Couple years ago years ago we spent the day driving the Santa Cruz
mountains, visiting some of the wineries and started at Burrell School
Vineyards & Winery. Amongst a handful of wines that we quite enjoyed
was their very expensive Bdx-style blend; Valedictorian. Along with a
case of other stuff, we splurged and bought one bottle, and tucked it
away in the cellar until we felt it might be reaching peak.

Apparently the blend of the Valedictorian changes each year, but the
Õ04 that we bought was Merlot, with blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and
Cabernet Franc, in decreasing proportion. Based on what the staff at
the winery told us, and the dominance of the Merlot, we guessed that
the wine would be starting to come into itÕs own, so last night we
opened one to accompany some beef and fresh vegetables.

The color is a seductive deep, dark ruby. After about a 45 minute
decanting, the wine offered up a fantastic nose of earth, vanilla, dark
fruits and something almost sweet Ð chocolate like. On the palate the
wine was rich and full, with good acid and tannins that definitely
preferred accompanying some food. Long, tasty finish. After dinner was
long past, the acidity of the wine was more noticeable, and the tannins
firm, giving me reason to believe that the wine would continue to
improve in the cellar for some time yet.

Two paws up from the Beagles for the wine (on a night when a Beagle won
Best of Show at the Westminster!), but a definite growl on the price.
We paid $43 (after discounts) at the winery. Current retail at the
winery is something like $58 Ð far too high for this dogÕs budget.

I live 4 to 5 miles from Burrell School and stop by often. I agree that
$58 is too much for the 04 Valedictorian. Fortunately it is only $34
through the club program. I think the straight Merlot is a better buy
at about half the price.
Jim Mehl

"AxisOfBeagles" wrote in message
news:2008021310044116807-me@donotreplycom...
Couple years ago years ago we spent the day driving the Santa Cruz
mountains, visiting some of the wineries and started at Burrell School
Vineyards & Winery. Amongst a handful of wines that we quite enjoyed was
their very expensive Bdx-style blend; Valedictorian. Along with a case of
other stuff, we splurged and bought one bottle, and tucked it away in the
cellar until we felt it might be reaching peak.

Apparently the blend of the Valedictorian changes each year, but the Õ04
that we bought was Merlot, with blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet
Franc, in decreasing proportion. Based on what the staff at the winery
told us, and the dominance of the Merlot, we guessed that the wine would
be starting to come into itÕs own, so last night we opened one to
accompany some beef and fresh vegetables.

The color is a seductive deep, dark ruby. After about a 45 minute
decanting, the wine offered up a fantastic nose of earth, vanilla, dark
fruits and something almost sweet Ð chocolate like. On the palate the wine
was rich and full, with good acid and tannins that definitely preferred
accompanying some food. Long, tasty finish. After dinner was long past,
the acidity of the wine was more noticeable, and the tannins firm, giving
me reason to believe that the wine would continue to improve in the cellar
for some time yet.

Two paws up from the Beagles for the wine (on a night when a Beagle won
Best of Show at the Westminster!), but a definite growl on the price. We
paid $43 (after discounts) at the winery. Current retail at the winery is
something like $58 Ð far too high for this dogÕs budget.



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