 |
|
Wine Details
Price:
$34.00 per bottle
Description:
This is the third year wine in a 3 year contract with Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria. So, this is my swan-song wine for this vineyard (for now). This wine comes from the famed ZB block up on a hillside, where there is a bit of Viognier growing at the end of the rows. The vineyard itself is a bit of enigma to me in that there are amazingly great sections and truly ordinary sections, and farming practices everywhere in between. It turns out that Terroir does matter and it is, therefore, hard to grow poor quality grapes in that vineyard. We further lucked out on our trio of vintages (2002, 2003, and 2004) with the grapes always arriving at the winery well before November. In cool years (like the 1998-2000) these same sections struggled to get ripe and were picked by many in late November after rains and all sorts of maddening weather. I loved the 2003 the, but the 2004 may prove to be the best of the 3 years. Production was very low in 2004, so we were only able to bottle just over 100 cases of this wine. The wine is very dark, perhaps even darker than the Thompson Syrah, but the aromas are brighter and more accessible right now. The wine has a similar “cherry” profile to the Thompson with a dusting of white pepper and even the subtlest hint of the elusive candied-violets. The French oak ageing imparts smoky/spicy/vanilla notes with a tad bit of crispy bacon, that I generically call the “breakfast meats” flavors. I love the texture of this wine, with very ripe, round, and fine tannins, that are very typical of the Bien Nacido Vineyard. While this wine is big, the fine tannins give it the impression of drinkablity. So, drink this before the Thompson, but I would still hold onto this for 3-5 months. It should improve for a minimum of 3-5 more years.
|
|
Varietal Definition
Syrah:
Syrah is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhone grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with - healthy, early ripening, resistant to mildew and rot; suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. The wines from Syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell of dark blue fruit like blackberries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. Syrah is famous for its part in the French blends, such as Côtes du Rhone and Châteauneuf du Pape.
|
Viognier:
The most acclaimed white wine grape from France's Rhône Valley, Viognier is a highly aromatic varietal, with a flavor profile that could include peach, apricot, nectarine, lichee, musk and flower blossom. The heady perfume of this varietal is one of its trademarks, although its flavors are sometimes problematic in matching with food. However, it does well with lobster, crab and moderately flavored fish. Use it as an apéritif as an alternative to Chardonnay. The "Rhône Rangers" in California have done an excellent job promoting this varietal.
|
|