Hurry! Catch it! The woman is pointing across the road. The abrasion on my eyes is profound, and I cant quite see what shes looking at.
Suddenly, Theresa pipes up. My glasses!
And there in the middle of a busy street, describing a ten-foot diameter circle in a constantly-swirling cyclone of wind, are her glasses. They skip and glide across the ground, a mere wisp of color against the asphalt. Cars pass over them, uncaring, and still they blow. Seeing a brief break in traffic, I leap out to try and stop them with my foot, but they lift and hurdle skywardthen plummet back to the earth. A truck approaches, honking.
Uh-oh.
continued here.
Notes follow:
Overhex Soulo 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Western Cape) Green pepper juice, yet bisque-textured. How does that work, exactly? How does one pick a month too early and yet abandon all hint acidity? (11/08)
Overhex Balance 2006 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon (Western Cape) Some green, some red, some black. Boring. (11/08)
Signal Hill La Siesta 2005 Grenache Blanc (Western Cape) When first conceived (not that long ago), this was the only grenache blanc in all of South Africa, though that may not be true any longer. Ive ordered it because its local the winery is, at least ostensibly, located in Cape Town and its certainly an adventurous introduction to the local wine scene. Oxidative but complexless Scholium Project or Gravner than Kalinshowing old apricot, brown soil, and an old-leaf, mulchy texture. Dry, white and peppery is how it finishes. Points for effort, and its quite drinkable (though a bit of a crank with food), but I think this could be a little better. (11/08)
Bouchard Finlayson 2003 Hannibal (Walker Bay) A very strange blend: 52% sangiovese, 24% pinot noir, 11% nebbiolo, 9% mourvdre, and 4% barbera. Only in the New World, eh? I suppose all those grapes contribute something, and with enough study their contributions do become individually apparent, but the problem isnt so much that the whole is less than the sum of its parts (though I think it is), but rather that the mathematics havent been left to their own devices, and instead have been forced into a high-volume attempt at showstopping that deafens rather than seduces. Theres a heavy, heated, porty character that characterizes the wineoverly-intense dark black, blue, and purple fruit with a thick-browed textureand despite the varietal hodgepodge it tastes very much like some of Californias most extravagantly syrah-like pinots. Thats not a compliment, in my book, but those with contrasting tastes may want to take note. (11/08)
Simonsig 2001 Redhill Pinotage (Stellenbosch) This is one of South Africas most decorated pinotages, but I cant countenance the path its taken to get there. Oaky, with chocolate and slight volatility, followed by an intense explosion of synthetic berries. It probably needs even more years than it has already been given, but I just dont think the balance is there; I believe the wood will always gloss over whatever qualities this wine might have had, and those qualities are already a little too shiny for my taste. In its style its well made, I suppose, but I dont enjoy it very much. (11/08)
Signal Hill 2005 Vin de lEmpereur (Paarl) Sweet muscat dAlexandrie, and already very dark brown, with moderate floral notes and an exotic, botrytis-laden aroma. However, all the rewards in the nose, because the hollow and rather light palate doesnt follow through on any of the formers promises. Good, but only just. (11/08)