Wine Blogging Wednesday - Wacky Wine Names.  Add/Read Comments

I sparked a little debate over at Lets Talk Wine (although the topic seems to have disappeared) on the subject of the latest Wine Blogging Wednesday theme – whacky wine names. Plenty of options and suggestions there and what did I come up with? 'The Cover Drive' which isn’t that wacky really... oh well, it is a nice wine. I also found a white with an Orang-utan on the label; now that is wacky!

This months topic was set and is hosted by Chez ‘you might think me a glutton' Pim. Head on over to see what other bloggers have discovered!

Jim Barry The Cover Drive, 2002, Clare Valley/Coonawarra, Australia.
£10.50 Robersons.
Aged in American and French oak. Plenty of rich ripe fruit a touch of sweetness to the midfield while silly-mid-on held an abundance of blackcurrant fruit. A complex structure kicks in around deep mid wicket. Finishes with a fine leg. For those who revel in such things this received 89 points in Wine Advocate. Various American retailers list this wine for $16.99. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol 15% but hardly noticable. Consumed with a creamy beef stroganoff - this was a beaut.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100

On the southern boundary of Coonawarra is the old Penola cricket ground, which first saw a ball bowled in anger and the flashing cover drives of the local champions in 1950. Sadly, the ground closed in 1996. Soon after Jim Barry purchased the 30 acre property and planted a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. The original pavilion and pitch have been retained, the vineyard was actually planted around the cricket pitch. So a little piece of history has been preserved.

Today, this vineyard provides some of the fruit for The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon. Selected parcels of fruit from our other family owned Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Clare Valley have been blended with the our Coonawarra fruit to produce a wine that is rich, soft and approachable.

Comte Cathare Orangutan Rainforest Chardonnay, 2002, Limoux, France.
Available from Oddbins £8.49.
Hand-picked grapes go into this minerally Chard. Nice touch of oak melds into a refined palate full of lemon and orange pith flavours. Nice weight but a little sharp on the finish for drinking on its own.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100

Comte Cathare have produced four wines in support of the Rainforest Foundation; each is named after an endangered rainforest plant or animal. By buying a bottle you are assisting the Rainforest Foundation preserve what remains of some of the world’s most precious ecosystems. As I had such an amazing experience with Orang-utans in Sarawak during my travels these litte critters are really close to my heart.

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