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Specs:
2008 Buena Vista Rose of Syrah
Carneros
Sonoma, California
14.1 % Alcohol
96% Syrah, 4% Chardonnay
http://buenavistacarneros.com/
Library Release-Inquire with Winery
Notes:
Buena Vista is well known for their Pinot Noir however during my last visit I noticed this salmon colored bottle on the shelf in their tasting room. They were not pouring so I inquired about it. My friends and I were all given a pour and were all instantly pleased with it. Syrah Rose is slowly making an appearance throughout the California Wine Country and it is the type of Rose I prefer most. When using the Syrah grape you get more of a masculine dry flavor rather than a sugary flowery flavor you would find in a typical Rose.
This wine is mesmerizingly beautiful to look at. The color of a bouquet of deep pink roses with a sparkle of a pink sapphire. The smell is acidic with hints of grass, grapefruit and pink lemonade. The wine has a light mouthfeel, however is packed with flavor. Like the smell; Grapefruit is the most powerful flavor I can detect. Other fruits include Strawberry, Raspberry, Lemon, Cherry and even a small hint of Watermelon. The sweetness is that of sugar naturally occurring in fruit and is in no way overpowering. It is the prefect balance of acid and residual sugar. Sweet, Tart and Earth perfectly balance one another.
This wine is great for a hot day at a Barbecue. It would pair perfectly with barbecued ribs, smoked pork or hearty spicy chili. I can also see this pairing extremely well with spicy Asian or Indian foods. I have enjoyed this wine numerous times by itself and that is just as enjoyable too. Amazing match for Summer and also great for an everyday treat.
Specs:
2008 Starlite Vineyards Estate Viognier Sonoma
Geyserville, California
14.5 % Alcohol
100% Viognier
http://www.starlitevineyards.com/
$37.00
Notes:
Being a lover of the Viognier grape I was excited to see this bottle on the shelf. It was from a winery I was unfamiliar with from a region I really enjoy. I immediately purchased this beautiful bottle of wine. Viognier is a difficult grape to grow and because of the extra work winemakers put into this varietal you will find higher price tags. This Viognier is well worth every penny you spend. The flavor is so bright and bold and is the perfect wine for all meals and occasions.
The color is a rich gold and is beautiful in the glass. The smell is of sweet dry citrus, mainly orange as well as honey and floral notes. The taste is pure and sweet. You instantly sense orange. That of the orange rind especially. The sweetness you get on the tongue is not that of sugar but of rich creamy honey. The flavors are bright, clean and powerful. This wine doesn't spend much time in oak so the flavor has more mineralistic qualities than earthly undertones. The taste lingers beautifully and has a hearty full mouthfeel.
Because this wine is so sweet if you choose to pair this with something I would suggest it have an acidic quality. Something such as a lemon tart or even carrot cake. It can also be drank as dessert itself which is how I chose to enjoy it. This is a great way to branch out from the usual Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc rut.
Specs:
2007 Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre
Carneros
Sonoma, California
15 % Alcohol
100% Mourvedre
http://www.clinecellars.com/
$16.00
Notes:
This is a great wine for the price. Rich, bold, hearty and Fruity flavors. The nose on this wine is quite strong and even a bit overpowering. From first smell you would never guess this was such a young wine. The smell of Tar is definitely at the forefront of the nose. Even the most inept person would be able to sense this. Some people are thinking tar? Yes. Tar. This smell is synonymous with Mourvedre and after sitting out to breathe this smell disappears to a hint.
This wine is thick, bold, rich and silky. Chocolate, coffee and ripe berries such as raspberry and blueberry dominate this sophisticated wine. I feel this is an excellent wine for pre and post meal. Personally I think this wine is a bit too intense to pair with a meal. Combining it with some creamy vanilla gelato or ripe fruit would pair perfectly with this wine. Drinking it alone is just as satisfying. It's a treat in itself. Great Wine. Great Price.
Specs:
2007 Langtry Estate Genevieve Chardonnay
Guenoc Valley
Middletown, California
14.5 % Alcohol
100% Chardonnay
http://www.guenoc.com/
$35.00
Notes:
Buttery Oaky Chardonnays are the stuff dreams are made of and a good friend was nice enough to give this wine to me as a gift. Langtry Estate was new to me so I was excited to taste this wine. The color is that of a typical buttery Chardonnay; a rich yellow like a ripe golden delicious apple. Oak is on the nose and the flavors mirror that smell.
The taste is heavy at first sip and surprisingly has a very light, crisp and refreshing finish. The light quality of the wine caught me a little off guard; in a good way. Some would say that the fact the flavor drops off for the finish was a bad thing but in this instance it is enjoyable; your palette has a chance to regroup. You immediately taste the acidity and the flavors of lemon. There is a tart characteristic to this wine with a jolt of citrus and some earthy woody undertones. Small underlying flavors of pineapple are present, other than that this wine is pretty straightforward. Oak, Butter and Citrus carry this wine. It is clean, fresh and earthy all at the same time.
This is the prefect wine for a hot summer day. It is also great for those who enjoy Chardonnay but find the "butter" flavor too overpowering. This would pair great with light dishes like salads, cheese, fish and chicken dishes as well as desserts like fruit tarts.
