"Supernatural Wine" -- The Big Red Monster
The The Big Red Monster 2010, California, has a label that's a triumph of minimalist design. I picked up for about $12 at my local Fresh and Easy.
The label gives no indication, however, of the grapes in it.
Color: Very dark purple-red, almost Petit Sirah dark.
Nose: Closed. Fruit and dusty brick.
First Impression: Very closed. Cherry, black raspberry, some currant. Rough. Short, tart finish, very tannic. Gave me "cat tongue".
Breathing Room: A skoosh smoother, but not much. This wine still thinks it's Cabernet but it's not -- the flavor profile isn't quite right.
Verdict: To be honest, you're going to want to decant this wine for at least an hour before drinking. Only after day two in my fridge did it open up into a big, bombastic red that I think is Petit Sirah, Syrah, and some Zinfandel, on the basis of the black raspberry, huckleberry, black plum, and currant flavors with a nice bit of allspice on the finish. It went really nicely with the pot roast I made for dinner that night.
Episode pairing: 7.09 How To Win Friends and Influence Monsters, an episode that was a parody of American Consumer Culture. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself:
Given that this wine was, in its own way, quite sneaky, it's a good pairing.
The label gives no indication, however, of the grapes in it.
Color: Very dark purple-red, almost Petit Sirah dark.
Nose: Closed. Fruit and dusty brick.
First Impression: Very closed. Cherry, black raspberry, some currant. Rough. Short, tart finish, very tannic. Gave me "cat tongue".
Breathing Room: A skoosh smoother, but not much. This wine still thinks it's Cabernet but it's not -- the flavor profile isn't quite right.
Verdict: To be honest, you're going to want to decant this wine for at least an hour before drinking. Only after day two in my fridge did it open up into a big, bombastic red that I think is Petit Sirah, Syrah, and some Zinfandel, on the basis of the black raspberry, huckleberry, black plum, and currant flavors with a nice bit of allspice on the finish. It went really nicely with the pot roast I made for dinner that night.
Episode pairing: 7.09 How To Win Friends and Influence Monsters, an episode that was a parody of American Consumer Culture. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself:
Click to viewGiven that this wine was, in its own way, quite sneaky, it's a good pairing.