Terre Rouge Tete-a-Tete

[Innkeeper]

2000 Terre Rouge, Tete-a-Tete, Sierra Foothills ($13). This is Terre Rouge's version of a Cotes Du Rhone. If you are in California and can't find a CDR this is an excellent option. It came with the Fall Harvest Sampler Case, am not disappointed with it, but probably would not go out and look for it amongst the CRDs available around here.

This is meant to be a young tasting wine in fact as well as in the grapes themselves coming from younger vineyards. They succeeded, and here in late '03 it was at the top of its game. Gives you strawberry aromas and flavors upfront. Texture that is at once spicy, frisky, and creamy swims across the palate. And the finish is surprisingly lengthy. Matched it with simply sauteed ham slices and spinach. Very nice.

[Innkeeper]

Well it's a year later and we received the '01 version in the '04 Fall Sampler from Easton/Terre Rouge. The list price is still $13. Alcohol is 14.5%. They don't give the grape breakdown on the label or on their site, but guessing from its lightness, but its ability to bury the alcoholic content on one's palate, would surmise that it comes from young vines of their normal melange of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, et. al.; that have been left on the vine for quite a while.

Regardless it was terrific, and matched absolutely perfectly with lamb burgers from the beast we recently brought home. I would put this version of T-A-T up against any CDR at the same price.

[Innkeeper]

Popped an '04 last night. It came with the Fall '06 sampler. The list is now $14, and the alcohol remains 14.5%. They are still coy about the melange, saying only "made from Rhone Valley varietals grown in the Sierra Nevada Foothills." It carries the SNF appellation.

When I removed the capsule, I was concerned because the cork was stained with wine on top. After removing the cork, I saw that the it was not saturated, but a slight imperfection had let the wine run through to the top. Still I feared oxidation or worse, and decanted very carefully.

The wine was fine, though I suspect it was a good thing we went ahead and opened it. It showed very similar fruit and structure to previous vintages. We matched it again with Lambburgers, this time accompanied with Moroccan veggies.

Excellent Wednesday night repast.

[Innkeeper]

Another '04 arrived with the '07 Fall Sampler. This time the cork was in excellent condition as well as the wine. It actually showed a little positive maturity. Matched it with sliced leg of lamb in gravy, potato salad, and garden salad. Another very nice Wednesday night.