UPDATE:  Go  Here to review and vote for my video submission!

Much like those gentlemen on the Bartles & Jaymes commercials back in the late 80’s I feel like the monotone drone of a dork reaching out to the social networking world “for your support”!  The $60k, 6-month job search is truly a clever campaign and opportunity being offered by the Murphy-Goode Winery (see A Really Goode Job)  in Sonoma County and I just submitted my application and video.  So, wish me luck!  And when it’s posted be sure to check back here, my Twitter account (over to the sidebar), or the Murphy-Goode fan page on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for updates and mention me by name: ED THRALLS.  I am sure they’d really appreciate it and I know I will.

  ANY RESEMBLANCE? –>

As part of my research, I tasted both Murphy-Goode’s 2006 Chardonnay and 2005 Liar’s Dice Zinfandel and I will be truthful here in that I did not get what I expected… in a GOODE way.  Somewhat expecting another set of “big” California wines, especially when it comes to the oak bombs that “pass” for Chardonnay historically, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and delicateness of these wines that stay truthful to the fruit.

2006 Murphy-Goode Chardonnay:  Light straw to golden color and very bright.  Nose brings apples and peach, but not much oak at all.  Though official winery tasting notes say 77% oak, David Ready states that some steel-barrel fermented Chardonnay was blended in.  Taste was refreshingly light with the apples and pears, and just a little vanilla for me and some nuttiness… breathing in after the taste gives you that creamy whipped-cream warm feeling in your mouth. A very nice find and I’ve found some stores in Atlanta that carry plenty of it.

2005 Liar’s Dice Zinfandel:  The Zinfandel variety is all about impact and MG does a great job channeling its essence in this wine.  Much of the fruit comes from the Dry Creek Valley that gets a lot of sunshine as the fog clears here earlier than surrounding areas, and then gets very cool at night due to Pacific Ocean influences… these are great climate characteristics in which Zin will flourish.  Got the dark fruit up front on the nose and, again, not overbearing with much oak at all.  The taste follows through similarly in that you get hit with the black cherries, plums and blackberries followed by great overall mouthfeel and some spiciness.  The finish is long and can be enjoyed well after the sip is over.

I’ll let you know when my video posts… “and Thank you for your support”