A Feast for St. Andrew

Friday was St. Andrew's Day and while the day was lacking in Scottish attire, it wasn't lacking for the spirit of the day.

There were two thick lamb chops, a barley pilaf, a wee bit of smoked salmon and a dram or two after dinner.

The wine of the day was from Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley, A 2007 Michel-Schlumberger Coteaux Sauvages.  This is the premium Syrah wine from the winery and after a glass or two one could understand why.

Heavy aromas of black fruits and a small amount of earth in the nose.  Great and forward fruit flavors of blackberries and plums that were dense but never went into the heavy stage.  This was ripe fruit and not jam.  Great tannin structure that supported this fruit and kept it from being overbearing.  Good acid that gave it some interesting highlights.  Good length to the finish, though the very end was a touch sweet. Very tasty and well done.

The wee drams later in the evening were a 1991 Lagavulin Distillers Edition, the last two in the bottle.  Good day, good meal, good wine and good whisky.

2007 Michel-Schlumberger Coteaux Sauvage.  14.9% alcohol and $50.