What's Laird Drinking Now?

We went to casa Bonfili for a last dip in the pool and a sendoff to Summer. It was a pretty day and the water was 78 cool degrees. We enjoyed a game of horse and the little man got in to take a few shots as well.

2005 Fannucchi Trouseau Gris: A pretty obcure white varietal (my first ever encounter) and a very interesting introduction. Grass, meyer lemon, and celery on the nose give way to tropical fr uits like pineapple and mango. The wine shows additional complexity with notes of honey and lychee. Certainly not old or browning, this could probably go another year or two. It is always fun to try a completely new grape and to learn a bit about it.

2006 Argyle Reserve Pinot Noir: This was not singing quite the way their 2005 Nuthouse bottling we had six months ago was, but still really good. Graham cracker crumbs, roses, and raspberries pop up from the glass and with air complicate with black tea, violets, and a bit of earth. Really juicy acids play nicely with lingonberries and red cherry fruit and eventually a hint of mint seems to tail in on the finish.

2007 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast: Smashing black violet color is the first impression while pouring this into glasses. Boisenberry, marionberry, and plum flavors are really full throttle on the attack and are reined in by truly mouth watering acids. There is some coconut oak and a real impression of tea like tannins hidden under all the fruit that suggests more structure than is first noticeable. The Rivers-Marie signature sweet sour flavor duel is here in a big way with the 2007 vintage hallmark fruit making it a very difficult wine to resist now. I do think that some bottle age will make it even better in a few years. To my mind the Rivers-Marie project represents the state of the art in Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. They are never under wined, nor are they over blown and stewy, just pure expressions of great California fruit and soil. Sadly, I am far from the first to know this and not only is the mailer full; there is a huge waiting list as well. It is always real treat to get to taste their wines, thanks Jay.