Cork: Authentic
Name: Kinton Syrah
Type: Syrah
Vintage: 2005
Region: Santa Barbara County
Country: USA
Producer: Kinton Vineyards, Santa Maria, CA
Price: ’twas a gift
Purchased at: Wine.com
Date: 2/2/08
Served With: Colby Jack Cheese & Townhouse Buttery Crackers (this is the ‘Redneck’ wine review!)
Appearance: Deep, dark & luscious maroon. Very leggy.
Aroma: Hints of American oak and white pepper.
Taste: Initial flavors of tobacco and some other woody characteristics. A middle palate reminiscent of greeny things like hay, straw or maybe even grass. Finishes nicely with hints of anise.
Comments: Here’s a wine that happens to pair very well with the appetizer. It gives a nice contrast to the cheese and helps to cleanse the palate between bites. It’s full-bodied but not overwhelming and while I’m not necessarily a huge fan of the anise-type finish I would definitely drink this wine again.

Incidentally, I heard through the grapevine that this wine was recently added to the wine list at the world-famous, 5 Star hotel in Colorado Springs called the Broadmoor. It should sell well!