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Wine tasting notes with an emphasis on the value proposition equation: function of quality and price. Remember, wine is relative to other wines, and so an absolute score won't tell you much other than how I felt about a particular wine on a particular day as it relates to my own set of figures. Grab a bottle and delve into the decadent nature of scoring wine on your own; and remember, imbibe responsibly.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Chateau Ste Michelle, Syrah (Columbia Valley), 2002

From the bottle, the Syrah is harvested from grapes grown in Columbia Valley California and is 13.9% alcohol by volume.

Where did I find it: Fry’s

What did I pair it with: N/A

Appearance: Murky purple with flashes of crimson as I swirl; it appears to already be developing sediment as well.

On the nose: Light pepper and vegetable overtones.

Palate Entry: The entry is almost imperceivable; it isn’t hot, sweet, tart, or anything that one normally picks up – simple beginning
Mid Palate: The tannins finally show up mid palate, bringing with them a hint of berries and cherry.
Finish: The finish hits the back of the mouth, and is actually longer than I would expect it to be, given the simplicity of the entry and mid palate.

Price: $7.99
Quality rating: 85/100
Value rating: 48.76/60

Takeaway: I’m hesitant to bad-mouth the wine because it isn’t bad, just very simple; in a word, it is quaffable. If you’re eating something equally simple, like a meatball sandwich, then this wine will do fine, especially at the price point. There are better wines at this price point, to be sure, but I turn my nose at it just because of the simplicity.