Hi All – I hope you have had a great week. Oak barrels are expensive and, oftentimes, are sold used from vineyards to distilleries. However, there has been a trend in the last couple of years to ferment wine in whiskey or bourbon barrels. This may not be for the full fermentation period, but at least part of it. In the spirit of spirits, I decided to give one of these wines a try. I purchased a 2014 Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Red Wine Blend. This is combination of Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other red blends. I detected maple syrup, vanilla and a slight hint of anise on the nose. Hey I get “on the nose” sounds bourgeoisie but it is what it is. I also tasted the vanilla and yes there is an ending of bourbon that lingers slightly. Cooper & Thief says this is a jammy wine and I did get an initial impression of jam. With maple syrup, vanilla and jam, it’s like I had breakfast out of a bottle. I tried it with a sharp cheese and it complimented it fairly well. I would not drink it by itself as it really needs a strong pairing. The alcohol content on this particular wine is 17% – which I didn’t know when I had the second glass in the name of science. I might recommend this wine if you’re eating a sharp pairing with it. I am not sure I’d recommend it for the $25.49 it cost unless you pair it with the right foods and at least two glasses of water. I like wine for sipping’s sake, but not getting hammered’s sake. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and take some time to spend it with family and friends. As importantly, remember those who lost their lives to protect us all.
