Tried this the other night w/ leftovers:
1. OldWorldWines Syrah Rockin'RRanch/MendocinoCnty (13.7%; http://www.OldWorldWinery.com) DarekTrowbridge; Grandfather: LinoMartinelli; PatRodgers/Rockin'RRanch/AckermanCreek/RussianRvrWatershed/LakeMendocino 2005: Med.dark color; lovely/perfume/blueberry/blackberry/Syrah very light toasty/oak light smokey/roasted/peppery very fragrant/interesting nose; soft bright/spicy/blackberry/blueberry/Syrah bit peppery/roasted/smokey some tannic balanced/spicy/lush light pencilly/oak slight tomatoey/MendoCnty peppery perfumed flavor; very long perfumed/spicy/blackberry/blueberry/Syrah some peppery/roasted/tomatoey light pencilly/oak finish w/ modest tannins; a lovely/beautiful rendition of Mendo Syrah at a very good price. $24.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. OldWorldWine: I had noted some interesting posts by Darek on a wine board and SteveHeimhoff's blog; took a look/see at his WebSite, and found some things of interest I couldn't live without; so order a mixed 6 pack to try. This wine was the first from that stash.
I'd not heard much of a buzz from my sources about OWW, so was not expecting much. WrongoDongo. I was mightly impressed by this Syrah. One of the most impressive Mendo (non-AndersonVlly) Syrahs I've had in a fair number of yrs...since the vertical of Casey's EaglePoint Syrahs.
Back in the late '80's (by crackey) when BillyCrawford first started making Syrah from his very old Syrah block from the GibsonRanch at McDowellVllyVnyds, the wines were mightly impressive, very peppery/green olive in character; as good as most any Syrah then being made in Calif. Made by GeorgeBursick. Alas, the McDVV Syrahs have slipped badly over the yrs and the best Syrahs from GibsonRanch are made by other winemakers.
This Syrah reminded me a lot of those early McDVV Syrahs of George's because of its peppery/perfumed character. I'm now hot to try Darek's other wines. A wnry to keep your eyes on.
Tom