'01 Tobin James Refosco

[Innkeeper]

We popped the 2005 tonight that came with the fall ’07 shipment. It carried a list price of $48 and an alcohol level of 14.8%. This was quite a mouthful.

The color was as close to black as I have ever seen in a wine. This was not ominous; after five years there was still a lot of both red and black fruit on the nose and upfront. There was plenty of more fruit to complete the balance in the middle, along with just the right amount of acid and ph. The tannin was a smooth as the proverbial baby’s bum. The finish rang 5 bells before we stopped counting.

We matched it with lamb leg steaks that were marinated in our mint-lemon-EVOO mayonnaise; roasted baby Yukons; and a bowlful of our own Summer Golds with chopped basil leaves and a little vinaigrette.

A one day deferred birthday dinner for my true love. Mmmmmm good!