Two years in the planning, two dinners featuring a wide variety of Bonny Doon Vineyard wines back to 1985 (the winery was founded in 1983) were held in September of last year. The first dinner was at our home and the second dinner was at the home of my friend Richard Banks. The wines were purchased directly from Bonny Doon Vineyard prior to the event. Bonny Doon Vineyard founder and winemaker Randall Grahm was in attendance at both dinners and contributed greatly with his knowledge, historical perspective, and wit. And, yes, the wines were most impressive and paired beautifully with the food. The food was prepared by Lydia Gaitan of Grace Catering & Event Design.

Lydia has been a Chef for 35 years and has trained in San Francisco, Italy, and France. She has owned a restaurant and served as a private chef and prepares food in classic French fashion along the lines of famous French chefs Escoffier, Boulud, Soltner, and others. Richard and I, along with Randall Grahm, worked with Lydia on the menu to get the best wine and food combinations. We all were very pleased with the result.

These two dinners were very special. The food was delicious, well prepared, and beautifully presented and the wines and cider were well matched with the food. The Bonny Doon wines and cider were especially amazing for the consistently high quality and great balance and purity. And, many of the older wines were either the last or very close to the last bottles remaining. This made for a truly historic event. The menus are shown below followed by a brief history of  Bonny Doon Vineyard and tasting notes on the wines.

September 18, 2017
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Bonny Doon Vineyard Dinner

~

Passed Apéritif

2013 Querry Cider (Apple, Pear, Quince)

Grade A Ahi Tartare (thinly sliced) on Daikon round with spiced Asian Micro-Greens

1st Course

2006 Riesling to Live (sparkling)

Pan Seared local Abalone (sauteed Medallion)

2nd Course

2013 Vin Gris Tuilé, 2012 Vin Gris Cigaré Réserve

Chicken Parmesan/Panko Tenders, Lemon Butter Julienned Snap Peas

3rd Course

1985, 1987, 2012, 2013 Le Cigare Volant, 2012, 2013 Le Cigare Volant Réserve

Braised ½ Quail and Potato Gratin

 4th Course

1990, 1995 Old Telegram (Mourvèdre)

Marinated New Zealand Rack of Lamb with a Classic Ratatouille

5th Course

2010, 2013 Le Cigare Blanc Réserve

2015 Popelouchum Grenache “Estate”

Brillat-Savarin, Sheep’s Milk Truffle Cheese, Brie Triple Cream Truffle Cheese, Manchego, Toast Points with Roasted Nuts

Afters

2011 Syrah (Sparkling)

Maya 2 Different Chocolates

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Mint

~

September 20, 2017
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Bonny Doon Vineyard Dinner

~

Passed

2011 Winter Nellis Pear Sparkling Perry

Smoked Salmon on a Persian Cucumber Round with Chive Crème Fraîche

1st Course

2010 Sparkling Albariño

Risotto with Squash Blossoms & Meyer Lemon Juice

2nd Course

2011, 2015, 2016  Vin Gris de Cigare

Dover Sole with thinly sliced and sauteed mini creamy Potatoes, Parsley Butter & Lemon Zest

 3rd Course

2011 Le Cigare Blanc, 2011 Le Cigare Blanc Réserve

Grilled Diver Scallop, Lemon Beurre Blanc with Fingerling Lime Caviar

4th Course

1988, 1989, 1992, 1994 Syrah, Santa Cruz Mts. “Estate”

Mary’s Organic Duck Breast, brushed with a Cherry Reduction Sauce sliced Baby Beets, Butter & Mint

5th Course

1989, 1992 Le Cigare Volant

Marinated 2 day Garlic, Rosemary, Olive Oil Leg of Lamb (grilled butterflied)

6th Course

2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 Le Cigare Volant

Seared Prime New York & Pickapeppa compound butter, Scalloped Potatoes

7th Course

1988 (Magnum), 1998, 2014, 2016 Old Telegram (Mourvèdre)

