2008 Buena Vista Rose of Syrah

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.

2005 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle

Specs:

2005 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle

Costieres de Nimes, France (Rhone)

13% Alcohol

70% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache

http://www.chateau-mas-neuf.com/en/

$26.00

Notes:

This wine is a true value for the buyer. The richness and flavor that comes with this wine really surprised me. This is a French AOC I was unfamiliar with. Through research I came to find this is an up and coming region that mirrors the climate and soil condition on Provence; Lush mineral rich soil and plenty of sunlight. Also, the barrels used to store this wine come directly from some of France's most honored Chateaus such as Lafite-Rothchild which some believe add to its lush and full flavor. At first glance the wine in the glass is a deep dark maroon with hints of royal purple. The scent of the wine is rich and spicy. Chocolate, Blackberries, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and a hint of Black Licorice. The wine itself is quite earthy. The spice and fruit is at an almost perfect balance. The wine is medium bodied and did require quite some time to breathe. After roughly 30 minutes the wine had opened up beautifully and was perfect during appetizers, the main course as well as dessert. Because of the earthiness of the wine it paired beautifully with freshly roasted chanterelle mushrooms and crispy pork we chose to eat it with. Beautiful start and silky smooth finish. I didn't want it to end...