Vertical Magnums, Dude

This entry will not be as exciting as the title makes it sound.

There will be no snow, no young kids self-propelling, with the aid of gravity, down some slope on some stick of wood of some sort.

Two things: Magnums are big bottles of wine that hold the equivalent of two bottles of wine (1.5 liters).

Interwined recently had two Magnums. The idea is that magnums, which look cool and work great for dinner parties, mature at a much different rate. Wine matures quickly in a big vat, not as quick in a smaller barrel and even slower in a tinier standard bottle of wine. Think of a magnum as between a bottle and barrel.

The 2003 Bodegas Olvena Magnum from Somontano, Spain was purchased after some hard bargaining between Interwined and the fabulous wine shop, Planet of the Grapes. One of the owners, Matt, said, "Hey, Interwined, buy that bottle for 20 quid and stick it on your blog."

It was an offer Interwined couldn't refuse.

(two bottles worth for 20 pounds equals ten pounds per 'bottle,' the far end of the Interwined budget-per-bottle.)

As expected, the magnum was smoother and more elegant that it's single bottle counterpart. The black cherry was also expected, but no less enjoyed. There was a hint of tarty flint, which would be more pronounced, and likely less enjoyable, in a single bottle offering. Delicious. 8.7 points.

The 2003 Magnum of Vendange California Cabernet is a example of a big American wine in a big American bottle.

Interwined sees visions of drivers in hybrid cars, humming through the highways of Los Angeles, driving around with long, silly-slurp straws poking out the top of a magnum of Vendange. Ready to drink on a Friday night, this one, and the new oak abounds with black berry. Simple and effective. Let breath for two hours to one day. 8.5 points.

The second thing: Verticals are a wine tasting technique where one is offered several consecutive vintages of the same grape, from the same producer. The aim here is to appreciate vintage, the year in which the grapes were picked. In this case Vina Ventisquero Pinot Noir, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

The 2005 will be the best. Eventually. Now it's the 2003. The 2002 is on its way out, and so lacks fresh vivacity and sandal soapiness of a Chilean Pinot Noir. The 2004 had too much rain, and that is evident in the wine, especially when running against the others.

A vertical of the Cabernet Sauvignons 2003, 2004, 2005. All decent. New Oak and mineral. The evening was sealed as winemaker Felipe Tossa Bruna presented a sneak peek of Ventisquero's latest Iconic wine, Pangea. The wine is a collaboration of John Duval of Penfold's Grange fame. The wine is being launched at the end of June, and will retail for around 25 GBP per bottle.

Out of the league for Interwined's wallet, which doesn't want to give away any tasting notes on Pangea just yet, except for this: buy a bottle for a special occasion. It is an incredibly delicious and drinkable wine.

Pangea rocks, dude.

Even more than those bitchin' Vertical Magnums.