Elvis

There is little question that Elvis Presley was one of the past century’s greatest entertainers. Even 33 years after his passing, his popularity has not diminished.
His music is still so popular that there are radio stations that play his music 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as countless entertainers who imitate him. So why not a wine to honor him, his life and his music; and there is.
To celebrate the life and fame of “The King”, a winery called Graceland Cellars has produced a series of wines named for and devoted to Elvis. The amazing thing about these wines is that they are also very good. Often, fancy labels that carry a popular name are often nothing more than “junk in a bottle”. Not so with the wines in the Elvis Presley series. The labels, all of which feature excellent photographs of Elvis, are very attractive and eye catching and the wines are equal to the name on the bottle.
Just as a side note, there is a wine called Marilyn Merlot that displays a picture of Marilyn Monroe on the label. These wines appreciated over ten times their original value in just a few years. We are not saying that this will happen with the Elvis Presley wines, but it is certainly something to think about. Collect them or drink them, your choice, but do look into them they are most certainly worth your interest.

The King 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon ($12.99). Flavor is the key word here. The nose is powerful and pleasant, a mix of juicy berries, herbal notes, and pepper. Plum and blackberry dominate the flavor with black cherry bringing up the rear. There are the under flavors of mocha, cedar, oak and vanilla lying in the background and adding extra layers of complexity to this excellent wine. The finish has a pleasant touch of acidity and lasts for a rather long time. If you like cabs and are not bound by tradition, snobbery or a homage to “The King”, try this wine for a new and delightful wine drinking experience.

Jailhouse Rock 2007 Merlot ($12.99). The Jailhouse Rock 2007 Merlot, like the cabernet sauvignon, cuts new trails in flavor and enjoyment. The wine has the brilliant amethyst color of a classical merlot and a full, almost overpowering varietal flavor and aroma. The wine displays a bold blackberry flavor with a background of black cherries and oak. There is also a fascinating under flavor that vintners describe as earthy. The earthy component adds another layer of character and complexity to the wine. All of these factors combine to make the Jailhouse Rock 2007 Merlot an excellent and very enjoyable wine as well as being very affordable. This wine will also cover a broad spectrum of foods. It can accompany any meat dish, from the heaviest cuts to the lightest, as well as full flavored grilled seafood and cheese of every description.

Blue Suede 2008 Chardonnay ($12.99). This is a bright and crisp wine, which presents a fine balance between the fruit flavors and the fruit acid. The traditional California chardonnay aromas of apple, citrus and spice carry over to the flavor where they mingle with vanilla and soft oak. The wine also has a creamy mouth feel and manages a bit of summer fruit flavor in the background and finish. This style of wine proves a nice compliment to roasted poultry, grilled seafood, and veal based dishes as well as the lighter pasta dishes. The “King” would have loved this one.

Blue Hawaii 2008 Riesling ($12.99).A dynamic wine that accentuates all of the fruit flavors and aromas that the riesling grape can deliver. A lemon character runs through the flavor and aroma along with that of apricots and raisins. The aroma has a jasmine quality about it as well as a suggestion of violets. According to Graceland Cellars, it is the ultimate wine to accompany crab dishes as well as fish and Asian foods.