Wine Notes

Bob reports that the 2003 El Mirador Syrah was a terrific wine. It started out with a lot of fruit and currant flavors and evolved into something very soft and velvety with lots of minerals and soil. Robin really liked this one . It is definitely a sleeper ion the hyperbolic space of Walla Walla, yet it is virtually unseen outside the winery tasting room.

The 2001 Godspeed Chardonnay is finally up to speed. Larry Stricker and his son, the mountain men from one of my first posts have a north facing vineyard on Mt Veeder. They make wines to age, with a slightly European character. This Chard has come into its own. Dry, steely, stony, like a Chablis or Pouilly Fuisse. Here's a California rarity - a white that needs to be laid down in a cellar for several years.

2004 Covey Run Chardonnay - Tasted from a half bottle, it still could use a few more months of age to bring it together. Medium bodied, but still not quite integrated, this wine is on sale at Grocery Outlet for less than $5/half bottle. A great value at this price.

2094 Marcillac "Lo Sang del Pais" (The Blood of the Country) from Domaine du Cros is imported by Wine Traditions of Falls Church, Va. Wine Traditions specializes in obscure wines from the Southwest of France such as Irouleguy and Gailliac . The reds are wonderful wines and since they are still obscure the price is right. The Marcillac ( Mar-ci-ak) tastes like a very good Sangria without the sugar and citrus added. Truly an excellent summer wine.

2006 Edna Valley Chardonnay - Just not as good as previous vintages. Tart green apples predominate to the exclusion of the usual stoniness which usually accompanies typical California "tropical fruit and Vanilla." Not the usual "best buy " this year.