'99 Zaca Mesa Syrah

[ddf68]

Well, I'm just back from a grand tour of the Southwest (Utah and Arizona). Grand Canyon was impressive, I see what all the fuss is about; Sedona very nice, though they could use a bus line between Village of Oak Creek and the Town of Sedona; Sun City West (Phoenix suburb) very depressing example of urban sprawl, cookie cutter development. Wish I could regale you all with tales of plundering WW's cellar, but family politics killed our lunch date.

'99 Zaca Mesa at the El Tovar, Grand Canyon. Delicious Santa Barbara Syrah. Pretty tight with dinner, but after a couple hours of aeration (gotta love being able to take a bottle back to your room from the hotel dining room) it blossomed into black fruit and tarry goodness.

'99 Fess Parker Syrah at the Arizona Kitchen/Wigwam Resort. Much like the Zaca Mesa, tight early, black fruit and tar later, but earthier and much rougher around the edges. Good, but I'm not looking to go out and buy any. Dinner on the other hand was a revelation--Southwest haute cuisine. Chicken empanadas, gazpacho with white truffle oil, and a truly succulent veal shank. Everything was very well done and the style, for us anyway, was very new and exciting.

'98 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir This was sixth or seventh at a wine bar in Sedona. Very good, sweet ripe red fruit.

'00 Jean Paul Droin Chablis Dense and tight, but excellent potential.

ddf