Forty Bottles of Ringboree

I had a teacher in third and fourth grade named Mr. Bruce. He claimed that he was a direct heir of Robert The Bruce, and told stories, whenever given the opportunity, of the exploits of his famous forebear. Mr. Bruce didn't much like to teach, as far as I could tell, but rather preferred to tell stories.

Come to find out, his stories stuck with me more than anything else from those years of school. He also introduced me to Tolkien and Kipling, and thus was very instrumental in forming my view of good literature. So it seems that he did in fact like to teach, and perhaps had a better view of what was useful to teach than some of the other folks.

So, naturally, when I saw the Robert the Bruce ale at the store, I picked it up. If nothing else, it was an opportunity to write something about Mr. Bruce.

So the ale? Well, it's very nice. I always find myself at a loss for words when it comes to describing beers. I try to approach it like a wine, but the words are all wrong.

It's dark, but not black, with a deep brown gold color against the light. It's full bodied and earthy, with a long finish and a silky mouth feel. And it's yummy. Recommended. Will get this again. 28 bottles of Ringboree. Maybe more as it grows on me.

This was a gift from a friend and co-worker, perhaps 6 or 7 years ago. We had been saving it specifically for our 2010 New Years dinner, and that happy event was postponed a few weeks due to scheduling conflicts, but finally came around.

This wine was truly wonderful. A nose almost like bourbon in its intensity. Peat and fresh cut pine, mint and vanilla. A real treat just to sniff. Big jammy flavors, but very soft, with the enormous tannins from several years back all melted away. Lovely long silky finish. Deep red and gold color.

I'm awfully glad we saved it, and glad we picked this moment to open it. It was just about perfect, and, sharing it with dear friends made it even better. A truly remarkable wine, and a huge encouragement to hold on to some of my more precious bottles a few years longer. This earns the very rare 40 bottles of ring-bo-ree, and wish that you, too, may go to sea in a sieve, to the hills of the Chankly Bore.

Last night we had the 2007 Castillo de Molina Pinot Noir Reserva with spaghetti. I tasted it first with a Double Gloucester, which it stood up very well to. It was fairly tannic, but they softened very quickly, so perhaps this is made to drink pretty young. Strawberries and mineral aromas. Soft red berries in the mouth.

I'll give this one 28 bottles of Ringboree. At $9, a great buy. I expect we'll be getting this one again.

Very simple at first but developed into licorice and fresh baked bread in the nose. Jammy, strawberry taste and long fruity finish. Few of the expected zin flavors but still very yummy. Had with pasta with red sauce. Better after dinner by itself. 35 bottles of Ringboree.