2007 40 Nights Red Wine

No, no, "40 nights" doesn't refer to how long it's been since I've posted a decent note on this blog. While it may seem like it's been that long, in this case it refers to the 2007 Fortnight Wine Company 40 Nights Red Wine, Washington State. A Side project of Dusted Valley Vintners, this Syrah-based blend (also contains small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec) represents an exceptional value for a mere $10-12. The color is nothing to get too excited about. It's somewhere between that which you would expect from a Pinot Noir and a Merlot; a bit lighter than I would expect from a Syrah. But most folks will (correctly) tell you that color is overrated anyway. Moving right along, the nose reveals layers of smoke, cherry Jolly Rancher, menthol and a good bit of wet stone. That wet stone manifests itself on the palate as a tremendous sense of iron/mineral; reminiscent of the delicious Yard Dog Red I enjoyed last month. Cool climate Syrah through-and-through with more emphasis on the menthol/wintergreen/green peppercorn side of Syrah rather than the over-the-top fruit that I'm accustomed to from Syrahs from California's Central Coast. The wonderful acidity made this wine a great pairing with a bowl of baked rigatoni with sausage and tomato sauce. Really over delivers.

Having tried a couple of the wines from Dusted Valley's Boomtown range (the Merlot and Pinot Gris are particularly enjoyable) and now this, I am interested in trying some of the more high-end offerings from this winery. Looking at their website I see they are producing a Petit Verdot as well as an enticing array of Rhone-style varietals including Cinsault and Grenache. Note to self: contact LDF next week and find out which, if any, of these wines are distributed in Kansas.