Bedford Tasting Room, Los Alamos CA

There are two little tasting rooms in the small town of Los Alamos, California.  In my last post I wrote about one of them, Casa Dumetz, and Bedford is right next door to it.  There is very simple (almost country-like) decor and a really friendly and knowleadgeable pourer.  The wines here were absolutely delicious, I liked each and every one of them.  They also had a wine that I had never tried beforecalled Carignane, which was very tasty.

This winery seems to excel in Syrahs - they were absolutely delicious! This cute little tasting room is definitely worth the stop.  It was $10 for a tasting of 5 wines.

Chardonnay (2009), $25: "The fruit from the Los Alamos region offers a tropical character of pineapple and melon along excellent acidity.  Fruit with this kind of structure warrants barrel fermentation and a completed maloactic fermentation.  Not every Chardonnay can handle traditional winemaking, but when it does, the wine becomes unctuous, buttery and complex.  This is a rich, full-bodied white with subtle fresh apple, melon notes harmoniously joined by soft toasty oak nuances."

• Color - slight golden.
• Aroma - sweet and creamy, crisp apple.
• Taste - wonderfully and lightly creamy.
• Overall - Very pleasant and light, well balanced creaminess with fruity notes.

Chardonnay "Dear Prudence" (2009), $35: "The wine has fresh fruit elements in the nose along with the complexity and richness barrel age supports, and that will increase over time.  The crisp acidity makes it a favorite with Dover sole or cracked crab."

• Color - bright yellows.
• Aroma - slightly crisp, light cream.
• Taste - light cream, slightly tart, very smooth.
• Overall - Another great Chardonnay, barrelled 20 months.

Carignane (2009), $30: "Carignane originated in Spain in the ancient region of Aragon, where it is now almost non-existent.  Yet the varietal has recently found increasing prominence in the Catalan wine region of Priorat, and has been vindicated by a number of young winemakers producing some of the best wines Spain has to offer.  The 2009 Carignagne has a deep ruby color and despite bright acids that dance across your tongue, there is a suppleness in the finish.  The texture complements the blackberry / black currant flavors backed by the warmth of oak."

• Color - deep burgundy with pretty reds.
• Aroma - sweet and fruity; raspberry.
• Taste - fruit forward, unique, very smooth; chery and strawberry
• Overall - Very pleasant and fruity, it was fun to try!

Comet Holmes Syrah (2007), $25: "Every so often something comes by that takes us by surprise even though we know it’s coming. In 2007 Comet (17P) Holmes paid us a visit during harvest. Usually visible only through a telescope, for unknown reasons it temporarily brightened by a factor of about half a million, in what was the largest known outburst by a comet, and became visible to the naked eye for three days. It also briefly became the largest object in the solar system, as its coma (the thin dissipating dust ball around the comet) expanded to a diameter greater than that of the Sun. A mild mannered, virtually unknown comet out performed its more illustrious brethren. It is a quality this Syrah holds. The 2007 is blend a different cuvees from multiple, local vineyards, each providing different elements to create a complex, intense yet amazingly supple red. The wine deserved its own celebratory title and our visiting comet seemed appropriate. It is deeply colored with a juicy berry, Oriental spice and cool earth character that is enjoyable now though aging will enhance all its properties."

• Color - deep burgundy.
• Aroma - sweet and strong, bright and lively; blackberry.
• Taste - very smooth, almost creamy; very unique & delicious
• Overall - I absolutely love this wine! It is very smooth and very pleasant, I wanted to take home a few bottles of this!

Syrah Archive (2007), $30: "From our many Syrah cuvees from 2007, one stood out above all; the lot from Watch Hill Vineyard. You could call tis wine our “Reserve.” The wine hits the mark on every level: amazing concentration; a rich, expansive palate; and the brooding, complex flavors you get from a cool climate Syrah. It is regal in stature with gorgeous fruit flavors but not ostentatious as some over-the-top renditions can be. Definite tannins will encourage you to cellar it, but the array of flavors are so enjoyable now, it will be hard to keep the cork in."

• Color - deep burgundy.
• Aroma - sweet and fruity.
• Taste - fruit forward, semi-sweet, very smooth.
• Overall - This was also a delicious Syrah! It was pleasantly fruity, medium bodied, and very smooth.