Wines of Christmas Past...OK, just 2009

Here's a quick photo shot of some (but not all) of the wines "we" worked on during the late 2009 holiday season, with some help from my parents. The highlights were the Chateauneuf (Charbonniere, 2005, note below), and the Jaffurs 07 Syrah (note below). Out of the "budget" wines, I'd have to say the 08 Briccotondo was my favorite, just a batch of wild strawberries with good balance and acidity for food. Since I didn't post a separate tasting note for the Bricco that'll have to do - had the 07 which I found a bit gutsier, but this is still lovely for around a $12-14 wine. Happy 2010 everyone!

2007 Jaffurs Santa Barbara County (Syrah)

From an apparently "care-free vintage" as Jaffurs put it in a recent interview, this Syrah was absolutely gorgeous and yes, huge. This is their general appellation bottle, and it positively throttled us with its lovely blueberry cream/cobbler scents and palate, but yet it has the tell-tale savory sweetness of Syrah and the white pepper after-scents you might expect from a good northern Rhone. Between this and the CdePape (reviewed below), have to give this wine the nod for the match with the leg of lamb we enjoyed Xmas Eve.

And frankly, for $24 (thanks Marc!), this was an absolute steal. It was punching well above its weight class.

95/100

Bottom line: A great, reasonably-priced California Syrah. If you can find it, you're nuts not to buy it.