WTN: Drunken Bachanal

Birthday party that included good food, good wine, and severe embarrasment on my part.

2002 Noah Los Chamizales (Sonoma Valley) Zinfandel. 13.4% abv. Yep, you read that right. It's so nice to have a Zinfandel that doesn't burn your nose of the back of your throat. Definitely a lighter, raspberry and zinberry wine, this was a lovely light sipping wine. ***1/2 Excellent. This is the second Zinfandel from thbis vineyard that I've enjoyed quite a bit!

Dillian Amador County Zinfandel 2002 (provided by our host) The riper, black fruit side of zin, but still very balanced and elegant. At 14.8%, this is not as light as the Noah, but very nice and it handled the alcohol pretty well, actually. ***I

Luiano Chianti Classico Riserva 1999 Stored a little too warm, this was still lovely. Lots of earth and mushroom and savory leather. Still good acidity. Solid ***+ A very nice wine for my palette.

Havens 2001 Hudson Vineyard Syrah Carneros Napa County. Didn't show as well tonight as my previous bottle. I wonder why? Not as much smoke and earth-pretty primary. **

Robert Young "Scion": 2001 Bordeaux Blend Alexander Valley Sonoma County. Should definitely have been decanted to allow the vanilla oak to blow off. The oak was not dominant at the winery tasting. Still, there was some nice fuzzy tannins and some great red and black fruit here. **1/2

Imagery "White Burgundy" (Sonoma County) 2005 Chard, Viognier, more). Surprising good. Clear in the glass. A little bit of oak, but not bothersome. Nice peach and tropical fruit, but there is also a surprising finish of savory minerality. Surprise of the night. ***

Embarrsment? I didn't think I had set the wine glass down that hard, but it snapped at the stem. AND, the interior french door had no door stop. One little bump, and it hit the corner of a table and broke a panel.

Note that this kind of stuff happens to me stone cold sober, but geezou was I embarrassed.

[David M. Bueker]

Don't feel too bad. Lots of the nicer wine glasses break for no known reason. Both my wife and I have had the "I just put the glass down" moments.

A buddy of mine walked straight through his screen door BEFORE we had even had any wine.

I'll buy them a pair of nice Riedels. They are a lovely couple and it's a fun social circle, so I don't want to be blacklisted.

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Imagery "White Burgundy" (Sonoma County) 2005 Chard, Viognier, more). Surprising good. Clear in the glass. A little bit of oak, but not bothersome. Nice peach and tropical fruit, but there is also a surprising finish of savory minerality. Surprise of the night. ***
[quote]

Fairly recent phenomenon, but Sonoma County Chard/Viognier blends generally turn out nice.  The Viog adds an interesting aromatic quality to the Chard, and the Chard balances out the floral components of the Viog.  Viog gives lift; Chardonnay gives body and heft.

The only puzzling aspect, to me, is the curious decision by the Benzigers to use the designation "White Burgundy".  You would think they could come up with a more appropriate name.  Certainly one more appealling to the small number of folks who might be tempted to buy and try this one.[/quote]

Imagery "White Burgundy" (Sonoma County) 2005 Chard, Viognier, more). Surprising good. Clear in the glass. A little bit of oak, but not bothersome. Nice peach and tropical fruit, but there is also a surprising finish of savory minerality. Surprise of the night. ***

Fairly recent phenomenon, but Sonoma County Chard/Viognier blends generally turn out nice. The Viog adds an interesting aromatic quality to the Chard, and the Chard balances out the floral components of the Viog. Viog gives lift; Chardonnay gives body and heft.

Also interesting to see Imagery changed the blend from the one they had with their 2004 White 'Burgundy', which was 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Blanc, 10% Pinot Meunier, according to their website.