C’ést Cheese

Diverse Cheeses

~

Bonny Doon Vineyard History

Bonny Doon Vineyard was founded by Randall Grahm in 1983. I first met Randall many years ago when he was a very young man looking to get into the wine business. In those days my friends and I were with him as he looked for vineyard sites. It was in the late 70s and Randall wanted to make Pinot Noir and chose Santa Cruz. But after a short time, he decided that he would not be able to make Pinot Noir to the standard that he had hoped and turned his attention to Rhone varietals. Then, along with several others, Randall became one of the original Rhone Rangers. Below is a narrative on the original group of Rhone Rangers:

In the 1980s, Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard, Joseph Phelps of Joseph Phelps Winery, John MacCready of Sierra Vista Winery, Bill Crawford of McDowell Valley Vineyards, Fred Cline of Cline Cellars Winery, Steve Edmunds of Edmunds St. John and Bob Lindquist of Qupé Wine Cellars, among others, began popularizing the marketing of the Rhône varietals. The group became known as the Rhone Rangers which was a play on the Lone Ranger.  Their success helped to revive plantings of many traditional Rhône grapes that were dying out in California like Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. Syrah also saw a dramatic increase in plantings after Gary Eberle, then with Estrella River Winery (now Meridian Vineyards) planted Syrah in Paso Robles and made available the clone he used to other interested growers.

Since that time Randall has gone about his business making traditional wines at Bonny Doon Vineyard and was also the first to introduce ingredient labeling which was also adopted by Ridge Vineyards (to read about ingredient labeling and why it is important click here).  The history of Bonny Doon Vineyard is fascinating and Randall has been a leader in making California wines that express varietal character and a sense of place (to read an article on Bonny Doon Vineyard and Randall Grahm, the history, and wine notes click here). So without question, Randall has been a pioneer in advancing many things in California wines which he is continuing today. Recently, Randall has purchased an extraordinary property in San Juan Bautista, which he calls Popelouchum, (the Mutsun Indian word for “paradise,”) where he is profoundly intent on producing singular wines expressive of place. There are also very grand plans afoot to plant a dry-farmed Estate Cigare vineyard. This Randall calls the most exciting undertaking he has ever started and I am sure that many great wines will be created here in future years. Stay tuned!

Yet despite all the achievements of Randall and Bonny Doon Vineyard, both continue to remain under the radar. This is a great opportunity for all of you that are not familiar with Randall and Bonny Doon Vineyard to become acquainted. I highly recommend that you get on the mailing list (to do so click here).

These two dinners were very special. The wines and cider were well matched with the food and both were excellent. The Bonny Doon Vineyard wines and cider were amazing. At times unusual and distinctive and, at other times very full and robust, but always balanced with great character. Randall is always willing to try new things and this is reflected in the diversity of the cider and wines he makes. The older wines have aged beautifully and were a pleasure to drink. Sadly, many of the older wines were either the last or very close to the last bottles remaining. This made for a truly historic event offering wines from 1985 up to 2016. Below are tasting notes on the wines and cider that we enjoyed at the two dinners.

Wine Tasting Notes – First Dinner

 

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Querry Cider
Made from Apple, Pear, and Quince, this is a delicious drink. Gold in color with a spice tinged perfume and faint exotic fruit tinges, it is fruity with a balanced sweetness and a nice crispness. It was a nice complement to the Ahi Tartare.

 

2006 Bonny Doon Vineyard Riesling To Live Sekt
This Riesling was made from the last vintage of Riesling grapes made from grapes grown in the Ca’ del Solo vineyard located just outside Soledad in Monterey County. The term sekt means no additional sugar added and this wine was made in the méthod champenoise and aged on the lees for three years. It was a one time only effort and Randall says it took forever to sell it. This is a real shame. The wine is absolutely delicious, but is now virtually nonexistent.  It has a faintly nutty spicy perfume with citrus undertones and is crisp and bright with nutty, spicy, floral nuances accenting the underlying citrus tinged fruit. Kudos to Randall for taking the time to make this unique and elegant wine.

