August 2010 - Argentina & Chile

Host: Catina
Book: Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende


1. Gascon Malbec 2009 - $10.99 (Second Favorite)
Malbec from Argentina, South America
Don Miguel Gascón Malbec is a full bodied wine with a deep violet color, showcasing flavors and aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, dark cherry, and a hint of mocha. The wine is elegant and rich in texture, with soft, round tannins and a long velvety finish. Gascón Malbec pairs well with grilled red meats, wild game, pasta dishes and chocolate molten dessert.

2. Colores del Sol Malbec 2009 $6.99 (Group Favorite)
ARGENTINA
Colores del Sol, meaning “Colors of the Sun,” is a Malbec that captured the exciting, alluring qualities of the Malbec grape in a wine which utilized modern, high-quality winemaking. The vineyards in Mendoza are among highest in the world – therefore, closest to the sun where the sun's light is most pure. That pure light reflects from grapes and vines like a starburst, revealing all the colors of the sun. The grapes are watered with pure melted snow channeled from the Andes, using a centuries-old irrigation system inherited from the native settlers, the Huarpes Indians.

3. Concha y Toro Xplorador Malbec 2009 - $8.99 (Nobody like this one!)
from Chile, South America
Concha y Toro Carmenere excels with focused red currant, green leaf flavors; nicely built, this sleek wine is perfect with lamb chops. (Label is cool...wine yucky! Do not judge this book by its cover!)

4. Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2009 - $12.99 (Nobody liked this one either!)
from Chile, South America
Dressed in fresh purple red colour, this is a voluptuous Pinot Noir with rich fruit notes of cherry, raspberry, plum and strawberry – a red fruit party! – enhanced by subtle smoked hints. In mouth sweet fruit notes stand out, and its fine tannins give it a great texture and a mouth filling structure. Balanced and New World styled, this is a wine of personality and elegance. Sexy, pure and simple, it's a young and refreshing Pinot. (our group decided this was not sexy or refreshing)

July 2010-Australian Shiraz

Host: Laura
Book: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

1. Banrock Station Shiraz 2008 - $8.99 (Second Favorite)
Deep plum with purple hues, followed on the nose by fresh cherry and plum fruit. The palate is medium to full bodied with rich plum and cherry fruit. The palate develops from ripe fruit into fine grain tannin with liquorice peppery spice. This wine is for immediate enjoyment. This wine is well suited to roasted meat dishes or spicy Morrocan lamb and couscous


2. Nine Stones Shiraz Barossa Valley 2008 - $13.99
This Barossa offering is a terrific value, providing classic raspberry and chocolate regional character allied to size and softness--W ine Enthusiast--90 points!


3. Kilda Shiraz 2008 - $7.99 (Group Favorite)
Soft and appealing for its pure, clear blueberry and cream flavors, lingering on the polished finish.


4. Thorn Clark Shotfire 2008 - $19.99
Deep red colour. Very lifted and intense nose of blackberry fruit, sweet spice and dark chocolate. The palate is very rich and flavoursome with blackberry and plum fruit. In addition to the primary fruit characters there is plenty of complexity in this wine with spice, earthy notes and graphite also evident. There is heaps of mouthfilling flavour complemented by chalky tannins. There is great length of fruit as well.

Roasted Eggplant Feta Dip

Serves 12
1 to 2 large eggplant = 2 cups chopped
2 to 3 red, green and yellow bell peppers = 2 cups chopped
2 3/4 TB lemon juice
1/3 C olive oil
2/3 C feta cheese
2/3 C red onion, finely chopped
1 small chile pepper finely chopped
3 TB fresh basil, chopped
2 TB fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 Tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 Tsp salt
pinch of sugar

Peel and roast eggplant with sliced peppers
Chop eggplant and peppers by hand immediately add lemon juice to prevent browning
Add remaining ingredients, should be chunky
Serve with toasted pita chips