[wine] PS at JP's tonight 7:00!!!

Greetings, Petite Sirah/Syrah. JP's Bistro. 7:00 NOTE the TIME CHANGE> Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:31:50 -0600 From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> To: wine(a)thebarn.com Subject: [wine] Petite Syrah at JP's at 7:00 Greetings, Please note the special time, this week only. 7 p.m. Heading to JP's this week. Vin du juor is Petite Syrah from anywhere. They have another group of 10 or so at 6:30, and so requested that we delay our arrival. Thursday Petite Syrah from anywhere at JP's 7:00 JP's American Bistro JP Samuelson 2937 S. Lyndale 55408 (612) 824-9300 No idea who's/how many are coming. Here are 8 likely suspects. bob bill ruth Russ jim nicolai karin Cheers, Jim The Dow Jones Inexpensive Merlot Index In a tasting of 50 American merlots that cost less than $20, these were our favorites. These are generally better closer to cellar temperature -- 55 degrees -- than room temperature. Most of the merlots we tasted are ready to drink now, though some, such as the Coppola, will improve with a little age. In a tasting of 50 American merlots that cost less than $20, these were our favorites. These are generally better closer to cellar temperature -- 55 degrees -- than room temperature. Most of the merlots we tasted are ready to drink now, though some, such as the Coppola, will improve with a little age. VINEYARD/VINTAGE PRICE RATING COMMENTS Francis Coppola "Diamond Collection" Blue Label (California) 2003 $13.99 Very Good/Delicious Best of tasting. Fine wine, rich and structured. Terrific fruit, with balanced tastes and some heft. Would go well with a good steak. Hogue Cellars (Columbia Valley) 2003 $9.49 Good/ Very Good Best value. Rich, earthy nose and a great, dark color. Slightly chewy -- not at all weak -- with real earth and even a hint of chocolate. Honest red wine. Turning Leaf Vineyards Coastal Reserve 2002 (North Coast) $10.50 Very Good Truly earthy and utterly easy to drink, with soft, blackberry fruit. No structure, no edges, just lovely, drink-me fruit. Cartlidge & Browne (California) 2003 $9.99 Good/ Very Good Another winner from a reliable name. It smells like wine and tastes like wine -- and too many merlots don't. A happy wine you could almost gulp. Drink now. Firestone Vineyard (Santa Ynez Valley) 2002 $14.99 Good/ Very Good Unusual and interesting, with a rock-hard, very dry center and the kind of tight fruit that would make it good with food such as meatloaf. Frei Brothers Winery (Dry Creek Valley) 2003 $17.99 Good/ Very Good Dark, rich color and a nice, grapey nose. A core of black, grapey fruit, with some pepper, spice and herbs. Soft and pleasant, but with some stuff. Martin Ray Winery "Angeline" (Sonoma County) 2002 $10.99 Good/ Very Good Rounder and fuller than most, with an interesting, complex texture. Complete and integrated. NOTE: Wines are rated on a scale that ranges: Yech, OK, Good, Very Good, Delicious, and Delicious! Prices vary widely. �2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *