Featured Wine of the Month
January 2012
2008 Fetish Playmates, Barossa Valley, Australia
Located in Southern Australia’s famous Barossa Valley, Fetish Wines appears to have a penchant for oenological eroticism. In addition to “Playmates,” its other offerings include “Field of Dreams” Moscato, “The Watcher” Shiraz, and “V Spot” Viognier. Notwithstanding the suggestive names and provocative packaging, however, all would be for naught if the wines failed to measure up…
But this is decidedly NOT the case. Trust me, there is infinitely more than attempted semantic seduction going on here. Fetish Wines represents a fortuitous collaboration between some of Australia’s finest winemakers, growers, and artists… and the results have been impressive, indeed. Just how impressive? Their “Watcher” Shiraz, for example, made the Wine Spectator’s coveted “Top 100 Wines of 2010,” weighing in at number 61 and garnering a whopping 91 points (out of 100).
Our Wine of the Month, the 2008 Playmates, is no slouch either. It has received 89 points from the Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, respectively, and 90 points from the Wine Buyer. And, in point of fact, the wine is perfectly named, as the “Playmates” represent three grape varieties – 80% Shiraz, 10% Mataro, and 10% Grenache – that have been blended into a wonderfully harmonious gestalt. Each grape brings its (her) own identity; but the three become one in a superbly balanced (14.5% alcohol) wine.
The 2008 Playmates exhibits appealing flavors of plum & cherry; the complex finish is long & lingering; and the wine’s body remains soft and supple throughout. And as the label implies, this is, without doubt, an incredibly seductive and sexy wine.
However, if this is not temptation enough, consider the price tag. Normally retailing at approximately $20.00 per bottle, I have seen it on sale for as low as $12.99… Need I say more.
Cheers!
The Artful Diner
January 2012
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