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Vin Gris Tuilé
This rosé was made from Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Grenache. It was aged 9 months al fresco in a glass demijohn. It is a distinctive and very unusual wine. Light golden in color with an orange hue it has a nutty sherry like perfume. On the palate there is once again a light sherry quality with hints of roasted nuts.

 

2012  Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Vin Gris Réserve
Made from 69% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, and 11% Cinsault, this rosé was aged in a glass demijohn on the lees. Golden in color it has a great perfume that is honeyed and spicy. On the palate it is honeyed with faint hints of spice, peach, and hazelnuts. Again this is a distinctive and very unusual wine that is a pleasure to drink.

1985  Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
This wine is described as follows: Le Cigare Volant is our rendition of a complex, blended Southern French red, named in honor of the cigar-shaped alien crafts banned from landing in the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape by decree of the village council in 1954. The composition of our Flying Cigar is based on the traditional encépagement of its Gallic analogue… 
Leave it to Randall to come up with this name. The name is whimsical, but the wine is serious.

The 1985 vintage is the second year of production for Le Cigare Volant with 1450 cases produced. At over 30 years of age is a great tribute to Randall’s foresight. It is a blend of 77% Grenache, 18% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre and is stunning. The wine has a deep color with an amber edge and a lovely perfume redolent of berry fruit accented by cedary and faintly exotic nuances. It is rounded, full, and supple with great balance and flavor. On the palate plum fruit and cedar are very much in evidence with faint hints of orange zest and spice tinges. This wine is certainly now at a peak, but should any bottles remain I have no doubt that they will drink beautifully for many years into the future.

1987 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
This wine is made with 36% Grenache, 36% Mourvèdre, and 28% Syrah and 2400 cases were produced. It has a deep color with amber at the edge and has a lovely cedary perfume with plum and berry nuances and a kiss of spice. The wine has lots of plum and berry fruit with faint exotic tinges and hints of cedar and spice. Balanced, rounded, and very flavorful it is fully mature and a pleasure to drink.

2012 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
This wine is a blend of 39% Mourvèdre, 33% Grenache, 26% Syrah, and 2% Cinsault and the production was 4000 cases. It has a deep color and a lovely perfume redolent of a myriad of red and black fruits tinged with cedar, spice, and herbs. Flavorful and intensely fruity, it is rounded and balanced with soft underlying tannins. And, while delicious now, the wine will evolve beautifully for many years.

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
This wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 16% Mourvèdre, and 4% Cinsault and the production was 2400 cases. With a deep color the wine has a lovely perfume of berries and plums with faint spice and cedar tinges. It has intense berry and plum flavors with a faint spice tinge and is rounded and supple with well integrated tannins. Lovely now, but this wine has a long future ahead.

2012 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant Réserve
The Le Cigare Volant Reserve wines are aged in 20 liter glass demijohns on the lees. The blend is the same as the wine aged in wood barrels. This 2012 Réserve production was 820 cases and it has a deep color and a stunning perfume showing lots of exotic fruit nuances. On the palate it is beautifully balanced and harmonious with lovely fruit complemented by a faint candied quality. The wine is forward and delicious now, but it will age gracefully for many years.

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant Réserve
With a deep color this 2013 Réserve again shows an exotic fruit quality. It is rounded, lush, and flavorful with lots of exotic fruit and has depth and richness. Again, this is a wine that is delicious to drink now but will evolve well into the future. The production was 554 cases.

1990 Bonny Doon Vineyard Old Telegram (Mourvèdre)
Old Telegram is the name Randall gave to his wine made from 100% Mourvèdre. The name is a knock off based on the Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe a very old and highly regarded estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The label is based on an old telegram. The first vintage was 1986 and all vintages of Old Telegram have been made from grapes grown on over 100 year old Mourvèdre vines located in the Oakley/Antioch area near Sacramento.
This 1990 is a revelation. It has a deep color and a lovely perfume of black fruits with hints of spearmint and a touch of cedar. On the palate there is great purity of blackberry and cherry fruit tinged with cedar and a faint spice nuance. Balanced with depth and richness this is a real tour-de-force and is really delicious.

