Wine Corner Review #41: Fess Parker Frontier Red

Do you remember the scene in the movie Sideways when Miles has just learned that his novel has been turned down for publication? He's attending a big Pinot Noir festival, so he immediately marches to a tasting bar, has the wine representative pour him a sample, and asks for refills time and again. When the rep refuses, Miles lifts the entire spit bucket, and guzzles it down voraciously, all the while shouting out tasting notes. (In the book, he yells, "Notes of burnt raspberries and truffles comingled with fresh dingleberries.") Of course you've seen Sideways many times, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this post, but on the off chance you're one of the three people in the United States of America who haven't watched this movie yet, I urge you to rent it at once. Please note that it is proper to pour yourself a glass or three of vino to imbibe while viewing Sideways, and since this pivotal scene takes place at the Fess Parker Winery, then it is totally apropos to select a Fess Parker wine, such as the very affordable Fess Parker Frontier Red.

The robe of the Fess Parker Frontier Red is misted magenta from a sunlight-strewn stained glass window. The nose suggests red bell peppers and plum for days. Black and white pepper, currant preserves, vanilla, and definite notes of cinnamon and cardamon will assault your palate, with a finish that lingers. This ravenous blend of syrah, grenache, petite sirah, mouvedre, cinsault, and carigname is fabulous with flatiron steak and barbecued pork steak and burnt ends. Website is http://www.fessparker.com/, which also contains Fess Parker's fan site, for those of you old enough to remember when this University of Texas graduate played both Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett ("King of the Wild Frontier") on television. Get a little sideways yourself soon, and remember:

LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR MEDIOCRE FOOD!!!