We celebrated our EasterDinner a week ago with:
1. Ridge SantaCruzMtn Chard MonteBelloEstate (14.4%; Bttld: Jan 2010; Drk: 11/09-11/14-11/15: EB) 2008: Light gold color; attractive melony/Chard/ripe slight earthy/minerally/nutmeg/spicy light pencilly/oak nose; fairly soft ripe/melony/Chard slight minerally/chalky/earthy some pencilly/oak flavor; med.long ripe/melony/Chard slight minerally/chalky some pencilly/nutmeg/oak finish; a pleasant/drinkable Chard but lack the minerality & structure the MB Chard usually shows; bit pricey at $40.00
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2. SierraVista ElDorado Mourvedre (EB; 13.5%) 2007: Med.light color; rather earthy/dusty light plummy/Mourv slight gamey pleasantly fruity nose; soft some earthy/dusty/mushroomy/ElDorado bit rustic/CdR-like some plummy/Mourv flavor w/ light tannins; soft light/plummy/fruity some earthy/mushroomy finish w/ light tannins; a pleasant/simple red that speaks mostly of ElDorado and only slightly of Mourv. $21.00
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3. WindGap Syrah SonomaCoast (#180; 12.7%; 375 cs; www.WindGapWines.com) 2007: Dark color; attractive Syrah/blackberry slight earthy/peppery/floral light toasty/oak nose; tart attractive peppery/cold-climate/Rhonish light blackberry/Syrah light toasty/oak flavor w/ some tannins; med.long rather peppery/floral/cold-climate some blackberry/Syrah bit Rhonish light toasty/oak finish w/ modest tannins; quite a nice cold-climate Syrah at an attractive price; needs several yrs. $21.00
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4. Syncline LateHrvst Viognier CoyoteCnynVnyd/HorseHeavenHills (SaH: 42 Brix; RS: 12%; 128 cs; www.SynclineWine.com; 13.2%) 2006: Light gold color; strong grapey light botrytis/peachy/apricotty/canned fruit cocktail light earthy nose; quite sweet strong grapey light peachy/botrytis/earthy flavor w/ good acidity; tart long very grapey light peachy/apricotty/botrytis bit earthy rather sweet fiish; botrytis is rather low-key and seems more like a passito wine; pretty devoid of any Viog character; nice dessert wine at a good price. $18.00/hlf
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. RidgeChard: This came as half of a two-pack of SantaCruzMtn Estate wines; this Chard and a Cabernet. This Chard was a pleasant enough/drinkable but didn't seem to have the minerality and structure that I usually get from MonteBello Chards. EricBaugher thinks it will get better w/ 5-6 yrs of age, and he may well be right, but I don't see it.
Tom