1995 Bonny Doon Vineyard Old Telegram (Mourvèdre)
This 1995 has a dark color and a great intense perfume of cassis and blackberry with tinges of cedar. On the palate there is great intensity of very pure cassis, plum, and blackberry fruit accented by a touch of spice and cedar. Balanced and intensely flavorful with very well integrated soft underlying tannins this wine is very enjoyable now, but has a very long life ahead.

 

2010 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc Réserve
Le Cigare Blanc is always made with Grenache Blanc and Roussanne in varying proportions each year. The Réserve wine is aged in glass and the production of this wine was under 500 cases. Randall says that Le Cigare Blanc can age for a very long time and this wine is a prime example. It is gorgeous and delicious to drink now, but will keep well into the future. It’s all about balance. The color is light yellow and the wine has a lovely floral perfume with hints of pineapple and peach with a faint suggestion of roasted nuts. With great fruit and flavor, it is lush and rounded with a myriad of fruit flavors accented by floral spice and honeyed nuances and a faint exotic tinge. This is a really impressive wine.

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc Réserve
Although showing mostly primary fruit at this stage in its evolution, this wine will gain more complexity over time. It is light yellow in color and has a lovely floral perfume accented by citrus and melon undertones. Flavorful, rich, and lush with layers of fruit this wine is delicious now, but its real charms are still to be unveiled.

2015 Bonny Doon Vineyard Popelouchum Grenache “Estate”
This is an example of what is to come from Randall’s newest venture in the rolling hills of San Juan Batista named Popelouchum. Grenache will be a focal point and this wine gives an early indication of what is to come. It has a lovely color and an intense floral and cherry perfume. Very flavorful with a myriad of red fruit flavors showing a slight peppery undertone it will be interesting to watch the evolution of this wine over time.

 

2011 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah (Sparkling)
This is another one-off wine from the 2011 vintage – Sparkling Syrah! Randall is always moving in new directions and this is another example. It is unusual, distinctive and very tasty. The wine has a dark color and a deep berry perfume with a slight smokiness. Fruity and sappy with a faint candied tinge and a subtle underlying smokiness, it is creamy on the palate and crisp on the finish.

 

Wine Tasting Notes – Second Dinner

 

2011 Bonny Doon Vineyard Winter Nélis Sparkling Perry
Wine made from pears is called Perry. The Winter Nélis is a very strange pear. It is still cultivated in the U.K. and in France as a table pear, but requires fairly long cold storage after harvest for it to properly mature. It is not grown commercially for fruit production in the U.S., because as a plant it produces extremely sharp thorns and is therefore very difficult to harvest without injury. However, it is grown in the US as root stock for grafting other pears. Randall found it in a commercial nursery and paid a picking crew extra money to harvest the fruit. The wine was made in fact as a méthode champenoise, with a secondary fermentation taking place in the bottle. It was made only this once. Randall says the wine was not easy to sell, but just as the supply was getting low, the popularity soared. And that is easy to understand – this sparkling perry is delicious.  It has a light yellow color and a gorgeous perfume of (guess what?) ripe pear that is intertwined with a floral accent and a faint exotic nuance. Bright, crisp, and fruity with ripe pear flavors enveloped by a delicate sweetness offset by a tinge of citrus, this is a delicious perry which also just happens to be the only one I have ever tasted!

2010  Bonny Doon Vineyard Sparkling Albariño Natur
Who but Randall Grahm would think of making a Sparkling Albariño? And it is made “natur”. That is without additional sugar. The wine is now over 7 years of age and drinking beautifully although, sadly, there are very few bottles left. It is light yellow in color and has a lovely perfume of cantaloupe, peach and citrus with a mineral undertone. Fruity with a slight spritz the wine is really lovely with mineral and citrus nuances accenting peach, melon, and citrus fruit. This elegant and delicious Sparkling Albariño is yet another unique and amazing creation from the one and only Randall Grahm.

2011 Bonny Doon Vineyard Vin Gris De Cigare
With over 6 years of age this is a delicious rosé that is a prime example of how rosé can evolve with bottle age. It has a pale golden pink color with a lovely floral perfume accented by a tinge of exotic spice. Lush and very pure with lots of peach tinged fruit also showing hints of melon and citrus with a very faint spice the wine is lovely now, but undoubtedly will keep and drink beautifully for some time.

