Madrona Reserve Syrah El Dorado 2002

Ever have one of those wines you're afraid to open because you're just sure you've let it pass its prime?  Thus it was with me and the Madrona Syrah.

For once, it felt great to be wrong!  This wine could make it another couple of years in the cellar (good news, because I have a couple more).  It is full, rich, smoky, and delicious, with lots of ripe red fruit.  There is some dustiness that makes me think a little bit of a tawny port, but this is NOT a wine past its prime.

The lovely "coffee grounds" in the bottom of my husband's glass attest to the unfiltered style.  A wonderful, wonderful bottle for a cold evening and a crackling fire.

Side story:  I love Madrona.  Several years ago, we went to the annual ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) tasting in San Francisco and had the privilege of sitting with the winemaker and others from Madrona.  What a fun bunch.  I am still sad I failed to win their live auction item, a ski weekend with the Madrona team.  What a fun bunch of guys.  They're up in Amador County.  If you're ever in the Sierra Foothills, be sure to stop in.

2008 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc

The other day we were visiting The Woodlands Wine Co (formerly Vino 100) and a Pinot Blanc from Alsace caught my eye.  The woman working there persuaded me to buy the 2008 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc instead and I am so glad I listened!  This was a rare treat.  I am usually a red wine lover, but this was a white wine that I enjoyed both by itself and with dinner.  The wine was light but still interesting.  No oak, refreshing, citrusy with notes of grapefruit, but no puckeringly excessive acidity.  Nice, rich mouthfeel for such a light wine.  There were some nice flinty accents and a slight hint of honey.  The color was a bright, cheerful yellow.

Overall, my only regret with this wine was that I hadn't made a more elegant dinner to go with it.  I would love this with halibut with a citrus beurre blanc.  My lemon chicken worked, but didn't have quite the polish the wine deserved.

I'm heading back to The Woodlands Wine Company tomorrow for more!