2007 Edmunds St. John "That Old Black Magic" Rhône Blend

With ripe, black and red fruit balanced by savory notes on the nose and a structured, medium + body checked by medium acidity and a little tannin, this Rhone-style blend from Edmund's St. John is a charmer. Very Rhone-like, despite it's California roots. We recently enjoyed this wine with a summer meal of grilled pork seasoned with garden herbs and cracked pepper, and roasted vegetables, and it was just perfect.

Steve Edmunds has been making some of the best Rhone Blends California has had to offer since 1985. Yet most outside of the Bay Area have never heard of his Edmunds St. John label. Why is that? Maybe it is because Steve never really has played the points game, or maybe it is because his wines are not jammy, blockbuster, winemaker wines but classy efforts that are meant for the dinner table not the cocktail hour. No matter what the reason it is a shame because Steve continues to make impressive wines for people that want a little more terroir and a little less residual sugar in their wines. The 2007 Edmunds St. John "That Old Black Magic" Rhône Blend is 2/3 Syrah from the Wylie and Fenaughty vineyards, of which he did not make a vineyard designate this year so all the best fruit has gone into this blend, and 1/3 Grenache from the Fenaughty Vineyard. The wine rested in 25+ year old barrels, how’s that for neutral oak! Possibly a touch riper and surely more complex than last years offering this is stunning wine chock full of boysenberry, currant, pastis, sage, warm clay and black peppercorn flavors. Easily drinkable, grilled meat appropriate and full of heart and soul this is hard not to love.