In a strange coincidence I happened to walk up the drive at the very same time a girl I worked with out in the Barossa at Two Hands Wines, drove past. So having caught up with her we went and met another ex-Two hander for a couple of beers. In some ways the Napa Valley winemaking community seems to be an extremely close knit bunch with the six degrees of freedom that occur else where don't obviously apply here. Every one will know everyone through at least friends of friends.
Anyway, I'm still on the hunt for accommodation and a car, fingers crossed something will come along soon or else it'l be camping in the backyard for me. Had a couple of good wines yesterday, Firstly Outpost's Howell Mountain zinfandel 2007. A lovely ripe nose of white pepper, briar and plums. Totally a Zinfandel you can drink without out becoming overwhelmed and staggering away from the table burbling something about Primitivo. The alcohol is high, but then it's a Zin, and in all honesty you wouldn't believe it from the palate. Very good concentration, with some ripe Zin sweetness. Made from three different parcels of fruit in the swale.
Altagracia 2005, not bad, had plenty of body and a real definitive tannins structure. I got to it half way through the night and it was just beginning to open up, not too abrasive though. The fruit were more high toned red fruits, a little more freshness than the zin, some nice lengh, but , If I have to be critical, a bit boring.
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