Things are slowly returning back to normal, and as I sit with my PowerBook, checking my soaring stock portfolio and contemplating my next trip to California (wine country, naturally), I glance over and on the floor I see a few dozen bottles of wine I never did catalogue or cellar. Then it hits me that I haven't had a glass in several months. How am I supposed to visit wine country when I can't even appreciate the wine I do have? So I crack open a bottle of Nepenthe Wines' 2002 Red Tryst, a blend of Tempranillo, Zinfandel, and Cabernet.
The vineyards of Nepenthe can be found in Australia's Adelaide Hills. The wine producer makes its affinity for whimsical naming trends obvious on the front page, where Nepenthe is described as an ancient Greek drug of forgetfulness. They introduce the Tryst wines for casual get togethers.
Certainly a wonderful wine, my tasting notes as observed with hamburgers and chocolate-covered cherries (from Starbucks--they're so good) are quite hazy as it's been some time since my last sip of wine. The first observance had to be the exremely deep reddish-brown color of the wine. I have never seen a wine so crimson-y brown at the edges. I was scared that the bottle was somehow tainted, but after the first sip, my worries were laid to rest.
The wine gives off a strong aroma of alcohol, even after sitting for several hours. Peppery and earthy smells follow. The first sip was certainly enjoyable. The palate was very hot but the tannins fold seamlessly into the taste buds. Certainly jammy with hints of that pepper flavor, I'm inclined to believe I sense leather but I'm sure it's just my mind playing tricks on me, remembering the brown halo in the glass. The taste lasts in the mouth for an appropriate time and with the exception of the wine's extremely brown rim, I really enjoyed this wine.
I hope to remember to open a bottle here and there so that I build up my appreciation and my tasting technique. I hope to share more notes soon.
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