Wine log vs. a wine blog

For years, I scoured book stores and Web sites looking for a nice log where I could store my notes on wine tasting and the occasional wine label.

That was before I became the online hepcat I am now.

The problem, for a cheap man, was all the logs were fancy-pants, leather-bound, formulated-to-death books. And they generally cost $30 or more and couldn't be added to if I exceeded the page count -- something I was likely to do.

Most to of them included spaces for entries I don't need: Bin number; cellar number; Cindy Crawford's phone number. Almost all had a little line asking with whom I enjoyed the wine. "Me, myself and I" might be funny the first 50 times, but after that ...

I finally realized I overthought the problem. So I bought one of those $7 journals at a chain book store -- I liked the style without lines -- and that's become my wine log.

I also tracked down an item called "Label Lift" by Oenophilia. These sticky, see-through pieces of plastic go over a wine label and a day later, essentially lift most of the layer of a label off the bottle. They work about 90 percent of the time -- which is more than me. You can find it online or at most large wine retailers. The downside: they cost about $10 for 10 stickers, a little pricey considering I prefer wines less than $10 a bottle.

But now I have my wine log, with limitless possibilities, and I saved up months of notes to start this here blog.

As the wine-loving philosopher J.D. Clampett would have it: "Weeeeeell doggy."

Conquista Malbec 2006

On my continuous search for great, cheap wines I had to travel (metaphorically) to South America, where I found Conquista Malbec for $9.

Technically, I stayed in Valparaiso, Ind., to buy the wine -- a savings on the pocket book. Plus the only Spanish I know is "Donde est el banio?" (Where is the bathroom?)

I enjoyed the find without suffering the same fate as two other intrepid searchers, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, who were gunned down like possums "what done someone wrong." (For more lyrics from "The Possum Blues," check out my fictitious music blog.)

I tried the 2006, although most reviewers have raved about this Malbec for the last five years.

Let it breathe a bit and the wine will start with big blueberry flavors that give way to oak and vanilla, all supported by a fine structure of tannins. (That's not to be confused with someone tannin' a loved one's hide.)

Those tannins continue through and the finish of the wine includes more fruit and some toast notes.

It's a remarkably sophisticated and well-balanced wine that will go with big-tasting foods like steaks, chops and Italian.

As the philosopher Butch Cassidy once said in a fictional movie: "You know, it could be worse. You get a lot more for your money in (South America), I checked on it."

Big House Pink 2005

First, understand that I'm a man. A manly man. James Brown and me. It's a man's world.

And understand I used to only drink reds or whites and the idea of some flashy pants rose or white zin or, God forbid, a pink wine, was beneath me.

Then I realized it's hard to get beneath my place in society -- a middle-aged dude who doesn't know much about wine but still drinks it.

But then, for a short time, I received this free report on my cell phone from Wine Enthusiast that emailed me the best-rated wines, and among the cheapest wines with the best scores (oh yeah, baby), they listed three from Bonny Doon:

-- Big House Red

-- Big House White

-- Big House Pink

Here's a $10 bottle that gets 90 points.

It mixes Sangiovese and Barbera with Fat Clemenza and Tattaglia the Pimp, as well as Petite Verdot and Gwen Verdon.

I think.

Well, having blown the rest of my money on Arby's, I spent my final 10-spot on some Big House Pink -- and it brought to light what a blush wine can do. (Which made me blush, by the by.)

I expected a cloying sweetness from start to finish, one that will give you gasps of coughing like Dr. Mucus Welby had made a visit.

And while this did start with a nice sweetness, it gave way to depth and structure. The sweet grapefruit flavors were balanced by some mineral flavors, along with vanilla and toast. It finished mostly with those mineral flavors so that your mouth isn't coated by sugars.

I enjoyed it with ham, which I think generally is a tough mix with most wine. They mixed perfectly, the slight sweetness played against the salt of the ham but it had enough structure and flavors behind it to compete.

I've always said that anything from Bonny Doon is good, but they've done well here, providing a true blush wine that has character -- for a wonderfully cheap price.

And I'm so cheap I spell it "cheeeeeeep." The more e's, the better.

You won't go wrong here and as summer advances, chill a bottle and take it along on a pic-a-nic.

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages

The wine, made from gamay grapes has all the fun associated with this particular appelation controlee, with enough undertones of mineral to give it balance. It has fresh grape, grass and berry flavors with a hint of granite. Typically, my fear of lighter wines at good prices is an astringent aftertaste but this had none.

This is a wonderful wine to drink with light lunch or dinner and for about $10, a not-too-serious wine you can enjoy more than once.

An intro of sorts

First, please don't be alarmed about the title of "redneck."

I don't use the word with any racial connotations, nor to appeal to Larry the Cable Guy -- whose favorite wine is filtered through panty hose and served with possum.

I use it in the original sense of the word from the men of Appalachia who, when fighting corporate interests coming to rape the hills of first its trees, then its minerals and finally its coal. These hard-working men self-identified by tying red kerchiefs around their necks and gathered en masse to show their force.

"Look at all those rednecks," one city fellow said.

Indeed. Look at all those men fighting for their jobs and lives and families and pride.

Second, don't be afraid of the word "oenophile" in an era when any word ending with "phile" takes on bad connotations. "Oeno" is wine and "phile" is love.

My goal in the following days, weeks and perhaps years to is share my tastings of well- to medium-priced wines from a guy who's largely self-taught without being too caught up in myself or my opinions. Share with me your thoughts and maybe someday we can all meet up for a tipple or two.

Cheers