 

2014 Bonny Doon Vineyard Vin Gris De Cigare
Made with a blend of 35% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, 16% Grenache Blanc, 12.5% Roussanne, 8% Carignane, 8% Cinsault, 1.5% Marsanne, and 1% Counois this Vin Gris is unique in its diversity of grapes. Now over 3 years of age the wine has evolved beautifully. It is pale gold in color with a faint pink hue and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of strawberry. Delicate and refined, yet with lovely flavors the wine shows hints of peach, strawberry and citrus with floral, herbal undertones. Drink now or well into the future.

2016 Bonny Doon Vineyard Vin Gris De Cigare
Very light pink in color this wine has a gorgeous floral tinged perfume with tinges of raspberry. Very expressive and fruity it shows lots of red fruit flavors accented by floral spice nuances and a citrus tinge on the finish. This is a really lovely Vin Gris that should age gracefully for many years.

2011 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc
Le Cigare Blanc is always made with Grenache Blanc and Roussanne in varying proportions each year. This 2011 is elegant yet very viscous and flavorful. The production was 1650 cases.
the wine is light yellow in color and has a faint honeyed spice perfume with faint hints of apple and quince. It has many beautifully integrated flavors showing pear and melon with a honeyed nuance and a citrus tinge. The wine is delightful to drink now, but no hurry. It will evolve and develop over many years into the future.

 

2011 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc Réserve
The Le Cigare Blanc Réserve wines are aged in glass. Only 480 cases of this wine were produced. It is light yellow in color and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of peach and coconut with a herbal tinge. With richness and depth the wine also has finesse and balance. Floral honeyed tinged flavors are well integrated with the peach and citrus tinged fruit. This is a really lovely wine that should continue to evolve over many years.

 

1988 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains “Estate”
This wine was made in a very small quantity from fruit grown on vines planted in 1984-1985. Alas, there is only one bottle of the 1988 remaining. The color is dark and the perfume is plummy with a faint smokiness. With lots of rich plum like fruit the wine is intense and flavorful with a balanced tannin structure underneath and a nice crispness on the finish. Not likely that the ultimate aging potential of this wine will ever be known, but it would appear that it will be very long lived.

 

1989 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains “Estate”
Very dark in color this wine has a deep plum perfume with faint hints of cedar. On the palate it has lots of fruit and lots of flavor with well integrated underlying tannins and a firm structure underneath. This should be long lived.

1992 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains “Estate”
With a dark color this wine has a great perfume of plums and black currants with a tinge of spice. On the palate it has intense black fruit flavors with richness and depth and well integrated underlying tannins. Still youthful this wine has a long life ahead.

1994 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains “Estate”
Sadly this was the last vintage for this wine. The vineyard became diseased and the vines were pulled out after the 1994 harvest. During the 1988-1994 years production totaled about 300-400 cases per year. So it is unlikely that too much of this wine remains. But what remains should be very long lived. Dark in color the wine has a great perfume of complex black fruits with a faint hint of spice. It is rich and full with layers of fruit and well balanced with the structure to age for many years.

1989 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant (Magnum)
The production in 1989 was 3200 cases and was made from 44.6% Grenache, 43.2% Mourvèdre, and 12.% Syrah. The 1989 vintage was initially thought to be a “lighter” vintage, but it has evolved as a rich full wine. It has a dark color and a great perfume of berries and plums with a faint spice tinge. It is loaded with berry and plum fruit showing a faint floral tinge and is beautifully balanced and a pleasure to drink. Despite it obvious appeal now it should age gracefully for many years.

 

1992 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
The 1992 production was 4000 cases and the wine was made with 45.7% Mourvèdre, 30.7% Grenache, 11.9% Syrah, and 11.7% Cinsault. With a deep color the wine has a lovely berry perfume with very faint hints of smokiness, cedar, and spice. It has lovely berry fruit with a spice tinge and is balanced and very flavorful. It is lovely to drink now, but even at over 25 years of age it is youthful and vibrant and has a long life ahead.

