly Syrah and Petite Sirah, and then small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Barbera. All I can tell you further is that they "laid these wines down in some expensive new barrels and let it age". So I don't know what kind or for how long. It has a 14.7% ABV, though.

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Barbera - The Most Versatile Red Wine Of Them All

Way up in the northwest of Italy is the region of Piedmont where a late-ripening grape called Barbera dominates the vine plantings. Nebbiolo gets all the glory but Barbera is truly the unsung hero. California has had great success with Barbera and I hear Mexico is growing it too. Here's some history of the grape and why it may make the most versatile red wine of them all.

Home Grown (California), Michele Chiarlo (Piedmont), Fiulot (Piedmont)

ORIGINS OF BARBERA

You've probably heard of Barolo. It's called THE KING OF WINE! (insert French horn royal entrance here) It's made from the Nebbiolo grape, which is highly tannic and highly acidic so it makes pretty much the most ageable and expensive wines out there. There's also Barbaresco, made from Nebbiolo as well but arguably a bit softer. They both taste like cranberry juice and tar, which is a good thing if you can believe that.

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