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Estate Syrah
Argonaut Winery
1998
By David Ginochio
Upon the discovery of Champagne somewhere around 1670, some monk, a Dom something or other, supposedly exclaimed to the other guys in the abbey, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂCome quickly, IÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm drinking stars.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ If he was around today, and happened to taste the 1998 Estate Syrah from Argonaut Winery, IÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂd imagine heÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂd swear he was drinking the very essence of the earth, kissed by the sun. Hidden in the backwoods of CaliforniaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Gold Country, Argonaut has been making award-winning wines since the mid-1970ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs. A decadent pour of this elegant Syrah reveals a beautiful, thriving, nearly opaque purple color, a nose teaming with burnt sugar, vanilla, smoke, cassis and tar, and absolutely irresistible flavors of the aforementioned earth, tobacco, bacon, orange, chocolate and spices. Brimming with fruit, friendly tannins, a full body, and a silky mouth feel, this bold, jammy, extracted Syrah is a gorgeous example of what can be realized in California with this noble grape.
Score: 91
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Big Ideas
Jack West & Curvature
Ahead Behind
By Glenn Astarita
8-string acoustic guitarist Jack West melds organically induced homespun themes with blues and jazz overtones on his fifth release, titled Big Ideas. Here, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂJack West and CurvatureÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ renders subtle intimacy along with pumping beats and atmospheric propositions as the guitarist makes every note count whether pursuing bluesy bottleneck slide choruses or jazzy lines amid enticing harmonic relationships with cellist Mark Summer and marimba performer Joel Davel. Drummer Scott Amendola, primarily known for his ongoing affiliation with guitarist Charlie Hunter, rounds out an overall sound brimming with quaint melodies and expansive interplay.
Pieces such as ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂSomething About the DreamÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ and ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂThis Life RepriseÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ are comprised of cyclic movements, sublime harmonies, East Indian undercurrents and brisk soloing by West, Summer and Davel. However, on ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂSame Planet, Different UniverseÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ, West fuses jazz-based voicings with Caribbean and Classical elements atop AmendolaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs delicate brush work and the bandÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs buoyant passages and multihued tonalities. Overall, Jack West presents the listener with a hybrid approach to jazz yet the artistÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs memorable compositions and glimmering technique bespeaks a fertile imagination, further enhanced by Lee TownsendÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs insightful production and the musicianÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs sympathetic interaction. Recommended!
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