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- Big House Pink
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- Bohemian Highway Chardonnay
It was dark,windy and raining and I was wandering the wine section of my neighborhood grocery store in a foul mood when I spotted 2 wine labels that made me happy. So I bought them strictly on the fact that they were fun, pretty and made me smile.
I wanted to know if the taste would make me feel the same?
The first one is called Bohemian Highway California Chardonnay 2008. (www.bohemianhighwaywines.com)
The label was very calming with blues, greens & golds. It looked like a pastel/chalk painting depicting a beach scene with palm trees, stars and the waves rolling onto the beach…I so wanted to be there!
The first smell of the wine was amazing. Lots of pear, apple, vanilla and honey
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The first taste was heavy on the tongue with an almost, I hate to say, “cough syrup” quality. Very herbal, mint, citrus & it had a semi-clean finish that made it tolerable. I just got it out of the fridge so it was very cold so I decided to let it warm up and breathe for about 30 min. I’m glad I did because it became lighter in taste. Luckily that beautiful smell was still there but a citrus taste of lemons, limes and apples came forward with a hint of vanilla. I found it quite drinkable & refreshing.
The next wine is Big House Pink 2006 California Pink Wine. (www.bighousewines.com)
I read what grapes they used to make this and it seems they threw in everything “but the kitchen sink”. It has Sangiovese, Carignane, Syrah, Zinfandel, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Barbera!
The Big House wine labels are known for their prison themes because the vineyards are close to an actual prison…very clever. But what got me on this label was the pink flamingos. I have a thing for flamingos. I guess I envy their long legs and gracefulness (something I don’t have). They have even been known to be in our yard (that’s a story for another time)…Well anyway, the label made me laugh because it showed pink flamingos outside the prison house and it even had flamingos on the neck of the bottle close to the pink screw cap.
Again, I just got the bottle out of the fridge so the smell was heavy with forest floor, minerals and a light raspberry.
The taste was mineral, pepper, vanilla, and violets. It was light on the tongue and had a semi-clean finish.
As it began to warm up, the smell of forest floor was gone and it became a little more berry.
The taste was less earthy and more mellow. A delightful spicy vanilla-cherry flavor developed. It was creamy but not tart.
Both of these wines surprised me and made me think of warmer weather and sitting on a patio.
So the answer is YES! I felt fun, pretty and I smiled a lot! And these wines were around the $10 range…even better.
Lori's Twisted Cork & Spork 
Very good Lori.
I vote for the Flamingo’s and prison! Nice touch.
I would love to know how you seperate all the different flavors out.. Most of us, (speaking for myself here), just pour and guzzle! Will have to give that some thought…
Thanks for your expert analogy..Enjoy each blog and leave here with so much more wisdom than when I clicked on your page..
Have a wonderful Easter and I do hope that Sully has been a good boy and that the Easter Bunny makes his stop!
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Hey Paula, it helps that my Mom was a fantastic cook & encouraged me to actually taste spices while cooking. I also hold the wine in my mouth for awhile and just breathe (threw my nose of course). 😉
Happy Easter & I think the Easter Bunny will be visiting Sully!
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I’ve bought Bohemian Highway for the label, too. Other “label” wines … that one with the red truck. A wine called
“The Other Side” with a sinuous female figure on the front. “Gladiator” with the bicycle lady. (You’re probably noticing a theme, here … well, I come by it honestly!) “The Little Penguin.” (I have a thing for penguins; they are short, wide, and walk funny, like me, although I am usually not dressed so formally.) There was one recently that had a stack of river rocks on the label … beautiful. The wine was pretty good, too. Well, this little comment is about to get really long … because I buy a LOT of wine based on the label … well, then there’s Smoking Loon, which has the wittiest cork in the world …
I love your adjectives. I’m sorry I don’t live close enough to you to attend a tasting party that I would help you throw!
Lols … happy Easter, good friend!
Tammerie
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Tammerie, you are not like a penguin! I’ve seen you dance in Church.
Thanks for your input.
Happy Easter to you too.
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Yes, I have also bought wine because of the label. I guess my thinking was “if they put that much care into the design of the label, they must also care about the quality of the wine”. OK, I didn’t say it was always a smart way of thinking….
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AH! Yes!
The ol’ “you can’t judge a book by it’s cover”.
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I pick wines to buy for two things: price and label.
Sometimes I go for fun lables like these, and sometimes the simple and classy ones catch my eye. But I definitely judge the book by its cover. Cover is important! Who would write a book and not put lots of thought into the cover??? Same with wine!
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Allison, you are such a “hoot”! I love your comments.
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