theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America.

A rush of ripe pineapple and tropicals greets the taster. With a few minutes of air the additional complexities reveal themselves one layer at a time. Fresh baked apple betty is upstaged by extra toasty crème brulee. Gooseberry moves aside for butterscotch. A custardly rich middle mouth is refeshed by the crisp, tangy finish that is bright and fresh. A seamless glide from sensational ripe fruit to clean and vibrant. It dares any food!

Upon pulling the cork one gets explosive organics... some barnyard, some damp forest floor, three days without a shower. But a 1/2 an hour of breathing or a quick decant brings out the outrageous complexity of this wine. This year the site was more dominant than usual. Without much interference from Mother Nature, as she maintained her good mood for most of the season, the grapes were allowed to enjoy the cool lazy mornings and the warm and breezy fandango afternoons. The near perfect growing season of 2001 gave each cluster and each berry the opportunity to realize its full potential. Ripe raspberry and pomegranate aromatics are supported by warm vanilla spice and a hint of licorice (thank the Dutton Jewell Ranch for that...).

If long legged, lean, blond, and reserved is your style this is your paramour. Aromas wait for hours to reveal even a hint of their perfumed complexity and the fruit flavors yawn into exposition. But when they arrive one takes notice. Pear continues to be the fruit of choice when describing this wine. A slip of cinnamon and soft vanilla tones round out the development of the wine. A dessert is in here somewhere.