syrah
2020 Lavender Ridge Vineyard Syrah and Mongolian Beef
The Winery
Picture from Lavender Ridge Vineyard Facebook
Lavender Ridge Vineyard tasting room is in the town of Murphys in the lower Sierra Nevada foothills. Lavender Ridge specializes in Rhone varietal wines. They include Cotes du Calaveras Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Rolle, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rose, Grenache, Cotes du Calaveras, Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Vin Doux and Anniversaire Blanc. They also feature an artisan cheese selection that is unique and has something for just about everyone.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
To read more about Lavender Ridge, see three previous articles:
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I purchased this wine two years ago and laid it down in the cellar. Knowing the meal, I thought this would go well with it. Sierra foothills Syrah tend to be intense with bold flavors from granite-based soils and a warm climate. This met and exceeded those expectations with dark fruits of blackberry, plum and spicy notes of pepper and clove. Earthy notes of smoke and minerality were exceptional. On the nose, floral violet aromas and the finish being full-bodied and soft caressing tannins.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with another wintertime comfort food, Mongolian Beef. A delicious recipe taking flank steak, canola oil, dry sherry wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, water, baking soda, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, scallions and Flatiron Pepper Company’s Dark & Smoky peppers. They included Chipotle, Ancho and Habanero peppers. This provided a tasty sweet and spicy dish. Accompanied by brown rice.
This recipe is now both of our favorite with the texture and flavors.
The wine was perfectly suited for the meal with its dryness and fruit providing a beautiful backdrop to each morsel.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
2022 Starfield Vineyards and Winery Syrah with Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Photo from Starfield Vineyards
The winery was founded in 2012 by Tom and Rob Sinton with plantings of 31 acres on the hillsides east of Placerville, California in El Dorado County. They are located at 2759 Jacquier Road.
Map courtesy of https://uscountymaps.com/el-dorado-county-map-california/
The naming of the wines, especially their new labels starting with the 2023 vintages, highlight the history of region from the Gold Rush with wine names as Miner’s Inch and Rising Hope. These two are for a nearby mine.
The winery produces 17 varieties of wines comprising of mostly Rhone varieties (66%) and Italian (30%) and a few Spanish varieties. The vineyards have been farmed using sustainable and fish-friendly farming since their inception.
Photo from Starfield Vineyards
The wineries name Starfield refers to “Star Fields”, sites where in their words “fruit develops the optimal balance of aroma, flavor and texture”. They also consider what they refer to as Sierra Spice, the aroma and taste characteristics that come from the western facing forests surrounding the vineyards. The local trees are Ponderosa Pines, Cedars and Douglas Firs and their oils provide earthy and woodsy forest aromatics from their oils.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This was sent to me as an advanced barrel sample as it is not released today. This wine was aged in 30% new French oak and 70% in neutral oak for 18 months. It is 14.5% alcohol with 269 cases produced. It is made with 97% Syrah and 3% Grenache. It will not be released until 2027 and pricing is expected at $60/bottle. Can hardly wait to taste this aged wine in 2027.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine on the eyes was an inviting red brick color with medium viscosity. On the nose, soft and subdued fruit with violets waft into the senses, no slapping one in the face with dripping sweetness. Stoic and respectful best describes this wine on inspection. On the palate, the wine swirls with blackberry and black pepper. On the finish, minerality and freshly plowed earthen fields complement the fruit for a smooth and lasting sip.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Selected to pair this Syrah with one of our favorite wintertime foods, Slow Cooker Birria Tacos. The ingredients for the slow cooker included chuck roast (fat cut off), yellow onions, garlic cloves, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, chipotle in adobo, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, white vinegar, kosher salt and bay leaves. Two Flatiron Pepper Company mixtures were added to the sauce: Hatch Valley Green and Dark and Smoky.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The beef pieces were first browned and then transferred to the slow cooker. The broth was then added covering the meat and slowly cooked for eight hours.
Each tortilla was fried and then the beef placed in each taco with freshly cut purple onions and shredded Monterey jack cheese. A side bowl with Birria sauce was for dipping!
One of our favorite and warm dishes as the evenings start to cool down with warmth and spiciness. The wine with its subdued fruit and earthiness was a great counterbalance for the dish. A very good food and wine pairing this evening.
Sláinte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
2010 Chêne Bleu with Pollo Asado and Mexican Pasta Salad
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background on the Winery
Truly a remarkable wine on so many levels–from the land, the label, the history and the wine. Firstly, the area is in the Rhone Valley and sits on top of a hillside in Provence, near Gigondas. Here is a picture from their website.
Photo from their website
Secondly, the label is as mysterious and elusive as the wine. The label shows their respect of the land and history. The label also shows dozens of references as to what makes their wine and project so unique.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Embedded in the label are five “bunny rabbits”. They used to advertise find them and submit to “Where’s Fluffy?” for a prize from the winery! Still fun to try to locate them!
Now add the name and its meaning for the third facet of this wine. Abélard is one of two of their leading wines, Héloïse the other. In the Middle Ages, Abélard was a theologian and philosopher who had an illicit romance with his disciple Héloïse. Unfortunately, they were forced into separation but their love lasted decades of monastic seclusion and correspondence. Abélard, the Grenache blend, is strong, bold and structured. Whereas Héloïse, the Syrah blend, shows a more elegant and softer side with restraint. The winery produced both wines to showcase their uncompromising commitment to their love, passion and thinking of their vineyard.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While all of this and I haven’t even begun talking about the wine! If these auxiliary points were not enough to entice you to explore this wine, hopefully the description will. Initially when pulling this out of the cellar with a listing of Grenache/Syrah, I was expecting a mild and light French Grenache. This was so far from reality. This is perhaps one of the largest and extremely robust French wines I have had the opportunity to drink. This is a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah that spent 18 months in French oak barrels. The wine is 14.5% alcohol and various better wine shops sell it for approximately $100/bottle. Wine ratings vary but are generally in range of 90 to 94 points.
On the eyes, it is a deep ruby red and medium weight. On the nose, aromas of blueberries, licorice and black berries almost overwhelm the senses. The spices of various herbs (pepper & sage) linger in the background. On the palate, one is astonished with the liveliness of raspberries, cherry and mocha which make this wine plush and layered. The finish offers up supple tannins with just enough oak to provide “a passing hint of old world” winemaking. This is truly a rich and concentrated offering.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Opened this bottle of wine to go with tonight’s meal for two reasons. The first is that it came up in “my drink now list for 2025”. Secondly, while three suggestions for the meal included Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino and a Grenache/Syrah blend, the last one was selected due to the heat of the dish. The meal was Pollo Asado with a few twists. The chicken breasts were marinated for 5 hours. The marinade ingredients included cilantro, chopped purple onion, fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh squeezed lime juice, minced garlic, paprika, Mexican oregano, kosher salt, black pepper, olive oil and one sliced jalapeño with seeds. This was all put into a blender to form the sauce. Some additional sauce was set aside to drizzle on the chicken breast when plated. The chicken was cooked on the cast iron skillet. Accompanied by Mexican Pasta Salad made with corkscrew pasta, black beans, cherry tomatoes, diced jalapeños, fresh cilantro, yellow corn and cut green onions. The dressing consisted of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lime juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, sea salt and black pepper. Both recipes were new and tasted exceptionally well and topped off with fresh cilantro. These two recipes are now locked in for the winter!
Choosing the red wine with chicken felt a bit strange but was one hundred percent the correct wine. If we had gone with a Suavignon Blanc or Vermentino, it would have overwhelmed the wine.
The wine is always stocked in the cellar. Next up is the 2014 vintage and is to be sought after for a memorable experience.
Slainte,Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://www.chenebleu.com
2019 Aridus Syrah from Wilcox, Arizona
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Right up front, most people don’t think of Arizona as a “winery state”! Turns out Arizona has over 159 wineries scattered throughout the state. Aridus is in southeastern Arizona in Willcox, about 85 miles east of Tucson in Cochise County. The town of Willcox has 14 different tasting rooms!
(Picture from City of Willcox)
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
It had been five months since I last tasted this wine which I keep stocked in the cellar. This Syrah came from two vineyards located next to each other on the Willcox Bench. This bottle is 100% Syrah. Only 220 cases were produced, and it sells for $60/bottle. A unique characteristic of this wine was that it was aged 30 months in French oak barrels, 73% second-fill French oak, and 27% neutral oak.
First on the eyes, a dark radiant and enticing purple/magenta hue. On the nose, lavender and blueberry waft into the senses. On the palate, raspberry, sweet vanilla and cinnamon bounce joyfully from side to side expressing fullness in the mouth. A hint of mocha and light roasted coffee are present on the enticing finish beckoning yet another sip. Lacking fruit, but still savory flavors. To say I was both pleasantly shocked and excited tasting this wine from Arizona is an understatement!
Typical well-balanced Syrah from the known regions of France, California, Chile, South Africa and Australia, but this wine from the lesser known Willcox, Arizona region was delightful.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was pulled from the cellar to enjoy this evening with beef Teriyaki with sugar snow peas and green onions. Ingredients besides the tenderized flank steak cut into 2 to 3 inch-wide slices, were Teriyaki sauce, snow peas, minced fresh ginger, beef stock, dry sherry, ground Asian red chili pepper, stir fry oil, sliced white mushrooms, green onions sliced lengthwise and green onion cut into small pieces. This was a delicious Teriyaki dish. Accompanied by cauliflower rice sauteed in soy sauce with pre-cooked bacon pieces and green cut onions. A fresh salad with bacon was prepared. An excellent food and wine pairing with the spices and smokiness of the Syrah to stand up to the beef. The overall meal was an excellent food and wine pairing!
The Winery
Scott and Joan Dahmer founded Aridus Wine Company in 2012, just outside the city of Willcox. The name Aridus comes from the Latin word meaning “dry or arid”, most appropriate for most people’s idea of Arizona.
(Tasting room in Willcox. Picture from Aridus Wine Company)
The winery/crush facility and tasting room are located in two different locations in Willcox. They also have another tasting room in Scottsdale on Main Street. Their yearly production is approximately 2,500 cases. They have an amazing lineup of different varietals available: whites including Malvasia Bianca, Viognier, Chardonnay, Fume Blanc and Muscat. Reds include Merlot, Mourvèdre, Graciano, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Petite Verdot and Montepulciano, as well as several Rosés.
