Tasting at Bonny Doon

2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Exquisite Coupe, $18.00
2004 Ca Del Solo,Malvasia Bianca (Muscat),$13.00
2002 Syrah, Le Pousseur, $15.00
2002 Old Telegram (100% Mourvedre), $32.00
Muscat, Vin de Glaciere, $17.00
2001 Ruche
Shane’s Notes

I really wanted to like Bonny Doon’s wines. They use interesting varietals and have quirky names for their wines such as “Le Cigare Volant,” which is the French phrase for flying saucer, or UFO, and “Bouteille Call.” Unfortunately, you can’t drink a name and Bonny Doon’s wines barely rise to the level of drinkable. They all have a decent backbone but either lack flavor or have flavors I simply do not like. We did not taste one wine with the requisite complexity to be considered a serious wine.

I thought the Sauvignon Blanc was steely and lacking flavor. There may have been a touch of tropical fruit flavor but the dryness quickly removed it from my palate. Jen liked this one better than I did. She thought it was zesty and citrusy with a nice finish.

The Muscat had a honeysuckle aroma and was sweet and dry (how did they manage that?). The sweetness is pleasant but there are no underlying flavors. This one leaves you thinking “Not bad, but why am I drinking this?”

The best wine of the tasting was the Syrah. It had a blackberry jam aroma with a jammy, smokey, spicy palate. The initial burst of flavor is mildly pleasant but the wine is not well balanced and the fruit flavors clash with the smoky/spicy flavors. Once again, this wine has the typical Bonny Doon “where did the flavor go?” finish.

The 100% Mourvedre Telegram has a licorice and spice palate and was a bit tannic. The licorice taste is quite unpleasant - the Telegram proves that Mouvedre is a blending varietal.

The worst of the tasting was the Ruche. We were told that it is a rare varietal, and we are quite glad that we are likely never to encounter it again. The wine had an overpowering gasoline taste on the palate making it absolutely undrinkable. I’d drink two buck Chuck before I’d drink this swill.

The Muscat was decent although overpriced. It has a floral aroma and a nice, syrupy texture. It is very sweet with a bit of peach underneath the sweetness. The finish is clean and long.

The last wine in the tasting was a Framboise, made from Washington State raspberries. Jen absolutely loved it. I have to disqualify myself from reviewing this one because I don’t like raspberries.

Jen’s Addendum

Except for the Ruche, I like all of their wines more than Shane. Although I didn’t find them world-class, they are all quite drinkable, especially with a meal.