foodwineclick

Taking Gary Farrell Wines for a Spin
California is a warm place, with a beautiful Mediterranean climate, and fruit ripens without question. A vinous consequence of this warm climate is that wines can be very ripe and rich, which is appealing to many people. I find these wines just too rich to be enjoyable with most food. So when it comes to California wineries, I’m a bit apprehensive about accepting samples.

I recently was offered to try Gary Farrell’s wines. I had heard good things from several people I trust, so I decided to give them a chance and I’m so glad I did. Even though they’re rich, they are made with restraint, judicious use of oak, and they retain refreshing acidity.

Gary Farrell Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are just fine for the dinner table

Rabbit!
It’s a shame rabbit isn’t a common meat choice in the US. Rabbits are famous for multiplying rapidly, I guess you can call that “sustainable”. The meat is very mild and really, no kidding, does taste much like chicken. Anyway, I love rabbit, but Julie (my lovely wife) has a hard time eating it because of the bunny association. Consequently, I only fix rabbit when Julie isn’t around for an evening. She was gone for the weekend recently, so I had my chance to try out the Gary Farrell wines at the dinner table with Rabbit with Green Olives.

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2014 (sample, $35 suggested retail)
Eye: Clear, medium+ intensity lemon yellow transitioning to a pale edge
Nose: Clean, medium intensity citrus: lemon + ripe pineapple, and a little vanilla cake.
Mouth: Dry, medium+ body, medium+ acidity, lemons, pineapple and vanilla cake persist in a medium+ length finish.

By itself, a little ripe for my taste, however, it was very nice with the rabbit dish. I am always looking for wines which can satisfy both my old world palette and our friends’ new world palettes and this wine does that. It’s not overdone, not cloying, not overly fruity or oaky. Rich and California (why not, it is!), but not over the top. Well done.

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2014

Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2014 (sample, $45 suggested retail)
Eye: Clear, pale ruby with a long purple edge
Nose: Clean, ripe strawberries with cinnamon and a touch of cedar. Rich aroma of medium+ intensity
Mouth: Dry, medium body, medium acidity, low tannins. Very smooth mouthfeel with warm strawberries, cinnamon and cedar in a medium length finish.

Lapin aux Olives Vertes (Rabbit with Green Olives)
Both wines worked well with the rabbit dish, although I felt the Chardonnay was a better pairing. The bright tangy flavor of the olives was a bit at odds with the ripe red fruit in the Pinot Noir, but the citrus flavors in the Chardonnay seemed to match up with the olives a little more naturally.

Local Sources:

• Rabbit purchased locally at Clancey’s Meats and Fish, supplied by Singerhouse Rabbit Farm in Wisconsin.
• Pappardelle pasta from Rusticella d’Abruzzo, available at Broder’s Cucina and several local grocery stores

Disclosure: The wines were provided as samples, all opinions expressed are mine.