(Tasting room in Scottsdale. Picture from Aridus Wine Company)
The winemaker, Lisa Strid has produced wine for the last seven years at the winery. During this time, she has produced 183 wines from five different growing regions in Arizona, New Mexico and California. Since 2020, Aridus is now making wine exclusively from its estate vineyard.
Sláinte,
Michael
2016 Prospect 772 Wine Company Black Tie Charlie – A Big, Bold and Jammy Blend
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled our last bottle of a 2016 Black Tie Charlie the other night. It was time as you could see the wicking of the wine on the cork. Caught it just before cresting at top! The Black Tie Charlie is a 50/50 blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah. The wine was perfectly preserved and represented a beautiful blend of these two strong grapes. First, on the eyes a deep cavernous black coloring, a foreboding of what is to spring forth of dark fruit. On the nose floral notes of violets and soft black licorice waft gently with aromatic nuances. On the palate, it is where these two varietals comingling produce layers upon layers of enjoyment. A synchronized orchestra of blackberries, blueberries, dark cherry and plum swirl about the mouth. Secondary muted notes of black pepper, vanilla and an earthiness ricochet from side to side. The finish is long with flavors of herbs, soft pipe tobacco, counterbalanced with a big, bold and jammy conclusion. This has been one of my favorite blends for 10 years now!
Today’s vintage is 2021 and sells for $33/bottle which is a bargain for such a bold and expressive wine.
The Winery
While only open to the public Thursday to Sunday, this is one winery worthy of visiting in Calaveras County. Founders Ron Pieretti and Wendy Sanda recently sold the winery to Francis & Kristina Johnson, and they are continuing to produce some exceptional Rhone varietals.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the tasting room has a “down home comfortability” and welcoming factor. To find Prospect 772, it is just off Highway 4 a few miles before reaching Angels Camp. Signs show where to turn and approximately one mile down this private road leads to 25 acres which comprises both the vineyards and tasting room.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Prospect 772 has stayed true to their mission of producing exciting Rhone varietals. Each of their wines has a descriptive name so I will provide that and then the varietals used in the production. Currently the wine line up is:
Tatum’s Grace – 50% Roussanne, 50% Viogner
Sparkling GSM Brut Rose – Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
Baby Doll – Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
The Stray – 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Syrah
The Truant – 71% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 7% Mourvedre
The Shadow – 41% Petite Sirah, 28% Grenache, 19% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre
The Brat – 84% Grenache and 16% Syrah
The Brawler – 94% Syrah and 6% Viognier
The Instigator – 100% Syrah
Big Nose Pete – 100% Petite Sirah
Black Tie Charlie – 50% Syrah and 50% Petite Sirah
Slainte,
Michael
2014 Chêne Bleu Abélard – A Recurring Favorite
Photo from the winery
I have previously written stories on other vintages and now this story on the 2014. Truly a remarkable wine on so many levels–from the land, the label, the history and the wine. Firstly, the area is in the Rhone Valley and sits on top of a hillside in Provence, near Gigondas. Here is a picture from their website.
Photo from the winery
Secondly, the label is as mysterious and elusive as the wine. The label shows their respect for the land and history. They show dozens of references on the label as to what makes their wine and project so unique. Embedded in the label are five “bunny rabbits”. They used to advertise find them and submit to “Where’s Fluffy?” for a prize from the winery!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Now add the name and its meaning for the third facet of this wine. Abélard is one of two of their leading wines, Héloïse the other. In the Middle Ages, Abélard was a theologian and philosopher who had an illicit romance with his disciple Héloïse. Unfortunately, they were forced into separation but their love lasted decades of monastic seclusion and correspondence. Abélard, the Grenache blend, is strong, bold and structured. Whereas Héloïse, the Syrah blend, shows a more elegant and softer side with restraint. The winery made both wines showcase their uncompromising commitment of their love, passion and thinking of their vineyard.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While all of this and I haven’t even begun talking about the wine! If these auxiliary points were not enough to entice you to explore getting this wine, hopefully the description will. Initially when pulling this out of the cellar with a listing of Grenache/Syrah, I was expecting a mild and light French Grenache. This was so far from reality. This is perhaps one of the largest and extremely robust French wines I have had the opportunity to drink. This is a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah that spent 18 months in French oak barrels.
On the eyes, it is a deep ruby red and medium-heavy weight. On the nose, aromas of blueberries, licorice and black berries almost overwhelm the senses. The spices of various herbs (pepper & sage) linger in the background. On the palate, one is astonished with the liveliness of raspberries, cherry and mocha which make this wine plush and layered. The finish offers up supple tannins with just enough oak to provide “a passing hint of old world” winemaking. This is truly a rich and concentrated offering. Big and bold only begin to describe this wine.
It has been a Best Wine Tasted in previous years and will once again be on my list for 2025.
This is a must wine to be sought after for a memorable experience.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://www.chenebleu.com