2007 Forlorn Hope Gascony Cadets (Petit Verdot): From Suisun Valley, five miles west of where I am sitting right now! Roger King grows some obscure varieties!
Started out very earthy, almost savory. With air, a riper, richer plum and black cherry character came out. Mr. King also grows Trousseau Gris in Suisun Valley, and Matthew made a bottle in 2012.
2009 Chateau L'Avocat Graves Rouge. A direct K&L Wines import. C harming family. This was pretty tight and ungiving. Not a lot of fruit right now. I can imagine with time it will become more interesting.
2009 Everett Ridge Syrah (Dry Creek, Sonoma). This was a nice surprise. Deliciously JUICY blackberry fruit. Not in a jammy or extracted way, in fact it was somewhat elegant. Some nice smoky notes as well, although the wine sampled at the winery was much smokier/meatier. When a Syrah has this much hedonistic light juicyness, though, I can still enjoy it!