Courageous or Dumb? Menage 'a Trois

Would you order a Menage 'a Trois in a restaurant?


Let's say you're sitting there with your boss, your date, spouse, friends, or parents, and the waiter/waitress walks up to the table and asks.....

"What can I get you?"


Uh, let's see... I'll take a Menage 'a Trois!

(I'm thinking- it might be okay with your friends, date, or spouse- but what if your parents or your boss was present? -That could be tricky)

So let's assume you have the guts to order one. After the initial shock, everyone at the table looks at you like you're a pervert and thinks of one thing- And you all know It's not the bottle of wine that you just ordered.

You've probably figured it out by now, this post is about wine. More specifically, it's about

Folie a Deux's Napa Valley Menage a Trois Red 2008

That's a mouthful. Literally - but I'll get to that later.

For starters, this wine may seem to have a lot going against it. The simple fact that some people might be hesitant to order it based on the name might be of concern. That wasn't an issue for me. In fact, I picked up a bottle a few years ago in a discount wine store probably because of it's catchy name - I've been on a quest to find a great (red) wine for under 5 dollars (see my post: 7 Deadly Zins)- So when I eyed this bottle with a slightly scandalous name, I picked it up and read the label. It read:

Take a walk on the wild side and explore the pleasures of our Menage 'a Trois. Surrender to the seduction of Dark, rich berry with a hint of pepper, a lush lingering finish leaving you wishing for more.

Clearly a bit tantalizing and obviously playing on your senses and psyche. In essence, this wine is a blend based on three varietals - Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. I found that part appealing and attractive enough for me to take the plunge. I figured - WTH - and I picked up a bottle for about $8. When I finally got around to popping the cork, I was pleasantly surprised. This wine has a very full, fruity, and jammy taste with a hint of pepper. A mouthful indeed.

Here's part of a more complete review for Menage 'a Trois 2004 vintage:



"When I see a bottle labeled "table wine" even though I know better it always prejudices me a bit against it. In the US Table Wine simply means the wine is a blend and does not have enough of one grape to call the wine legally a Zinfandel or Merlot and has an alcohol level of 7-14%. Thinking this three grape blend of my top favorite US Red Varietals (Merlot, Cabernet and Zinfandel) might be similar to a light burgundy or decent Meritage I picked up a bottle.My one regret? I now have to go back to Costco and buy more. This is an excellent red wine with a lot going on."



Click here for the rest of the review - 10DollarWine





I concur - for an everyday wine priced at about $7 - $10, this is a good choice for me. My quest for the perfect $5 bottle of Zin/Cab continues. But at least I can enjoy a Menage 'a Trois from time to time in the interim.



A Courageous name for a wine!



Cheers! Drink responsibly!

7 Deadly Zins!

So did you make a few pennies in the Market today? PKD up as planned. AIG down as planned. CSCO - oh well, can't win them all. And 2/3 ain't bad in this market climate. CSCO reported earnings pretty much in line with estimates but that wasn't good enough. A roller-coaster day on the floor today. Watch for more Volatility tomorrow.



On a different note, Did someone say sinning is winning? I'm not necessarily a proponent of sin.. But I do have something to chat with you about:

It's kinda like the 7 Deadly Sins but slightly different.


As you may know, the seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, are a classification of vices that were originally used in early Christian teachings to educate and instruct followers concerning (immoral) fallen man's tendency to sin.

The 7 Are:

1. Lust
2. Gluttony
3. Greed
4. Sloth
5. Wrath
6. Envy
7. Pride
   

I'm sure some of you reading this right now are intimately familiar with some if not all of these. I, let's just say I do know how to spell a few of these myself. I'm sure we can agree that it's better to keep them in check.

So what I really want to talk about is the 7 Deadly Zins...... Anyone out there familiar with this brand?

This Zin is rapidly becoming the bottle that I most consistently go to. Now, I don't claim to be a top notch wine connoisseur but I've been known to tip the bottle with the best of them. Usually, I like to kick back in the warm summer afternoon with a cool refreshing glass of Chardonnay. I like it oaky, buttery and smooth. When dinner rolls around, I'm looking for a full bodied glass or two of red. Something in the Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon category. I don't buy into the drink red wine with red meat and drink white wine with fish or chicken exclusively, philosophy. I think you should drink and enjoy what you like. And that seems to be more and more the going trend. One caveat: Be careful not to under power/overpower your food with an improper wine choice. The right wine can and will compliment your meal. What do you guys think? Comments welcomed! 7 Deadly Zins runs anywhere from $11 -$20 a bottle. I get it at Costco for about $12. For me, this is a solid, good, full-bodied wine that's good for most occasions. But don't just take my word.

See what Cork'd has to say about 7 Deadly Zins: click here for more reviews


My next quest: Finding an affordable Cabernet/Zin that is good reliable and less than $5 a bottle.

If you have any recommendations Please leave me a note...


That's all for now.


Catch this Classic: Billy Joel - Scenes from an Italian Restaurant!

"Bottle of White..... Bottle of Red." Just seem appropriate!