The first real killing frost has smitten the valley, thus officially ending the wine growing season.  Because the leaves cannot make their magic, there won’t be any more ripening of the fruit.  Any grapes left hanging on the vine at this point only get sweeter by dessication – the loss of water, and the making of raisins!  Wineries and winemakers are now faced with finishing fermentations, starting secondary fermentations, restarting any stuck fermentations, and cleaning up the crush equipment for storage until next year.  Pretty soon we’ll need fermental therapy.  Here at Talon Winery, we’re finishing off our very first pink wine.  If you get the chance to stop by, ask for a little tank sample and we’ll be happy to oblige.

Enclosed are your Wine Club bottles.  This month’s wines for the Dry Colorado Wine Club are:

2004 Pinot Noir ~ S. Rhodes Vineyards

This wine is identified by winemaker Steve Rhodes as his “high end” Pinot.  We tasted it at Steve’s winery this summer and were blown away.  It’s the style of Pinot Noir that makes the grape famous as a good introduction to red wine.  Soft texture with plums, cherries, and a poised mouthfeel make this wine ready to drink as soon as you are – how about tonight!  Don’t hang on to this one too long.  You might miss the boat!  Try it with mild cheeses, or pasta with butter garlic, parmesan and a few capers thrown in for interest.  Unfortunately, there is none of this wine left.  We bought as much as Steve would allow.  He was running out even then.

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Talon Winery

This wine was bottled on  September 2, 2007 right here at our little shop with the help of about 14 spirited (no pun intended) volunteers.  This is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% each of Merlot and Syrah.  The fruit was grown on East Orchard Mesa here in the valley and the wine was barrel aged with roughly 1/3 new oak in the form of inner staves.  The bottle sports our latest version of the Talon label, and we’re enjoying the book and its cover quite a lot.  The wine is fairly well endowed with character.  It’s got nice flavor, a healthy dose of oak tannin, good fruit and a fine, lengthy finish.  Because of the wine’s youthful structure, some will prefer this wine in a year or two when it will be unavailable.  We say buy it now and if you think it’s too rough, let it breath in the glass or decant the wine.  It opens up very nicely over the course of a meal.

As always, enjoy the wines in good health!

Sincerely,

Glenn & Natalie Foster