Cracked last night w/ my broiled duck breast w/ tart cherry/peppercorn sauce:
1. Novy Syrah AmberRidgeVnyd/RRV (14.4%; Final Vintage, sold to Nickel&Nickel; 223 cs) 2007: Very dark/black color; intense blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah slight licorice/pungent/peppery/spicy lovely nose; slightly tart slight tannic very light toasty/oak very strong blackberry/spicy/boysenberry/Syrah bit peppery/pungent flavor; long bit tannic very strong blackberry/Syrah/boysenberry light peppery/pungent finish; loads of primary Syrah fruit w/ nice undertone of black pepper; needs another yr and should go out another 4-6 yrs; lovely Syrah at a great price. $21.50
___________________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Novy: I have (of course) followed Novy from the very start. Adam&Diana Lee are well-known (and rightfully so) for their Pinots under the Siduri label. But I don't think they gets the recognition they deserves for the Syrahs (and Zin/Nebbiolo/LeonMillot/Grenache) under the NovyFamily label. They are some of my favorites, especially the ones from the SantaLuciaHighlands. They typically have a lot of juicy blackberry fruit, not particularly structured or tannic, but nicely balanced and age quite well. I'm least taken by the NapaVlly and Page-NordVnyd Syrahs, finding them a bit on the simple side at release and not the interest of the others; but I'm also finding the NapaVlly ones show more interesting character with a bit of age on them, though still not as profound as their other ones.
________________________
2. PETA alert: All, and I mean all, I ever see in our local WholeFoods and other grocery stores, other than an occasional whole duck, are duck breasts. What the heck happens to the other body parts?? Never see 'em. I'm convinced now that those people out in Calif have specially bred a duck that is nothing but breasts. Probably no wings (so they can't fly) and no legs (so they can't walk). So you have this entire duck pen of nothing but crippled ducks, bodies resting on these little 4-wheeled carts, frantically poleing their bodies across barnyard w/ these little poles in search of a few grains of corn. Probably not any feathers or fur coat to keep them warm. It boggles the mind. They should be reported to PETA I think.
Tom