When I was in Dallas a few weeks ago to load up the last of my possessions in storage to transport to North Carolina, my friend and associate, Carl Morris, brought me three bottles of Shiraz he made from a kit. One bottle was for me, the other two for my co-workers, David Haddaway and Nancy Hurley, here in Charlotte. I agreed to serve as his wine mule.
I've know Carl since 1998 when we first worked together at a baggage system manufacturing company in Dallas. We worked together off and on over the many years since with different companies, and spent a fair amount of time with each other.
Apparently, it wasn't enough time together, because I had no idea he was a home winemaker until last month when I told him about my little vineyard project. That's when he offered up the three bottles of his latest batch.
Tonight while finishing a nice bottle of an inexpensive but highly rated Spanish Garnacha, Evodia, from Eric Solomon Selections (some day I will write post about this importer based here in Charlotte), I decided to open Carl's Shiraz. I poured up a tasting sample in a white wine glass, and found it was a dark, intense and very good. It's young—Carl said he bottled it a few months ago—but it held its own against the wine I was drinking. If I can make wine this good, I will be a very happy man. I had it with dinner.
I am now recruiting Carl to be my consulting winemaker. I only hope I can produce grapes good enough that with his help will make a wine this good.
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Tasting my friend's latest wine
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Apparently, it wasn't enough time together, because I had no idea he was a home winemaker until last month when I told him about my little vineyard project. That's when he offered up the three bottles of his latest batch.
Tonight while finishing a nice bottle of an inexpensive but highly rated Spanish Garnacha, Evodia, from Eric Solomon Selections (some day I will write post about this importer based here in Charlotte), I decided to open Carl's Shiraz. I poured up a tasting sample in a white wine glass, and found it was a dark, intense and very good. It's young—Carl said he bottled it a few months ago—but it held its own against the wine I was drinking. If I can make wine this good, I will be a very happy man. I had it with dinner.
I am now recruiting Carl to be my consulting winemaker. I only hope I can produce grapes good enough that with his help will make a wine this good.
Hi It's Nancy - I have not had a chance to open my bottle from Carl but after reading your blog about how good it is, I am ready to go home and pour a glass. To be continued...
ReplyDeleteContinued – Last night while cooking dinner I decided to open my bottle of wine that Carl gave me. I then realized I did not have a wine bottle opener. So I started going through my kitchen gadget drawer and I found one even though it was from the ice ages. I turned it very slowly into the cork. That is as far as I could go. I asked my husband who is not a wine drinker to help me. With some turning & pulling he managed to remove the cork. He said to me he’d like to try some too. So I poured two wine glasses and turned to me and said, what’s this no Dixie cup. He took one taste and he was done. Like I said not a wine drinker. I was surprised by the taste. I was expecting a more sweet taste. I don’t drink a lot of wine but it was good. I finished his & mine and I am sure by the end of the weekend my bottle will be empty.
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