December 2006

Furlong’s Liquor Wine Club

              This first one is Layer Cake Shiraz from Barossa Valley—South Australia—Seamless from start to finish!!   You are going to be spoiled!!  It received a 96 pt. rating by Robert Parker!!   This one is One Hundred Percent Pure Shiraz.  It has a deep red-purple, then the immediate hallmarks of spicy, lifted ripe peppery mulberry and blackberry fruit aromas.  Richer chocolate, stewed plum mint and spicy, pepper smells and often cinnamon follow the initial attack of primary fruit characters.  Layer Cake’s palate is consistently well structured with terrific fruit and totally integrated oak tannin providing great texture to support plum, blackcurrant and rolling blackberry flavors especially on the mid-palate.  Often dark chocolate characters are quite evident too.  This is followed by a traditional, long, velvety, fine grained tannin finish.   Rich, full bodied and layered with flavor.  Pairs outstanding with Pasta dish w/red sauce or Pork Tenderloin with Wild Huckleberry sauce.  Retails for $14.99/bottle.

 

               2007—It’s going down!!!  You want to impress your friends when you ring in the New Year?  This next one will do just that—the Greg Norman Estates Australian Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay—from South Eastern Australia.  This one is rated a 91!!  Creamy, elegant sparkler combines elegance with delicious pear, vanilla and delicate spice flavors, all of which linger effortlessly for a very smooth lasting finish  Pale straw in color with a fine yet persistent bead.  You will note the tight bubbles.  On the nose there are lifted strawberry, citrus and nutty aromas with a hint of sherbet character.  It is a medium to full-bodied style with generous fruit and citrus flavors.  It is 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay.  This will pair excellent with the New Year, any seafood or try a fruit based soufflés or a pound cake.  Retails for $19.99/bottle.