TN: 3 Bonny Doon Cigares

Recently, Kim and I tasted three of four from the Bonny Doon "Cigare" lineup, inspired by the wines of the southern Rhone.

2008 Bonny Doon California Vin Gris De Cigare "Rose‚ Wine of the Earth," 58% Grenache, 18% Cinsault, 10% Roussanne, 7% Mourvedre, 4% Syrah, 3% Grenache Blanc, 13.6% alc., $15: Pale peach pink in color, with flavors and aromas reminiscent of dusty under-ripe strawberry, watermelon and mineral. Medium bodied, with good intensity, ample acidity and a nice finish, where the minerality lingers. This is solid, tasty dry rose‚ in the southern French style, and that's just fine by us. The red varieties are bled off in modest volumes from freshly processed grapes destined for Le Cigare Volant and Central Coast Syrah.

2007 Bonny Doon Arroyo Seco Le Cigare Blanc Beeswax Vineyard, 64% Roussanne, 34% Grenache Blanc, 14.6% alc., $22: Pale straw color, with white tree fruit and mineral on the nose, fleshing out in the mouth to take on elements of white peach and pear, along with hints of banana, lanolin and beeswax. Medium to medium full bodied, with excellent cut; rich round, well balanced and very appealing, with great presence.

Last time we had one of Bonny Doon's flagship red Le Cigare Volant, it was much more in the new world style than old. Happily, that has changed with the latest vintage.

2005 Bonny Doon California Le Cigare Volant "Red Wine of the Earth," 50% Grenache, 24% Mourvedre, 22% Syrah, 3% Carignane, 1% Cinsault, 13.5% alc., $32 (September 2009 release): Clean dark garnet in color, and very southern
Rhone-ish in style, with earthy forest floor, beet root, black plum and blackberry character shaded with hints of coffee, cola nut and more and more briar bramble as it opens. Full bodied, with a solid tannin and acid backbone that bodes well for at least five to eight years in the cellar. Had I tasted this blind, I daresay I would have thought this to be from the southern Rhone or the Languedoc. Very nice indeed, this provided some very fine Red Wings & Red Rhones mojo.

6 New Wines from Bonny Doon

Reporting from Day-twah,

geo t.

2005 Bonny Doon California Le Cigare Volant "Red Wine of the Earth," 50% Grenache, 24% Mourvedre, 22% Syrah, 3% Carignane, 1% Cinsault, 13.5% alc., $32 (September 2009 release): Clean dark garnet in color, and very southern
Rhone-ish in style, with earthy forest floor, beet root, black plum and blackberry character shaded with hints of coffee, cola nut and more and more briar bramble as it opens. Full bodied, with a solid tannin and acid backbone that bodes well for at least five to eight years in the cellar. Had I tasted this blind, I daresay I would have thought this to be from the southern Rhone or the Languedoc. Very nice indeed, this provided some very fine Red Wings & Red Rhones mojo.

I have tried, repeatedly, to like this wine (in several vintages), but at the prices they come out at, I can always buy better wine for less money from the Rhone.

Oh well, at least they are better than the atrocities that American wine makers create in supposed imitation of the wines of Piemonte and Tuscany.

2005 Bonny Doon California Le Cigare Volant "Red Wine of the Earth," 50% Grenache, 24% Mourvedre, 22% Syrah, 3% Carignane, 1% Cinsault, 13.5% alc., $32 (September 2009 release): Clean dark garnet in color, and very southern
Rhone-ish in style, with earthy forest floor, beet root, black plum and blackberry character shaded with hints of coffee, cola nut and more and more briar bramble as it opens. Full bodied, with a solid tannin and acid backbone that bodes well for at least five to eight years in the cellar. Had I tasted this blind, I daresay I would have thought this to be from the southern Rhone or the Languedoc. Very nice indeed, this provided some very fine Red Wings & Red Rhones mojo.

I have tried, repeatedly, to like this wine (in several vintages), but at the prices they come out at, I can always buy better wine for less money from the Rhone.

Oh well, at least they are better than the atrocities that American wine makers create in supposed imitation of the wines of Piemonte and Tuscany.

I can appreciate where you're coming from Bill; still, I couldn't help but be pleased with how much this wine has improved since last time we had it.

Cheers,

geo

[Jenise]

The Cigare Volant is my favorite of all the Bonny Doons. I bought a trio a couple years back that I intended to cellar for much longer than I managed to, they were so darned good. And where I too appreciate where Bill is coming from, sometimes that extra bit of generosity that usually comes with the California package is just what the doctor ordered.

Re: Le Cigare Volante Rouge

It may be expensive, but it sounds quite delicious! I've had mixed experiences myself, with some tating deliciously complex and, if I may use the word "old world" and others too simple.

Thanks for the note.

Agree with you both, Jenise & Brian. Great minds think alike!