Received my DCV VSP shipment Mon, so Pobega'd:
1. DryCreekVnyd DCVEstate Block 10/RRV (Hrvstd: Sept23/2013; SaH: 23.8 Brix; TA: 0.62; WholeCluster pressed; Brrl frmtd/85% M-L; 13.5%; www.DryCreekVineyard.com; 1115 cs) 2013: Med.gold color; strong melony/lemony/Chard light pencilly/toasty/Fr.oak slight stony/mineral clean/crisp/bracing/ripe lovely nose; rather tart strong lemony/Charentais melon/Chard fairly rich/structured light toasty/pencilly/oak lovely flavor; very long/lingering Charentais melon/lemony/Chard rather tart buut rich light mineral bit toasty/pencilly/oak finish; quite rich but not a fruit bomb; as the structure to take it out 10 yrs; reminds me a lot of the old StonyHill Chards when tasted young; a beautiful Chard that'll blow many away at 2X/3X the price. $24.00 (VIN/$30.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I have, of course, followed DaveStare's DCV from the very start...the '72 GamayBeaujolais and Rochioli SauvBlanc. The wines were not too shabby. And the little girl sitting in her Dad's office coloring away on a piece of paper was kinda cute (and...after all these yrs, Kim's still pretty cute!!).
They've had a number of good winemakers over the yrs...Dave/MarilynZagunis/BillKnuttle. The latest is now TimBell. I think he's lifted, across the board, the DCV wines to the next level. And much of the credit should also go to their vnyd manager, DuffBevill. And to DonWallace for showing the foresight to expanding their vnyd holdings from which to source some very good grapes.
Alas...probably because they sell some of their wines in TraderJoe's...they don't get the respect they fully deserve. But this Chard is one worth tracking down.
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2. Charentais melons: A friend introduced me to these melons a few yrs ago and I've really grown to love them. They have an amazing fragrance to them, a lot of sweetness (when they've reached...as they say...full phenolic ripeness), and a soft texture. Alas....they're kinda small (about the size of a shot put or softball). And..alas..they're tough to ripen in LosAlamos. And...alas...the rabbits took out my two plants back in Oct whilst I was away in Italy. Friggin' rabbits...not enough coyotes in the neighborhood. But they're worth tracking down at the Farmer'sMarkets or growing them yourself.
Tom