The ART in FIRE

Good Juice

by J.R. Guerra
Australia is well known for great “bang for your buck” juice.  I have tasted many a 90-94 point wine that retail for $20 (or less).  So what does Australia have to offer in the way of “big” wines?  I present to you, the 2004 F.U. Shiraz, from R Wines (Barossa Valley).  You read it right, it’s called F.U. Shiraz.  The boys over at R Wines not only make consistently great wines year after year, they also have a sense of humor.
Robert Parker’s “Wine Advocate” scored the F.U. Shiraz with an amazing 99 points (out of 100)!  On top of that, you can actually lay this Shiraz down too.  It will open up for a decade, and hold up into the early years of 2030 and beyond.  Talk about an amazing wine with the aging potential that leaves some of the flagship California wine makers jealous.  Most Shiraz’s will hold up for 1-5 years, so this wine really comes out swinging.
The tasting notes from Wine Advocate are as follows: “The 2004 F.U. Shiraz (200 cases) is similarly brooding and liqueur-like. It spent 30 months in new French oak hogsheads and offers a compelling bouquet of toasty oak, pencil lead, mineral, blueberry, and blackberry. Lighter on its feet than The Wine with a more forward personality, it has layers of flavor, savory fruit, and enough silky tannin to evolve for a decade. Drink it from 2014 to 2034.” -Jay Miller, Wine Advocate

imply put, if you can find this wine (keep in mind, only 200 cases were made), expect to pay up to $400.  Here at The Cellar Door, we picked up a 3-pack and have it down in our cellar.  At $350/bottle, it’s quite a bargain for some big juice like this.  A wine for true collectors and Shiraz lovers, it’s guaranteed to blow your mind.  The presentation is fantastic as well, with a bottle design I have never seen before.  Whether or not you know about the wine, your eye will quickly be drawn to the unique bottle design and colorful label.  Don’t get too distracted by the presentation though, because the real magic is inside the bottle.

Cheers, and happy sipping!

Writer/Contributor J.R. Guerra is the co-owner and operator of The Cellar Door in downtown Visalia.

The Big Brewski: Coopers Best Extra Stout
What drives me crazy is when I read about an awesome beer, but have to travel a long distance in order to enjoy it.  This new monthly article will feature beers that are not only good, but you’ll also be able to find them locally and enjoy them!
Before the weather warms up too much, the cool nights still allow us to enjoy stouts.  I’ve got just the right beer for this time of year.  Coopers Best Extra Stout (from Australia).  This stout proves easy to drink, much like a black lager, making it a great choice for dark beer lovers as the heat starts to creep up on us all.

Coopers Brewery Limited has a long history, dating back to its origins in 1862.  They offer a variety of different brews that should appeal to just about everyone.  They are brewed naturally using a top fermentation method with no additives or preservatives.
This is an unfiltered beer, so the proper way to drink any beer from Coopers (as they are all unfiltered) is to either put it in a glass, or actually roll the beer across the bar before opening and drinking.  There are notes on the bottle telling that the beer has a light sediment and can be mixed gently.  Rolling the bottle is the perfect way to accomplish this.  We’ve had many a businessman from Australia come through The Cellar Door and they have all made sure that our bartenders are educated on how to properly serve these beers.  If they don’t see a roll, they become very disappointed.

The appearance is dark brown to nearly opaque.  In a glass, you’ll get 1 to 1 ½ fingers worth of head, in a nice tan color.  The head disappears fairly quickly, but offers strong notes of coffee with a hint of dark cherry.  This shouldn’t be served too cold, or you won’t get all the flavors out of it.  At the right temperature, you’ll get sweet chocolate malt with a nice balance of coffee, and an undertone of sweet milk chocolate with a touch of dark cherry.  There is almost a light carbonation to it, making it even easier to drink and enjoy.

I’ve had this beer with a few different meals, and it compliments BBQ, poultry (with heavy sauces) and many beef dishes.  The undertones of sweetness compliment sweet and spicy dishes as well (like hot wings).

At 6.3% Alcohol by Volume, this easy drinking stout definitely backs up the flavor with a little bite.  Keep in mind, it definitely doesn’t taste this strong, and can easily sneak up on anyone.  Since this is a beer that tastes better as it gets closer to the right temperature, you should take your time anyways.

I haven’t seen this in any supermarkets locally, but we do serve it here at The Cellar Door.
Cheers, and happy sipping.