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The following are excerpts from the Salamandre Newsletter:
Sensible winemakers never dare to leave their posts in October.
On the other hand, Southern Utah basks in Autumn's angular light, cottonwoods glow in the red canyon
recesses, and naked ancient hunters taunt the modern humans from streaked sandstone alcoves. We
respectfully asked the grapes to wait until we returned.
A raggedy company shouldered backpacks and quickly left the security of the trail in Capitol Reef.
In case of arguments, we followed Scott, the gecko-footed lawyer with a cavalier contempt for the laws of gravity.
George, the biology teacher with a carnal knowledge of each of stars of the Pleiades, perplexed us with an
inscrutable smile until he divulged that he'd just gotten secretly married. Robin, the cactus grower/surfer/philosopher
who can make coal burst into blossom, found all the little stickery things. Salem, the Armenian mountain goat
pediatrician jazz pianist who thinks anything is possible in Utah, Guatemala, or Santa Cruz, briefly discovered
his true identity, but quickly moved on. The winemaker carried the heaviest load and the garlic.
We clambered over the weathered rock, through the junipers, toward a most remarkable landform. Fern's Nipple peaks
high above the hoodoos, mushrooms, and spires of this bizarre country, a monumental beacon to prurient interest.
Nobody really knows who Fern was, or whether any man ever knew her in the flesh, but in her petrified magnificence,
she is definitely a bounteous Utah Lady. She's actually impossible to ignore, but to caress her tenderness, a
man must first sacrifice some skin. We did that. Then he must somehow climb back down from one of the most
breathtaking 360 degree views on Earth. We feasted on gnarly barley stew (see the website for a recipe), made
Kokopelli dancing shadows in the fading light, and quaffed plenty of Primitivo.
In the crystal glider of the new moon, George took us on a star tour. We paused in the constellation of Ariadne's crown, flung to the heavens in despair by Dionysos as he contemplated his curse of immortality after his wife crested the ridgeline of her mortal days. We reflected upon love and fate as campers often do. What if Ariadne had never given Theseus the thread to escape the Minotaur's maze at Knossos, and what if Theseus had taken the maiden back to Athens instead of abandoning her in her sleep on the pebbled beach of Naxos? What if Dionysos had waded ashore on some other island and found a sleeping donkey instead of a cleverly disobedient Minoan princess? Among other things, the practice of viticulture and the divine blessing of wine never would have happened, and we would all be drinking ouzo, slivovitz, and tequila.
That was close! However, you don't have to rely on divine intervention. You can keep all your skin, don't need to expose anything at halftime, and snuggle up to lots of ferns.
We’re having Invitational Tastings Saturdays April 3 & 17, from 1-5 at the winery.
Come visit!
For a limited time, we're pouring our 1996 Alexandra Sparkling Brut, aged en tirage 7 years! Also-we'll debut the Don Carlos Red-a balanced blend of humility and presumption.
New Wines for Spring
Don Carlos Red 2002. Our regulars remember the Long Toed Red blend from the 90's. The Don Carlos Red is a bit more refined, but without hubris. It shows bright "red fruit" of strawberry, red cherry, and perhaps pomegranate. It will be a bit young until June, but so will you, so ask him for a date. $12. Specials on full cases at the winery.
Wines in Full Stride
Merlot 2002, Arroyo Seco. Arroyo Seco Merlot in warmer years delivers black plum and currant flavors which relish the vanilla flavor nuances of American oak. "Relish" is too frilly a verb for the 2002 vintage. It bellowed for more oak. So I obliged. Big wine with inky color and concentrated fruit. Try it brash and young with a steak.
Syrah 2002, Los Lobos. This young fella's been splitting firewood with a 12 pound maul all day, and he's rippled with muscles and full of love. Rustic charm that cleans up well. Give him a shower and a clean T-shirt, feed him beef, and forgive the elbows on the table. The 2002 has the same jammy fruit, earthy notes, and black pepper spice as the successful 97, 98, and '00 vintages. This one also sports an enticing raspberry aroma that will make you wistful when the last glass goes dry.
Chardonnay 2001, Arroyo Seco. Silver medal again in 2003, but more importantly, beautifully balanced fruit, acid, and oak for the dinner table.
Ménage à Trois 2000. This threesome of Primitivo, Merlot, and Syrah enjoyed a spirited cellar life for 2 years in barrel and succeeded in shedding any pretense of chastity. Too charming to be moral, but will behave at least through dinner.
Pinot Noir 2001, Arroyo Seco, Dijon Clones. As this Pinot matures, we're finding seductive black cherry fruit elements, progressive complexity and delicacy.
Primitivo 2000, Los Lobos. I typically serve this wine last in our tastings, because it's just not fair to pour even excellent red wines after the Primitivo. It sweeps the table clean. It's still my favorite mountain wine, desert wine, ocean wine, laughing friends wine, get 'em next year wine, was-that-really-you wine, still-in-love wine.