2005 Longboard Syrah Russian River Valley - Longboard Wine

Been on a Syrah run lately - but I have been heavy into Syrah for a few years. The Longboard was a first for me. It is from the Russian River Valley (love that area) and is the 2005. Alcohol is 14.5%

I got a recommendation from my local wine store the other day to pick this up. Usually this happens (the recommendation I mean) when I comment on another wine of the same varietal that I either had or just know. This happened with this wine. I was complimenting a petite sirah that I got from there - the two angels petite sirah. Good stuff there and will post soon.

The Longboard has a really cool note on the back of the bottle. Apparantly the winemaker/owners are surfers too. "Longboard". Took me a few glasses to notice myself!

On to the wine:

The nose had a really nice sweet smokey and cherry aroma too it. the tastes had round black fruit with a little green on the mid palate - a hint of earthyness within the fruit. I like that, but the green and earth kinda left as the wine was opened. It then offered more dark fruit and while fairly simple, it was a good finish and an all around fun wine.

88 Points

For $27 (I have to remember to post prices more I know!), I think the Longboard is a good, not great buy. Right in the middle. Quality California Syrah is not cheap but I think this was is right there for the price range. Again - Wine tasting is totally subjective and I am only offering up my impressions and hopefully writing about wines that you may not have been aware of previously.

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2008 Boutari Moschofilero

I have little experience with white wines from Greece so when I saw the 2008 Boutari Moschofilero at my local Costco at a very nice price - I went for it. I am sipping it now with a nice plate of smoked Alaskan Salmon and fresh italian toast twists.

Sometimes food can almost "cheat" the score of a wine, but if I'm enjoying a wine from Greece - eating some strong flavored cold fish seems right.

The Boutari Moschofilero had a light color that seemed good on a warm day hanging outside.

The aroma of this greek wine was subdued. It was opened pretty cold but still had nose of apple, spritz, with some sweet lime. The palate was light and fun. Nothing heavy or complex, but a fun chugger here. The taste had a nice orange and spritz taste with an expect light finish.

Only 11.5% alcohol but the balance seemed there.

This is just a wine you'd drink if you wanted something cold and fun and you didn't want a beer or anything too crazy wine wise.

The Salmon helped the Boutari Moschofilero

85 Points but it wasn't about the rating this time. I still enjoyed it.

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