WELCOME BACK TO THE K&J SESSIONS! We're really terrible at keeping up with this, aren't we? Some reorganizing of the international wine room and catagorizing the loose bottles of beer on the far wall were an ongoing projects for us, and we'd run out of time to really sit down and drink and analyze a bottle of wine. Now that we have a free moment, let's discuss...
TONIGHT'S WINE, MARCH 09, 2009 : Terre Rouge California Syrah, 2004
K : It was my pick tonight.
J : I'm excited because we haven't had a Syrah in a long time. We seem to forget about Syrah sometimes.
K : I chose this one because it's a 2004, and I figured some time would probably smooth it out--it's 14.5 ABV, so I thought it would be pretty intense.
J : I opened this about 45 minutes ago...it's had some time to breathe. It has a pinkish-brown hue to it.
K : I just had some blackberries yesterday, and this wine is exactly what they smell like.
J : Agreed. And some spice. I can't really pin down the spice, but it's there.
(FIRST SIP)
J : Major woody cinnamon stick on the palate.
K : It's that kind of dryness that makes your tastebuds kind of tingle and stand up.
J : Like your tastebuds are doing the wave.
K : Yup. After the cinnamon, it goes to apple. Not really the fleshy part of the apple--more like apple skin. What's kind of apple is a little softer, not so overly crunchy. Pink Lady?
J : Gala? Does that sound right?
K : Yeah, Gala. Gala apple skin on the finish.
J : Then it goes back to cinnamon--a softer cinnamon--after the apple. It has a long finish.
K : I'm not going to have any problems finishing off this bottle.
J : Actually, Matt should try this. He would like it.
K : There isn't going to be any left!
J : Nope.
K : Sometimes I hate the things they print on the back of the bottle: " In the tradition of our other syrahs, this wine has great flavor intensity and mouthfeel. It is made with current enjoyment in mind, rather than longevity. Enjoy it at home or your favorite restaurant."
J : That means nothing.
K : It's as though you haven't had your own wine at all. It's so non-specific.
J : How about that one wine, Bitch?
K : What??
J : Crap, sorry. The Bitch Grenache from Austraila.
K : Ohhhhhh.
J : All it says on the back label is "bitch" over and over.
K : Novelty wine is kind of cheesy, but that one is pretty good. How's the dark chocolate with our Syrah?
J : Considering this dark chocolate isn't so dark (55% cacao), i'm not a fan. It dries out the wine.
K : You know, it actually makes the wine taste waxy.
J : So no chocolate with this one. What food would go with it--how about poultry?
K : If it was more gamey poultry, like pheasant.
J : Something in a red sauce. Chicken parmesan. That would be good.
K : That sounds so good right now.
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There you have it--the K&J Seal of Approval! A good syrah under $20. Stop down to Benz and see us soon.
