Monday night was a treat for my friends Crista, the owner and proprietor at Boon and Sue, the warden and woman in charge at Boon. Crista is scouting locations for a music event in our town of Guerneville nestled in Sonoma County by the Russia River and the Redwoods.
She invited us to join her to tour Thomas George Estates, which is owned in part by Tom Baker. The winery is the vision and dream of Tom's son Jeremy who, along with his father, purchased the property from Davis Bynum winery and vineyards on Westside Road. You can read more about the history of the family and their winery here.
While we sat and chatted Tom, his partner Stephanie and I began talking about Syrah. I have a new passion for Syrah. Syrah or Shiraz is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines. What attracts many people is not only the taste of this deeply complex wine, but also its color. Tom was generous enough to share a bottle of Thomas George's 2008, Ulises Valdez Vineyard, Russian River Valley Syrah.
According to the winemaker's notes this quintessential cool climate Syrah shows an incredible spectrum of intense, deep, inky purple colors to a dense garnet. The nose is rich and filled with black licorice, dark bramble berries and notes of fresh lilac. Well defined tannin adds structure to dry pomegranate-like acidity on the explosive palette. This is a wine that you can drink now and for the next ten years.
At $40 a bottle this wine may be pricey for some, but is definitely worth trying out. In fact, to make sure I really wanted this as the wine of the week I shared a bottle with my friends last night ;).
Log on to their online wine store and get yourself a bottle.
Louis Barthelemy Brut Champagne NV France $32.50 btl – Delicious and appropriate wine for a Leo
Jerry is joining us again with thoughts on wine, but this time his recommendations are based on your sign. Look for his insight each and every month.