"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." Et cetera et cetera ...
It could have begun thus, but was never so dramatic. More like, one was good, one not as good. Alesia, Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 'Fairview Ranch', 2005 started off with a dose of barrel pickle juice on the nose. This lifted to reveal heavy plum. Sweet plums and black fruits, almost no tannin to speak of, somewhat simple and almost goopey. Okay for a house wine at the $16 pricetag, but nowhere near the complexity and structure of the estate bottlings.
On the other side is the delicious Alesia, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2008: spicy character with full suave fruit, drinking very well right now. Yums!
It could have begun thus, but was never so dramatic. More like, one was good, one not as good. Alesia, Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 'Fairview Ranch', 2005 started off with a dose of barrel pickle juice on the nose. This lifted to reveal heavy plum. Sweet plums and black fruits, almost no tannin to speak of, somewhat simple and almost goopey. Okay for a house wine at the $16 pricetag, but nowhere near the complexity and structure of the estate bottlings.
On the other side is the delicious Alesia, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2008: spicy character with full suave fruit, drinking very well right now. Yums!