August 2005--Wine Recommendations
Virtual Tasting Room —Bonny Doon
By Thom Elkjer
One of Santa Cruz, California's most interesting and lively wine tasting rooms, Bonny Doon has great personality and great wine. Here are a few favorites.
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Bonny Doon Albariño Monterey Ca’ del Solo Vineyard 2004 ($18): sweet lichee, peach and tropical fruit aromas all flow as flavors into your mouth, in a richly viscous texture balanced by excellent acidity; a complete wine that could sell for twice the price. |
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Bonny Doon Malvasia Bianca Monterey San Bernabe Vineyard 2004 ($13): surprisingly bold aromas of mango and guava presage a mouth filling, soft-bodied wine that could make you forget about Chardonnay for hours, if not days. |
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Bonny Doon Rosé Table Wine California “Vin Gris de Cigare” 2004 ($11): Smells and tastes like strawberry and pomegranate, with tropical fruit and succulent caper accents. Great ride in the mouth: slippery and grippy, sweet and dry. Refreshing for your palate and your pocketbook. |
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Bonny Doon Red Table Wine California “Le Cigare Volant” 2002 ($32): a mouthwatering blend of five Rhône grapes that starts with aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, cut plum, baked apple and blackberry pie, then fills your mouth with spicy fruit and toasty oak before finishing sweet and clean. |
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Bonny Doon Syrah Port “Bouteille Call” ($16): Inky purple in color, it brims over with aromas of raspberry Kool-Aid on steroids; I’d keep it in the refrigerator and bring it out after serving the cheesecake or crème brulée. |
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