Garretson Roussanne "The Limoi Cior" 2004

Paso Robles, California.

100% Roussane from two different vineyards. 15.1% alcohol. $29.98 in Indianapolis.

This was a rapidly evolving wine, changing over the first two hours out of the bottle. The color was a very golden yellow. The nose, right out of the bottle, was very fresh, like new-cut hay. I had trouble putting my finger on the fruit at first, until I reached for the exotics and starfruit fit the bill, along with mango and some softening butter. Thirty minutes later the starfruit gave way to very clear pineapple, along with mango and buter. The palate had lemon zest and butter, lightly grilled pineapple, and some pear on the mid palate. The finish was mid-length. Then, another thirty minutes later, it had changed again. Honey not only made itself known, but came to the fore, along with pineapple. The mouth feel was thick, a bit syruppy. The finish was mid-length and very pleasant.

Here is an interesting side-note: "Limoid Cior" is Gaelic for "lemon honecomb," and the label tasting notes start with lemon rind and honey, a rare label note that has any relationship with reality.

Second night.

The nose was thicker, honey, the tiniest echo of lemon zest, and some fruit somewhere between date and fig. The palate, too, had changed, far heavier on honey, the same lemon zest, and now the fruit was clearly fig, fading into vanilla in the toward the end. The finish was medium length, mouth-coating and thick.

My overall impression of this wine was a bit too thick and cloying, more so as it aged overnight. It did not really work well with tender dark meat chicken, but it might balance against something a bit more spicy. This was a very nice wine last tonight, but too thick and cloying the second night. Drink up now and enjoy it. I'm not sure it will last until next summer.