Last week saw an exciting first for me as a blogger. Via a Facebook friend of a friend recommendation, I was asked to review a wine from a California vineyard. It takes longer to make your mark when you tackle three topics in your blog rather than specialize in one. So this kind of recognition is very fun stuff.
The wine is the Westerhold 2007 Syrah. The vineyard is a small, family run property in Santa Rosa, California. Proprietor John Westerhold sent me two bottles, by the noted winemaker Russell Bevan. One was for my partner Marc Hausman, and one Gabriele and I opened at Thanksgiving dinner.
It’s a very big wine. A rich bouquet leads to a wine that bursts on the palate, nice fruit but slightly alcoholic in texture. Blackberry was the primary fruit I tasted, with a distinct taste of pepper. The wine lingers on the palate, with a smoky, cedar-like finish. Left some in the glass for an hour, no major changes.
It was a split decision for us. Gabriele did not like, too strong and too much going on for her. I liked the wine, but agree it could improve by staying in the bottle another year or two. Don’t drink with food that can’t stand up. I could not locate a price point online.
We also found a new wine for holiday feasting, and unfortunately were disappointed by an old friend. That wine was the Belle Glos 2007 Clark and Telephone Pinot Noir. We had the 2004 at one of our favorite meals a couple of years ago at Canoe, outside of Atlanta. Unfortunately the 2007 did not measure up.
It wasn’t undrinkable by any means. It has a fresh aroma, light body and decent cherry and raspberry fruit. But there’s nothing special about it at all, it’s pretty blah. Nothing close to what these have been in the past, and for $40 or more not a good value either.
The new discovery is a delicious Zinfandel, Edmeades 2007 Mendocino. Gabriele and I visited the Cheesetique wine bar in Del Ray and this wine was part of a California tasting flight, and the clear winner. Very nice bouquet with a lot of juicy fruit, primarily raspberry to me. Medium body and slight bite at a clean finish. It’s a very approachable and smooth wine that I think would be a hit around a holiday table. Web site puts the retail at $20 – even better!
I hope everyone’s holiday season is off to a super start. And if you’d like any thoughts on what to serve (or bring to the family gathering), please drop me a comment anytime.