Sophie's Wine

I really did get lost and diverted, but I'm back. My first stop in Paso Robles, with Steve and Carole, was Anglim. We first encountered Anglim at a wine bar last year. The 2004 Roussanne was spectacular. When I knew I would be driving down the coast, I emailed Steffanie and she graciously agreed to meet us on a Tuesday. Anglim is a small startup much like the wineries at the airport in Walla Walla with a downtown tasting room and husband /winemaker Steve making wine in a shared facility similar to the Carlton wine studio in Oregon. Steffanie had little Sophie with her and was a little distracted from the wine. Carole was even more distracted by Sophie. Carol is the quintessential "mom", "grandmother-in-waiting." Thank goodness Steffanie and Steve Anglim had the good sense not to name the winery after children, but they definitely should name a wine after Sophie - maybe a bright, fresh, ebullient wine with a big dollop of exuberance.

This time around the the 2005 Starr Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles fruit was the standout. Aged in 100% French oak, this medium bodied wine has an appealing nose of berries, earth and mushrooms with rich complex flavors and hints of spice. Carole came up with the best descriptors - fuzzy, chewy, dirt. Her mind has not been tainted by years of read ing the same old stale wine notes - cassis, lead pencil, and forest floor. The 2005 Viognier from Bien Nacido Vineyard was fresh, clean, round and fruity. The fresh 2005 Roussanne was too green apple for me this time around. The 2006 Rose tasted of strawberry and rhubarb. The ruby red 2005 Grenanche had a lovely nose and tasted of rhubarb pie. The 2004 Syrah tasted of berries and mocha. The 2005 Zin tasted too tart and green to me. The Reserve wines seem more subdued or shall we say, reserved. In addition to the 2005 Cab, our favorites were the 2005 Grenacheand the 2004 Syrah. Next year we hope to taste Sophie's wine!