Copain Pinot and Burgundy Dinner

Last night, we had a dinner at Trio restaurant in Austin (part of the Four Seasons). The wines served were thematically Copain wines and Burgundies. Here's a list of the Copain wines:

Copain Wines:

2006 Copain Roussane (Paso Robles)
2006 Copain Pinot Noir Hacienda Secoya
2006 Copain Pinot Noir Monument Tree
2006 Copain Pinot Noir En Cerise
2006 Copain Pinot Noir Wentzel
2006 Copain Pinot Noir Kiser en Bas
2006 Copain Pinot Noir Kiser en Haut
2005 Copain Syrah Harrison Clarke
2004 Copain Cailloux & Cocinelle
2004 Copain Hawk's Butte

What was remarkable were the low alcohol levels of the Pinots. I believe the HS began at 13.2% alc and I'm sure this would be a tough one to taste blind as a California Pinot. As the lineup progressed, the wines got bigger and more structured, and in some ways, more California-like. With that said, I preferred the Hacienda Secoya and En Cerise, followed by the Monument Tree to the entire rest of the lineup.

Then came a steady flow of burgundies. I didn't take formal notes, but the more memorable wines were a 1988 Beaune Bressandes (I don't remember the producer), and a 2001 Lafarge Volnay Clos des Chenes, along with a 1996 Forey Echezeaux. Also, a 2005 Drouhin Laroze Chambolle was very tasty albeit very young. A couple of 2003s showed very fruity and weighty and were not to my liking (including the 03 Girardin Echezeaux I brought).

Food was fantastic. I has a roast Texas Quail on frisee salad for started followed by a nice Kansas City Strip Steak with sides of vegetables, wild mushrooms, and a couple of different starches.

Awesome evening, and kudos and thanks to Diane and Earl for organizing eveything.

2005 Pax Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard (USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County)

Here's what this wine IS NOT...overblown, overly alcoholic, a blueberry milkshake, highly alcoholic, hot on the finish, purple opaque colored, overly sweet, highly viscous, obviously fruit-forward and over-extracted.

IT IS absolutely delicious, elegant, balanced, layered, pure joy to drink, food friendly, and worth every penny I paid for it.

This may be the best domestic Syrah I've had and all I can do is bow down to the altar of PAX. What a great wine. Even a francophile like myself can find plenty to love about this somewhat atypical (by CA Syrah standards) Syrah. If I were dishing out points, the number would be really high. Loads of upside potential here, too. A masterpiece. Made from French clones that grow at altitude of up to 2700 ft.