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Tasting Notes and Storyline by Bastardo
SAAZ
We’d become good "virtual" friends with the cross poster known as Saaz through our participation on the internet Wine forums, regular email exchanges and from her feedback regarding The Gang of Pour pages. I‘d often wondered if we’d ever find an opportunity to meet, since she lives near Edmonton, Alberta, not far from the North Pole. But when she informed us that she’d be returning to her hometown of London, Ontario for several days, we knew that this might be our only chance to enjoy a few glasses of wine together for some time. Canadian Zinfan generously offered to host and cook for the event, and how could we refuse that! The big moment finally came early one Saturday evening in mid-September, at Chateau ZinCan. Greetings and big hugs were exchanged all around, and this taster was honored when Saaz called me "the best brother I’ve never met." Zinfan handed her an aperitif, and the tasting was on. The Zinfans’ friend Joe Grygier AKA Bordeaux Boy (a Canadian wine rep bound for crush at Chateau Mouton the following week) joined us shortly afterwards. 1997 Lagarde Viognier Mendoza ($NA): This Argentinean white is a pale-to-medium straw with a tinge of a sherry-like note over the soft vanilla/pear flavors and aromas. It has nice acidity and a hint of almond on the slightly astringent finish. Although the Zinfan remarked that it was "almost too dried out," it was in fact quite pleasant and interesting.
1996 Ridge Geyserville ($30): I picked up this and the Paso Robles at Merchant’s Marketplace in Ann Arbor for more than I cared to pay, but we hadn’t tasted them as a Gang yet, and Saaz’s presence made this an extra-special occasion. (CZ threw in the Lytton Springs, making the comparison even more fun! We gave all three an hour in a decanter before tasting.) The wine is simply gorgeous, and very seductive. It is the best young Ridge Zin I’ve tasted in a looong time, maybe even better than the ’95 Pagani. Dark garnet, with dense, concentrated "Draper perfume" that featured reduced raspberry/black cherry/boysenberry, which echoes on the palate. The Zinfan said it was "almost like a sauce you want to drizzle on chocolate mousse." Very smooth and velvety for its youth, this is Classic Mr. Ridge! 1996 Ridge Lytton Springs ($30): This has opened up a lot since Madame and I first tasted it in May. Another dark garnet, Saaz and Zinchick immediately noted a "dusty" quality on the nose. It’s "cleaner" than the Geyserville, but not as rich, deep or concentrated. Lovely flavors and aromas of raspberry/black cherry/chocolate/aquarium grace this wine; with extended air, CZ noted "pure strawberry." He also remarked "excellent oak; spot on." 1996 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel ($27): Dark garnet and jammy, but showing none of the typical "dusty" characteristic usually associated with Paso Robles Zins, this is another beauty. It shows the most briar/bramble of the three, with spicy raspberry/black cherry/leather; CZ described it as the "most sunbaked" of the three. Like the other two, it’s smooth and very drinkable right now. The consensus was unanimous; the Geyserville was the clear winner here, with the Paso Robles nipping close on its heels, but the Lytton Springs weren’t no dog! Mr. Ridge does it again! 1993 Domaine Saint Gayan Gigondas ($NA): Saaz has remarked very favorably about this a number of times in both web posts and email notes, so I was delighted that she brought one along. Another dark garnet (what can I say?), it has lovely flavors and aromas of smooth red currant/cherry, with various shades of smoke/game/pepper/tar. Zinfan immediately commented on the "huge licorice." With air, I found notes of cola typical of many Gigondas. This is a beautiful southern Rhone, even if it’s not as gutsy as some. 1993 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz ($NA): Saaz has a seriously cool wine merchant who gets seriously good wines, some of which we don’t see around Day-twah. This is one of them, and it’s a very interesting Shiraz. Comments ranged from "massive oak/Cambenzola (CZ)," to "quite chewy/highly extracted/too young (Saaz)," to "butterscotch (Zinchick)." I got rich spicy/very toasty/plum/black cherry, and three of us agreed that it finished a little short. Joe added that the finish "gnawed at the tongue." 1996 Neyers Zinfandel Pato Vineyard ($20): After Moe Vedre introduced this to us a few weeks previous, I found four at Village Corners in Ann Arbor and snatched ‘em all. I thought it would be nice to see how it stacked up against the Ridges, but we didn’t get to it in time. We did enjoy it though, with it’s BIG sweet oak/rasp/mullberry/black cherry flavors and aromas. Zinfan noted sweet chocolate. It was at that point that Saaz and Joe both had to leave. We bid them fond farewells, having had a most delightful time. Joe is a great guy, with a position in the Canadian wine industry that gives him perks like the aforementioned Mouton trip, as well as access to fabulous tastings.
As for Saaz, she’s just Gang, plain and simple. 1993 Greenwood Ridge Sonoma Zinfandel ($NA): The Zinfan pulled this last selection out for a "nightcap," and he and I probably drank most of it, as members of the female persuasion nodded off shortly thereafter. But we drank it out of sheer joy, because it’s a beautiful Zin. I’ve read lots of good things about this producer, but like so many, they don’t come around Day-twah, so this was my first exposure. CZ immediately commented "So much black cherry and pepper," while wondering if the alcohol wasn’t a little much. I didn’t think so; instead I was struck by toast right away on the nose, and maple syrup later, with a buttered mouthfeel and that briar/bramble quality that makes Zin so distinctive. There’s lots of bright fruit, with good tannins and acidity. Give it a few more years and it’ll be killer. Gimme more!
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