I think the first time I met Lee Williams he was wearing a psychedelic tie died T-Shirt at a Sunset in the Vineyard charity event. He wowed me with the wine that paired with his shirt, a “Purple Haze” Zinfandel blend, and I’ve been a fan ever since to the point of taking his wine for a videotaped tasting with Wine of the Month Club as my business partner, Michael Perlis, suggested it.
Little did I know that Lee and I had more in common than enjoying wine…apparently our taste buds are buds too*. Check it out:
Mistral Syrah 2013
Antelope Valley of the California High Desert AVA
Alcohol 14.7% by volume
French Oak barrel
$30
Appearance
The color of purple plum skins, opaque in the center and a darker clear ribbon at the edge of my glass.
Aroma
Blackberry, fig, musk, raisin, cigar, lingering rich earth.
Flavor
Tart and zingy, rich and dry, dark fruit, black pepper, dark chocolate, reminds me of a Malbec, long tannic finish.
Pairing
Want grilled meat, a meat-lover’s pizza or a nice charcuterie board with salami, hard cheeses, figs, dates and chocolate.
Conclusion
89 Eve points. If I were eating it would be 90 Eve pts. So there’s a conclusion for you. It’s damn good without food but if you’re hungry will be even better with.
From Website www.GoldenStarVineyards.com
2013 Syrah Mistral Antelope Valley AVA is a single vineyard wine from Chavez Cellars in the Antelope Valley of the California High Desert, AVA. Aged in 100% French Oak for 12 months. It is full-bodied, ripe dark fruit with pepper, soft oak and tannin notes on the finish.
Drinks well with grilled meats and veggies, as well as wild game and richly flavored stews and roasts.
Also excellent with a meat lovers pizza or tomato based pastas.
*OMG Second Conclusion
I play this game with myself: I do my article and then I go to the website afterwards, I swear it’s afterwards, to see how closely my tasting notes resemble that of the winemaker’s. OMG A MEAT LOVERS PIZZA? RIPE DARK FRUIT? PEPPER? GRILLED MEAT? TANNINS ON THE FINISH? And yes, I can and have been hired to write tasting notes and I swear on the life of my unborn grandchild yet to be conceived (I hope) that I did not write Lee’s!
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 15k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
