Bottoms Up

Stephane Derenoncourt, the Bordeaux superstar who consults for dozens of wineries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, has released his own wines made from grapes grown in California.

I had been holding on to these wines, waiting to open them for just the right meal. Last night, alongside a maple-and-balsamic glazed pork chop, I popped open the 2006 Syrah from the Hudson Vineyard in Carneros. Derenoncourt also makes a Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot from the Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak.

According to a February post on Decanter.com, Derenoncourt’s intention was to  make California-style wines with an emphasis on freshness and elegance. You won’t find heat or high sugar on these wines.

The Syrah was a beauty. On the nose, it had subtle aromas of bacon fat and leather in harmony with black fruit and spice. The flavors are similar. I also got some white pepper on the finish, which is silky, long, and lacks that bite of big tannins we often get when tossing back a Cali syrah. Definitely a fresh and vibrant take on the wine. I loved it and really look forward to tasting his other California wines.