2008 Lewis Vin Gris Syrah

The fourth of four wines at the K&L Lewis tasting. Spent $10, enjoyed four wines that are all good to excellent.

This is a delightful rose. Not what you want to be drinking in February with a light drizzle falling outside, but certainly something to enjoy on a warm to hot summer day, refreshingly chilled. It has very nice fruit, a nice balance of acid for some pop and a very nice sweet/tart blend flavor in the mouth. I think it was served a bit warm for this tasting, but it did allow it to bring out its flavor.

This would be great with a summer BBQ chicken salad mixed with corn and carrots and a mild cream dressing.

I would only quibble with the price, given that there are many very fine summer rose that come in around $15, rather than $25.

WR

2007 Lewis Barcaglia Lane Chardonnay

Another chardonnay, third of four wines. This was more subtle than the reserve, although not by much. It is still a classic California chardonnay, with some spice on the nose and lovely pear, honey flavor in the mouth. I liked this one better as it was a bit less overwhelming and readers will know I like a more steely, gravelly wine. I felt this wine was much more well balanced, with a nice finish of fruit and acid.

WR

2007 Lewis Reserve Chardonnay

The second of four posts from the K&L tasting of Lewis wines.

This is a classic California Chardonnay. Big, bold, buttery, can't find a b-word for oaky. Pear and apple and a bit of lemon, citris on the nose, with full mouth soaking chardonnay. It was not perfectly balanced, although I thought the acid was sufficient, my friend felt is was lacking. Still, if you love the California Chardonnay, then this is a wine for you.

The Lewis Cellar website is nice with a bit of history of the family and you can also buy.

All of these wines are just being released this week. So this tasting was a pre-release of these wines. Both of the Chardonnays were given more time in the barrel on the lies.






WR

2006 Lewis Reserve Cabernet

Went to a K&L tasting of Lewis wines, this will be one of four notes from the tasting.

This was a great fruit forward Cab with a very strong tannin finish. The tannins were very powerful, so there was quite a bit of pucker power, but they also had enough sweetness and following on the lovely fruit, made a nice glass. This Cab is big and bold and I think be a real treat in another 5-7 years, when some of the tannin bite will have smoothed out, but the fruit will still be very vital. The color of this wine is also a marvel, it is inky black, with almost no translucence, and that was the case even with a small one ounce pour.

K&L has tastings in the Redwood City store on Friday evenings and Saturdays. This tasting included the Lewis's, Randy and his wife Debbie, behind the bar pouring. There was a pretty strong crowd and I was there with a friend so did not get much chance to talk to the Lewis's. It was clear the group was enjoying the wines.

WR