2004 Eno Wines Syrah "The Middle Child" Fairview Road Ranch - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (4/3/2008)
The wine needed about 45 minutes of air to even out on the aromatics. Bold ripe fruit on the nose. Plums, boysenberry and chocolate covered strawberries. Plus an appropriate amount of citrus and asphalt. Very ripe with a fairly high amount of acid. An interesting comparison with the 2004 & 5 Alesia and the 2005 Big Basin Fairview Ranch Syrahs. There is a similarity that runs through these. This wine still needs some time for everything to integrate or a good amount of airtime. At first the wine is a bit overbearing. With time it shows as a big syrah but with the acid to handle food. I am more than a little bummed that Sasha is not getting this fruit anymore. The vineyard seems to fill a spot in my cellar. Especially with Alesia and Big Basin there. The Eno seeming to be the most ripe…although that could be a bit of the vintage.
(90 pts.)
2006 Kutch Pinot Noir Rosé - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (4/1/2008)
I don't drink much traditional rose but when I do, I tend to prefer them on the fruity side, as long as they are not flabby. I liked this a lot a sipper. Great strawberry aromatics. Big sweet red fruit on the attack but before it becomes too much, there are nice mineral elements that kick in. It is a bit soft in the middle. Everyone in the room enjoyed this. (89 pts.)
Cheers,
Jason
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