This is the second time around for the Zarafa... People commented that this is a wine they really liked, so I decided to re review... for me, again, this is NOT a sipping wine. Also not a wine to be decanted (shudder). I stand by my first review. BUT... When I reviewed it in `08, it was May. Now, it is November `09, and rather than continue drinking the wine after the first few tastes, I decided to mull it. My first mulled wine of the season. IT IS A VERY GOOD MULLING WINE.
I poured the bottle into a pan, set it over low heat, threw in a sliced orange and it's juice, some cloves, cinnamon, sugar and Madeira, and poof - a good mug of mulled wine.
Supper is light tonight, just some spinach, caramelized onions with cheddar cheese toasted on knäckebröd (Swedish crisp bread). My grandfather was Swedish, and I grew up with a package of knäckebröd on top of the fridge - it is a great staple to have in the pantry for nights like tonight. In the summer, it is really good with fresh tomatoes and Farmer's Cheese.
The Zarafa is really getting me in the Holiday spirit. A month from now, the Christmas Tree will be up, and, well, I am excited about the holidays. For $3.99, the Zarafa can't be beat for a good cheap mulling wine. I wouldn't serve it as a wine with dinner though...
Thanks for the post (and the blog)! I was just about to open it and since it's soooo young, I thought I'd see if I could find any reveiws...I stumbled on your blog and thought..."a guy after my own heart". So, even though it's rainy today/tonight (here in Denver), I'll skip the mulled wine and maybe I'll just save it for that next batch of sangria! Back down to the cellar I go!
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Ashleigh
PS. Congrats on the new (to you) kidney.
PPS. Be gratful for your TJ's, I have to drive 6 hours (each way) for my nearest in Santa Fe, luckily its a nice place for a weekend getaway, otherwise between the gas money and wear and tear on the car, it would definitely be a wash.