Kaesler Stonehorse 2006 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre

At 411 West, @$15 half price wine night: I found this less round, perfumed and complex than expected, more one dimensional. plenty of fruit and soft tannin and acid, just not singing out from the glass or on the palate. I wondered if maybe there was less grenache than usual, and sure enough, it was about 40% each of shiraz and grenache instead of the 70% grenache that's in Ironstone Pressings and other GSMs i've had.

basically I'm not wild about shiraz, as i'm not about rioja for whatever reason. I need to explore this issue further. Meanwhile I am wild about grenache, merlot and cabernet and would be about burgundy and pinot noir if it weren't so expensive. Not that I don't love a good chardonnay too. And fine brunello.

24 hours later, the Stonehorse, which was pumped free of air and refrigerated, wasn't worth drinking at all. Meanwhile, a Marquis Philips 2007 cabernet which was opened 7-8 days ago and preserved with preservino and refrigerated, was very drinkable, indeed bordeaux-like. violet, mocha, currant, cherry, decent balance and finish; should be drinking OK tomorrow. that's impressive esp for a wine that cost under $15 at CH Wine Co.