Ditka's wine does just fine against big boys
But does the Kick Ass Red really kick ass?
We put Ditka's $45 red wine, released in November, up against a $100 red and asked four Sun-Times columnists -- Mark Brown, Elliott Harris, David Roeder and Paige Wiser -- for their winning picks.
We didn't tell our panelists which wine was which until the tasting was completed. One taster complained he was automatically at a disadvantage.
"As a sportswriter, I don't know what a $100 bottle of wine tastes like," Harris said.
In the end, the panel was split on the wine they liked best (Wiser and Harris picked Ditka) and which one they thought was more expensive (Brown and Roeder guessed correctly).
Roeder, a twice-a-week wine drinker, said Ditka's wine "has less impact than the New Orleans Saints when he coached them."
Here's hoping the Bears end on a bolder note next Sunday.
MIKE DITKA'S KICK ASS RED ($45.99)
Brown: Oh, this is really good [coughs]. . . . My first sense was that it was watery. But then it kind of kicked in like Mad Dog 20/20. Wiser: It's going down really easy. . . . It tastes clean to me. It's round, it's well-balanced in fruit tannins and body. Roeder: It's a bit more acidic, but to me it seems less distinct as a flavor. There's not that much to this. Harris: Then again, less distinct may also mean more subtle. But then, subtlety is not the hallmark of Ditka.CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET ($99.99)
Brown: This seems like a more serious wine to me. Wiser: This one is more robust. The bouquet was more acidic -- am I crazy? Roeder: Tawny. Seems to have quite a nose to it. Depending on the person's taste, it might be a little bit too much but I like it. It's got a smooth aftertaste to it. Harris: Tastes like it might go well with pork chops from a restaurant. Probably one where a former Bears coach has his name on it. FINAL SCORE: Ditka 2, Chateau Montelena 2