2001 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
The 2001 production was 5424 cases and this vintage was the first to utilize screw cap closures. It was made with 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, and 2% Viognier. The wine is dark in color with a deep perfume showing plum and cedar with a faint earthy, foresty undertone. It has lovely cedar tinged berry and plum fruit and is well balanced and flavorful. Seemingly at a peak now, but I would expect the wine to age well into the future.

2003 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
The 2003 production was 6579 cases and the wine was made with 35% Mourvèdre, 32% Syrah, 26% Grenache, and 7% Cinsault. Dark in color this wine has a deep berry perfume with just a tinge of cedar. It is rich and full with lots of fruit again showing a faint cedar tinge and is rich, well balanced, and flavorful. Lovely to drink now, but the wine should continue to develop over a long period of time.

2005 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
The 2005 vintage produced 2641 cases. It marked the return to the earlier practice of a higher percentage of Grenache. Grenache is 50% with Mourvèdre 24%, Syrah 22%, Carignane 3%, and Cinsault 1%. The wine has a dark color and a deep perfume with lot of berry fruit showing floral and cedar tinges. On the palate, it is very flavorful with loads of berry fruit and cedar, spice, and floral nuances. While delicious to drink now, additional bottle age will be well rewarded.

2007 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant
The 2007 vintage produced 3009 cases and was made with 45% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 4% Cinsault. The wine was aged in foudre and demi-muid. It has a dark color and a stunning perfume of cassis, and berry fruit with a faint floral tinge. Brimming with a myriad of fruits there are faint cedar spice tinges and the wine is flavorful and balanced with well integrated underlying tannins. Now a decade old the wine is very youthful and has great appeal for the fruit. But it is balanced and will benefit from extended age in the bottle.

1988 Bonny Doon Vineyard Old Telegram (Mourvèdre) (Magnum)
This 1988 is the only vintage of Old Telegram that was filtered. The wine has a deep color and a restrained berry perfume. On the palate there is fruit, but there is also a reduced level of fruit. The filtration may have been the culprit. Now nearly 30 years old the wine is still alive and drinkable.

1998 Bonny Doon Vineyard Old Telegram (Mourvèdre)
With a deep color the wine has a nice berry perfume with a hint of spice. On the palate there is good fruit, but it lacks persistence. Randall says that 1998 was a great vintage, but they made a mistake and used a SupremeCorq closure which led to premature oxidation. As a result, the wine has suffered an early demise. Nonetheless, despite this fact, at nearly 20 years of age the wine is still drinkable.

 

2014 Bonny Doon Old Telegram (Mourvèdre)
This 2014 is stunning. The wine has a very dark color and a great perfume with a myriad of black fruits and a tinge of spice. It has layers of plum and blackberry fruit and is full and rich with well integrated tannins. With intensity, depth, and balance, this is a great wine with a long life ahead. In is interesting to note that this wine and the 2016 reviewed below were made from grapes that were air-dried for several days and made with 100% stems. Both the 2014 and 2016 are indeed very special.

2016 Bonny Doon Old Telegram (Mourvèdre)
With a deep color this wine shows a lovely berry perfume with faint hints of plum and spice. On the palate it has tremendous fruit accented by a tinge of spice.  Just now the wine is a bit restrained, but it should blossom with age and make a stunning wine.

2006 Bonny Doon Les Vol des Anges (375ml)
This dessert wine is made from Roussanne grapes grown in the Beeswax Vineyard located in Arroyo Seco. Light golden orange in color it has stunning perfume showing coconut and tropical fruit with a faint floral tinge. Sweet and lush with apricot fruit and coconut nuances, the wine is flavorful, yet elegant and beautifully balanced with a nice underlying acidity. In short, it is irresistibly delicious. Wines such as this are a great tribute to Randall Grahm who is a master of experimentation in the creation of distinctive and unusual wines.

 

The Road Ahead – Popelouchum Vineyard in San Juan Batista