Tried these two w/ my pizza last night:
1. Donkey&Goat Grenache Rose Isabel'sCuvee Mendocino (U; 13.5%) 2010: Med.light redish color, dark for a rose; attractive fragrant cranberry/strawberry/bit Grenache light spicy/earthy/Mendo tomatoey nose; somewhat tart light strawberry/Grenache/cranberry some earthy/tomatoey fairly dry/austere bit tannic pleasant flavor; med. bright cranberry/strawberry/Grenache some candied/fruit some earthy/tomatoey bit tannic finish; a rather unusual/interesting rose more like a Loire rose because of the tannic bite. $18.00
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2. Tensley Syrah TierraAltaVnyd/SBC (14.7%; www.TensleyWines.com) 2009: Very dark/near black color; very intense pungent/ozone/peppery bit roasted very strong blackberry/licorice/blueberry/Syrah some toasty/smokey/oak beautiful intense slight Rhonish nose; soft very lush/rich/mouthfilling/glycerined some pungent/licorice/peppery intense blackberry/blueberry/Syrah/pungent light toasty/oak fairly tannic/structured/balanced slight coffee/Rhonish/espresso flavor; very long/lingering rather tannic/structured very strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah some roasted/Rhonish/espresso finish; a beautiful SantaBarbara Syrah w/ some Rhonish character; a big/huge Syrah but balanced & structured and should go out 10-15 yrs, but really delecious now. $37.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. D&G Rose: This is a rather unusual rose. The grapes come from an old block of GrenacheGris vines at McDowellVllyVnyd. They are picked early specifically for this rose; it is not a saignee. Because of the light pigmentation of the GrenacheGris grapes, they are left in skin contact during fermentation for awhile until the appropriate color is achieved. This makes this rose a bit more tannic than many roses. Consequently, it should be served at a slightly warmer temperature than most roses to lessen the tannic bite.
The wine was bttld unfiltered. It had this big ring in the punt of sedimented-out lees/tartrates/whatever. Lots of sediment. I can hardly wait to taste it when the btl is emptied.
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2. Tensley: The TierraAlta vnyd is due west of LosOlivos and a bit north of Stolpman/PurisimaMtn vnyds. This is easily the best wine I've yet had from that vnyd.
Tom