Another wine I tried back in KC on Fri night:
1. CellarRatWineMerchants Syrah Rockin'R Ranch/Mendocino (13.7%; PatRogers/Rockin'R Ranch/AckermanCreek/RRV watershed near LakeMendocino; http://www.CellarRatWine.com) OldWorldCellars/DerekTrowbridge/Healdsburg 2005: Med.dark color; very attractive toasty/Fr.oak some roasted/espresso/toasted coconut tomatoey/blackberry/Syrah slight jammy/juicy nose; tart bit lean/hard rather spicy/toasty/oak some roasted/espresso quite spicy/tomatoey/blackberry/Syrah/licorice slight tannic flavor; med. somewhat charred/toasty/oak/pungent some roasted/coffee rather tomatoey/blackberry/Syrah bit tannic finish; lots of pseudo-Rhone character; needs a yr or two; quite a good Syrah for $17.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. CellarRat is a (fairly) new wine shop in KansasCity in the near-downtown area run by Ryan Sciara, longtime friend from his days at 40Sardines and Tellers (in Lawrence) afore that. Jeff and Sarah are two very knowledgeable assistants there. For the last year, he's been bringing in some barrel select wines made by DerekTrowbridge up in Healdsburg. This is by far the best (of three) I've now tasted. Not only is it quite good Syrah in a Rhonish style, it's a great value at $17. Worth trying.
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2. CellarRat is part of a new up&coming area of KansasCity, with the Fri night arts scene crawling w/ hot chicks and cool dudes. I, of course, fit right in. Ryan steered me, Thurs night, to a new restaurant a couple of blocks away, MichaelSmith. He was a partner in founding 40Sardines some yrs ago. My meal there was one of the best I've ever had in KC, after a few memorable ones at SteveCole's (now departed) CafeAllegro. Both CellarRat and MichaelSmith's are worth a detour.
Tom