WTN: 2004 "Yard Dog" Southeastern Australia. 14.5% alc., a blend of petit verdot, cabernet & malbec. $10 w/ screwcap finish.
Pure, unadulterated spoofulation. On the nose, a bit of dark fruit and evidence of malolactic fermentation. Blueberry milkshake fruit on the palate and nothing more (not even oak!). This baby could easily have withstood another five percentage points of alcohol without tasting hot! A good example of its type, but way, way not my style.
The lesson: I was in a hurry the other day, and stopped in at a Barrique's looking for a bottle of a light summer red wine (non-Bojo). The distractingly pretty sales clerk suggested this, and I accepted it without question!
Upon returing home and taking a couple minutes to peruse the label, I realized that there were stylistic hints all over the bottle. The animal theme, the blend, the appellation, the label stickers, and (for heaven's sake!) the back label narrative ending with "Beware the Yard Dog!" When I purchased it, I had quite obviously checked my critical faculties at the door and was infuenced by the clerk's beauty! At the age of 55, I thought that I'd gotten beyond these types of influences! Ah, well - live and learn (again).
Dave Moritz
Baraboo, WI
PS: Any suggestions on what to do with this bottle other than drain cleaner? For me, drinking it is out of the question!
At age 52, I'm still stricken with the same affliction !
