Wine & DVD - Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend & "Charulata"

Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend 2006 - a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot clocking in at 15% alcohol (no wonder I was a bit loopy!). Rich, full of delicious dark fruit. Even at that level of alcohol, it was still smooth and very succulent. Great QPR. We got it on sale for $11.99 per bottle and bought a case.

"Charulata" - (in black & white) released in 1964 and set in 1870's India, it's about a young wife (Charu) whose husband is too concerned with his newspaper to give her any consideration. Her loneliness is evident and he asks his brother (in-law?) to keep her company. Can you say "love triangle"?

I have several problems, not with the movie itself, but with the production:
The DVD looked like it was copied from a poor quality videotape
The contrast was super-high making watching the film difficult, especially with subtitles
The subtitles seemed to be a poor translation of what the characters were saying. At times the subtitles lingered far too long, at other times they moved too quickly.
The sound quality was pretty bad (pops, static, etc)
As the movie progressed, the picture got darker and darker, making it difficult to distinguish who was speaking.

So it's impossible to give a good review of the film itself since we were so distracted by the poor quality.

But...we DID see a terrific Bollywood film the previous night - "Saawariya", another love triangle theme. Released in 2007, this was the first Bollywood film to be produced and released by a Hollywood production company (Columbia TriStar), and the first Indian/Bollywood film to be released on BluRay disc.

The scenes were lavish - gorgeous cinematography, rich colors. Based on Dostoevsky's "White Nights", it was a story about Ranbir Raj who meets the lovely Sakina who is waiting for the return of Imaan. The acting was wonderful, the singing and dancing were great, the costumes...wow! This film was a visual feast. I enjoyed it so much I'd like to purchase the BluRay disc so I can watch it again (and again).

Bodega Norton Privada 2003

photo © Linda Blakely 2008

A blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Wine Spectator says this wine is "burly" and I have to agree. Full of body and very quaffable. We drank it with a spicy fried rice, but it would have worked best with a nice rare filet. Still delicious though.

Hubby just poured me some more, so why am I still sitting here typing? I'm off to enjoy the rest of it ;-)

O'Brien Cellars Seduction 2004

photo © Linda Blakely 2008

I could have waited to post this on Valentine's Day, but I wanted to post it now so you might have a change to find a bottle.

This is a proprietary red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Notes of tobacco and cedar on the nose, followed by smoky oak and vanilla on the palate. This wine has nice fruit flavors, but it's not jammy. Well-balanced and very approachable. In a word...Sensational!

*Update: As per Bart O'Brien's comment "The 2004 is gone in most markets but the 2005 is just as good. It can be ordered online at www.obrienestate.com. We have a free shipping special on 6 bottles or more; 10% discount on 12 bottles."

Thanks, Bart!

Verite La Joie 2000

photo © Linda Blakely 2008

A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, this blend's name "La Joie" means "Joy" in French and it lives up to its name. It was truly a joy to drink!

Dark garnet in color, it had aromas of tobacco, a little bit of mushroom and vanilla, which followed through on the palate. Also evident on the palate were hints of cherry and a bit of earthiness. Full in body with a nice lengthy finish. Good acidity, well-balanced with ultra-smooth tannins. The nicest thing about this wine? We have one more bottle in our cellar ;-)

Bonny Doon Le Cigare Blanc 2005

photo © Linda Blakely 2008

Normally I drink red wines, but occasionally I'm in the mood for a nice white. Le Cigare Blanc is a blend of 54% Roussanne and 46% Grenache Blanc. It's golden straw in color and wonderfully aromatic. Flavors of melon, pineapple and even a little bit of banana. Well-balanced with good acidity and a surprisingly long finish. Love it!

Turnbull Old Bull Red 2003

photo © Linda Blakely 2008

What's in this blend? 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Syrah, 9% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Tempranillo, 2% Petite Sirah, 2% Sangiovese and 2% Petit Verdot. More like what's not in this blend?

I get several different aromas: earth, dark fruits, tobacco, spices, white pepper. The palate is rich and lush and full of healthy tannins. The aromas follow through and leave a substantial finish. If this wine doesn't turn your tongue purple, I don't know what will.

I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up!

M. Cosentino The Poet 2002

photo © Linda Blakely 2007

This is the third bottle in about a year that Tom and I have tried. The first bottle was pretty dreadful, to be quite honest. We drank it after we first purchased it. The second bottle was drunk about 6 months later, and it was marginal at best. This time it's better. It has softened with time in the bottle and has developed more flavor.

The Poet is a Napa blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. I get hints of anise on the nose, followed by stewed dark fruits (cherries, plums). At first sip it's a bit on the astringent side, but after a minute or two in the glass it gets much more palatable. It's full and round in the mouth, with flavors of fruit and vanilla. Nice lengthy finish here, too.

This is a wine that truly benefited with bottle aging.

Carpineto Dogajolo 2005

photo © Linda Blakely 2007

A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany. The color is deep garnet with violet reflections. On the nose you get very fruity and intense aromas, with hints of cherry, coffee, vanilla and spice. The palate is full, soft, complex and well balanced. A delicious Italian wine!