by Patchen Markell » Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:43 pm
Andrea's home, so I spatchcocked a chicken and roasted it with garlic, rosemary and lemon, following a technique from one of David Tanis's books, and we opened our second-to-last bottle of Edmunds St. John 2001 Paso Robles Red Wine, "Los Robles Viejos" (Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, and Counoise). I've always liked this wine but tonight -- our first bottle in a few years, I think -- it was transformed into something else entirely: aromas of tar, pine, menthol, and garrigue jumped out of the glass; there was all that plus smooth, rich, dark fruit on the palate; it seems fully developed but not at all faded. A large-scale wine, for sure, but one that sings rather than shouts. Especially toward the tail end of the bottle, I'd almost have pegged this for a Nebbiolo if I'd been tasting blind. Really gorgeous, and a great "welcome home" for Andrea.
cheers, Patchen
