Last Saturday with our weekly spaghetti dinner, I opened bottle of David Coffaro Carignan, 2004. Medium weight, between Zin and Sangiovese in sharpness, medium purple color, nice and even and smooth. Maybe it's cassis- never tasted it – but between Zinnish berry fruit and Chiantian cherry fruit, there's a sort of sour-ripe thing I sometimes find in French wine. This isn't French, however, it's redolent of Dry Creek Valley. Thoroughly enjoyable! Estate Bottled, Unfiltered, Unfined, 14.7% alcohol, 100% Carignan, 290 cases, $12.50.
Sunday night was grilled lamb chops. Syrah is a great match, almost a requirement with lamb chops, for me. Sunce Field of Dreams Vineyard, San Francisco Bay, Syrah, 2003 filled the bill very well. So good I had another glass after dinner! Dark velvety purple, fully dense, mature tannins, very muted pepper, but distinctly Syrah. Goes down super smooth, longer than my first bottle in November '05. Doesn't taste young any more, and it isn't old yet. 12 barrels made, bought at the winery, 13.8% alcohol, $24.00. Getting a bit pricey but the satisfaction is worth it to me.
My brother Jeff came down for a visit and we had dinner this evening with my brother Steve. I brought over a bottle of Aliança Vinho Verde (non-vintage) to have while we were chatting. A pleasant, fruity, light wine with a bit of something like cardamom in the taste. Good value for $6.99 at BevMo. 9% alcohol.
Dinner was a chicken saute that Steve's wife Pam found in the newspaper (it was good!) Steve likes CalChard and, for that matter, so do I. Joseph Swan Trenton Estate Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay, 2006 worked wonders. Jeff (no wine buff) said, "Wow! This is Good!" Eyeing the empty bottle after dinner, Steve said, "I suppose it might have been better." We have a family thing about such statements, and I knew what he meant.
Oak and malo and surprisingly reminiscent of Chablis, perhaps because of the firm under-structure. Very ripe, very spicy with a cinnamon and cloves sort of taste, notably tart without being citrusy. I forgot to mention a moment ago - the word I came up with in conversation was "buff", as in Malibu Beach.
A remarkable wine that isn't “just like” anything else I've ever had. I said "reminiscent," but it didn't overtly taste anything like Chablis, except for the firm stony solidity underlying every sip. I can still recall the taste even after the pear pie we had for dessert. Plenty long.
13.9% alcohol, bought at the winery, $32.40. Top price and worth every penny. A wine I'll remember.
John
