Tried these two Fri night at dinner at AquaSanta, one of my favorite SantaFe restaurants:
1. l'appel des Serines Syrah VdP: CollinesRhodaniennes (12.5%) FrancoisVillard/PaulYoungFineWines 2007: Med.dark color; strong blackberry/Syrah slight earthy w/ lovely roasted/espresso/coffee/baconey NorthernRhone undercurrants; med.light body strong blackberry/Syrah/dusty somewhat roasted/espresso/NorthernRhone/smokey/bacon fat balanced flavor w/ modest tannins; long strong blackberry/Syrah rather roasted/espresso/Rhonish finish w/ light tannins; great drinking now and for the next several yrs; an absolutely gorgeous Syrah that stands betwixt ElDoradyCnty and CoteRotie. Great value at $20.00
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2. Elderton SEAustralia GoldenSemillon (10.5%) 1999: Very dark golden/brownish color; very intense botrytis/peachy/apricotty/fruit cocktail/canned peach syrup rather complex old Sauternes/old TBA Riesling nose; very sweet soft slight caramel intense botrytis/fruit cocktail/canned peaches/apricotty complex flavor; very long/lingering intense botrytis/peach syrup/apricotty very sweet complex finish; more like an old Calif TBA than an old Sauternes. Lovely/mature dessert wine that should go another 10-20 yrs. Steal at $23.00/hlf
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The Villard was another great rec from DaveMcDonald at MissionWines in SouthPasadena. It's a great btl of (French) Syrah at a great price. At first, the wine spoke very much of Calif Syrah w/ a strong blackberry/Syrah nose, and I was a bit disappointed. As it aired in the glass, it started showing more & more of the roasted/espresso CoteRotie character. Not a particularly big wine, it immediately brought to mind SteveEdmunds for some reason. A wine exactly like he would make if he followed Parker's stern admonition and started making his French-style wines in the RhoneVlly instead of Calif.
Tom