Larry brought this mystery wine last night:
1. Babcock Syrah BlackLabelCuvee SBVlly (13.6%) Lompoc 1997: Dark color w/ no bricking; very strong toasty/Fr.oak very strong blackberry/Syrah/boysenberry/ripe/bit licorice some complex nose; lightly tart very strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe Syrah/licorice/bit pungent strong toasty/smokey/Fr.oak complex flavor w/ light bit chewey tannins; very long/lingering strong blackberry/Syrah/boysenberry/ripe/bit licorice/pungent strong toasty/Fr.oak complex finish w/ light firm tannins; no signs of going over the hall and can probably go another 4-6 yrs.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Don't ever recall a SBCnty wine being labeled as SBVlly.
This wine was a good trip down memory lane. BrianBabcock took over winemaking in his family's operation in 1982. Because he did several winemaker dinner dinners at SF's e.k.mas restaurant, I became a big fan of his wines. But, along the way, he sorta dropped off my radar. His original goal was to make great dry GWT/Riesling there in the SantaRitaHills (before it was an AVA). They were, though not Alsatian, actually pretty good wines. Alas, sometimes the reality of the marketplace intrudes on your dreams, and he abandoned this dream because they were such a tough sell.
Tom