essex wine report

Well I had to go to the south of the county today and man was I lost; it seems that I get directional impaired down there. There must be some sort of Bermudan effect.

Well I finally found Erie Shores. Well I bought some more rose. As you know I really like it and it's just a fun fun wine. when I got home I found some Konzellman rose - opps such a problem. I wished I had those everyday.

I was happy to find a new winery, Colchester Ridge, but it was closed. Its about 3 miles east of Erie and should be across the street from Viewpoint ( John- get it done so I can get some pinot - I just keep hearing good things and its been a long time since I first heard about it from you at the Boardroom before a game ). It looks really nice and I am just awaitin to do a tastin.

So I headed west along 50 to see the other winery- Sprucewood Shores: a birdie told me it was run by engineers so its gotta be good. But alas it won't be ready till next year but boy do the buildings look really nice.

Then I got really lost. I saw wheat and other green stuff. Man, where am I??? Are there bears around here??? I've seen the video of Churchill Man. and I would be a nice tasty treat for ol smokey. I was sweating  until I found Holiday Beach: bad memories from childhood. Now I'm really lost with bad flashbacks. This ain't good. Hold on a grape sign. yes I'm still in Kansas and behold-D'Angelo . good good I like that place. Didn't have to do a tasting as they are about ready to get their new wines out. He ages his wine a lot so it is quite different from the other wineries and he's won alot of awards. I like his cabernet and pinot (though I've only bought it from his library stock). As I am writing, I am drinking a 96 cabernet from his library that is wonderful. I rarely get to drink mature wine and it was good before aerating and after it was great! Had it with a new york which I covered in/marinated with herbes de provence before I grilled it. Magnifique.  D'Angelo also makes a real neat daily- it's a baco franc and its cheap and after aeration its really quite a bargain - I used it for a party and my snooty friends liked it. Good enuff for me.

Being the great geographer, I knew Sanson was just down the way so there I went. I really hate how they changed the street names to county roads. Well finding Sutton Creek golf club, I knew I was close but too far - oi, where was I. I could have called tso but she would have made fun of me so I guessed. Well there was the red barn. Good, I'm there and they're still open. New wines since the last time I was there too. I just love late harvest wines and their Late Harvest Vidal is no different. Sweet( bout a 2), fruity, round and just classy. These vidals just do it for me. Try one. They are so good and are a value. Face it the grapes are really for ice wine but down here the vidal just works really well. There's a certain red I won't talk about cos I want it all for me. But the shiraz is really nice and doesn't taste overdone like they can be - reminds me more of a syrah rather than shiraz and that's a good thing. I gotta get some lamb to make with it. Just think- some lamb racks smothered in herbs de provence, grilled to perfection( only like I can do) and accompany it with their shiraz - just like in the Rhone Valley- that would be a cool meal. Dessert: add some fresh fruit over good vanilla ice cream, doused with black pepper then drizzled with some fine balsamic - ouch , even I would be attractive to la bella femina.

Oops, forgot about Baco Noir. I've never been a fan. I have just drank too many bad ones. I can't quantify my issues but it's a musty taste to me kinda. Well lo and behold I'm now finding some I like. Erie Shore's new vintage is sooooo unbaco-y - I just really like it and bought a bottle today. They are really proud of it and I'm going to give it a try. Also Sanson has done the same to me. I tried the Baco Reserve today and it was also so un-baco-y - very nice too. It just shows how far the appellation has come.

I'm just so locking forward to the new releases, the 05's should be excellent and all indications are that they will get noticed.