I have been a fan and supporter of this vineyard. There is a personal connection. This notwithstanding, some of their products have been excellent, others not worth the cash or time. In their recent past there have been some excellent merlot, decent cabs, and spotty chardonnays.

This wine was purplish red and was decanted due to both its youth and the visible sediment present. Since i enjoy observing tannins soften, I waited 1.5 hours before pairing it with dinner. At first decant this had a plummy nose with spice and a tannic framework supported by vibrant acidity. The wine was not quite clear and had a slight opacity.

The first genuine pour was preceded by a nose of plum, blackberry, nutmeg, and an off-cinnamon bouquet. Mouthfeel was medium in texture with a slowly developing dark fruit profile dominated by everpresent modest tannins and palpable acidity. The wine was a pleasant accompaniment to dinner but the finish was short-lived and faded fast into a tannic haze.

This was an adventure outside of the wine regions we associate with US wines. I possess the '98 Reserve merlot, '99 Reserve merlot, and the '99 Cabernet sauvignon. In retrospect, i would decant longer. 85 this time around. Price of wine from the vineyard $30.

Dick

Thanks for the note Dick, I have a bit of an affinity for this winery as well as I lived just upstream of the Canyon (at Brownlee) for 2 1/2 years even though the winery is near Marsing I think. I take it you've fished the Canyon? I have always found their Cabs to be near reasonable. Other Idaho wineries I have represented in my cellar are Three Island (truly scared to try), Sawtooth, Pend d'Orielle, and of course, St. Chapelle.

I have indeed fished the Canyon in better times when the ranchers' greed for water did not deplete the waters, when eagles dived upon fish carrying osprey, and the cutthroat thrived. A bad water system in Idaho, where the ranchers have an allotment from the river. Sad to see their irrigation devices spraying tons of water on their lands and crops in rainy seasons, so as not to have their allotments reduced in subsequent years. Sad to see jetskis on the South Fork farther up running rings around fishermen's lines. The canyon areas are magnificent. The lands above the canyons with swaying fields of wheat. A true land of purple mountain majesty.

Dick