At my local WineStyles, Ted Osborne of Olabissi Wines poured his lineup last night. 3/4 were Solano County-sourced grapes-go local team!! Roger King, the grapegrower, actually showed up too! Roger is a great guy, very crusty and plainspoken. They are trying hard to position Suisun Valley for quality grapes and wines. Ted actually makes the wines at the Laird facility north of Napa City. About 1500 cases total.
Olabissi Syrah King Vineyard 2005-Very dark color in the glass. Nice earthy, meaty, and black fruit on the nose, which follows through on the palate as well. This is not your typical "sweetish" California Syrah; there is definitely fruit here, but the "other things" that I like so much in better Rhones seem to be dominant. I had tried the 2004, which was a warmer year, and even the 2004 showed similar appealing savory/earthyness. Like all California wines these days, the alcohol is in the 14s, so it's not a Northern Rhone, but still pretty nice. 16/20
Petit Sirah 2005. This is a monster of a wine. Not in a syrupy sweet alcoholic way, though. We are talking big tannins, black roasted fruit (not raisined, but I get a strong sense of "fuzziness" in the blackberry flavors). Already some nice savoryness, too. No blueberry here, which is a good thing. Not cheap ($45) but pretty darn nice. I think this is a ten year wine, with the structure to evolve very nicely. 16.5/20+ upside.
Zinfandel 2005 (Green Valley, Solano County California) A very bright red zinberry, high toned wine. Lifted? palate. No jammyness at all, but the alcohol is more noticeable here in the back of the throat (high 14%). Good acidity, actually, as well. I could almost see drinking this wine with food! 14/20
I didn't know they were growing Zinfandel in Green Valley (a small valley immediately west of Suisun Valley), and Ted said that he had persuaded the landowner to actually sell him the grapes, which had been allowed to go somewhat feral.