'97 Reds

[Innkeeper]

2000 Laurel Glen Reds ($8.99 The Clown, Belfast, ME). The Clown is a small chain here in Maine owed by some folks who also own a winery in Italy. When I get some of their's will post later. At any rate they still net three stores. They had one each in Portland, Stonington, and Blue Hill. They couldn't compete with The Blue Hill Wine Shop, so they closed it and opened the one in Belfast. They are just around the corner from the Belfast Coop, so don't know how long they will be here. I think they were about a dollor high on the Reds, but thought I should buy something on our first visit.

It was a lovely bottle of wine, and certainly deserves its rep as one of the best under $10 California Red Wines. For those of not familiar, it is a blend of field grapes a la Marietta Old Vine Red. Gives you dark fruit and spice on the nose and upfront, surprising complexity across the palate, and finishes nicely. Had no chance of staying in the glass for one and half hours as Drew did with the '97, so can't compare there.

We had a house full, but no other wine drinkers, so Mother and I enjoyed it with a double batch of Hamburgers a la Orsen Wells that we grilled without smoke for the crowd. Great start to the weekend.