Had these two w/ dinners over the last 3 nights:
1. Donkey&Goat Coupe d'Or 50% Roussanne/Marsanne ElDorado (14.1%; U; www.DonkeyAndGoat.com) 2009:
Med.light gold slightly cloudy color; rather stoney/earthy/Rhonish/ElDorado light smokey some floral/pear/honeysuckle/Roussanne bit appley/Marsanne slight spicy/nutmeg lovely/interesting nose; fairlt tart rich/mouthfilling earth/stoney/appley/Marsanne slight floral/honeysuckle/Roussanne rather Rhonish flavor; long stoney/earthy/ElDorado rather appley/Marsanne slight floral some Rhonish finish; quite an interesting w/ some Rhonish character and speaks of ElDorado terroir; wine is loaded w/ tartrates.
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2. Tallulah Syrah SonomaCoast (14.5%) 2003: Very dark color; strong peppery/pungent/smokey/roasted/Rhonish blackberry/licorice/Syrah slight tarry/pungent some toasty/oakfairly complex/cold-climate nose; pretty tart somewhat tannic/hard strong peppery/blackberry/Syrah/cold-climate some roasted/pungent/Rhonish/licorice bit hard flavor; long somewhat hard/tannic rather tart strong/blackberry/peppery/cold-climate Syrah bit tarry/pungent some toasty/charred/oak some complex finish; bit like a Graillot StJoseph; lovely nose but seems rather tart/tannic/hard on the palate; either needs more time, in a closed spot, or starting to dry out.
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A wee BP:
1. Really like what Tracey&Jared are doing at D&G. They (and SteveEdmunds) are making some of the best Rhone varietals coming out of ElDorado these days. They're moving towards more skin-contact in their whites, but this is not what you'd call an orange wine.
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2. Tallulah: This was the first release of Tallulah by Ben & Diana Davis. Followed 'em from the very start, I did/I did. Made up in the Copain facility shared w/ MikeOffice & others. They have since sold the label & returned to Florida. Not followed the recent Tallulahs.
Tom