1999 St Innocent 7 Springs Chardonnay & 2005 Dehlinger Syrah

Finally dug these notes up. Quick lunch at the office. Can’t remember what else we opened.

1999 St. Innocent Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (1/15/2009)
Forgot to input this note. Served blind to the others at lunch. Guesses went from white Burg to Viognier or something Rhone. I think white Burg is where people landed. Most agreed it was only a few years old. Wetrock thought the nose showed more age but the palate was lively and young. Great texture and purity. I brought the wine home and by the end of the evening the wine started to show some oxidation. And the ultimate compliment was that my wife was enthralled with it. I think the only other white wine I have seen her be that impressed with was the 76 Krug. Great stuff and I am very sad I did not save more of this. (93 pts.)

2005 Dehlinger Syrah Estate East Face - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (1/15/2009)
This was a bit of an impulse open as I had a bottle sitting at the office and we needed just a little more after the SI Chard. We finished the rest at home I and I didn’t pay lots of attention to it other than to note is was very tasty. Extremely pure and easy to drink. Softish acid and barely noticeable tannins. I think the big rich fruit was covering some of the tannin. Worked well with food despite its richness.

do you expect the Dehlinger Syrah to improve with time?

Yes. I didn’t plan on opening it so young … but the boys were at the office and we needed another wine to pop.

There is so much primary fruit that it is totally drinkable but I think 4-6 years will help settle the fruit down and more of the structure to show.

Jason

Nice to have a note on a Dehlinger Syrah that young - I’m happy to let mine sit a while and see what happens.

Me too. I have one bottle staring me in the face. I will wait. Thanks.

With only 1 bottle of Dehlinger it is always better to wait … well maybe not with the Goldridge Pinot. That seems to show best on the young side.

Jason