Had a nice dinner at a new local restaurant last night and (unusually for us) we chose a wine theme of California.
With a nice foie gras and duck terrine:
2003 Renard Syrah Truchard Vd. (Napa) – when I first bought this wine, close to release, it exhibited a nose that would have fooled some into believing it to be a French syrah. Ever since it has been on a program of increased dill and American oak and each time I taste it, it is less and less anything like a Rhone. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant wine with a warm smooth entry, fairly full in the mouth with ripe notes and good length. Some earthiness and spice came along in the nose after some airing. Fully mature and should be drunk up.
With short ribs and a side of frites and truffle mayo (yum):
2000 Scherrer Zinfandel (Alexander Valley) – medium colour, jammy ripe fruit in the nose, with iron/blood in evidence, sweet and fairly long, pleasant and showing a nice briary finish. Also fully mature.
