Celebrate that hole-in-one with a Watson family vintage
The Masters Golf Tournament, the granddaddy of American golf tournaments, is one of the most prestigious in the world. The roster of winners who’ve donned the emerald green jacket make up a who’s who in the golf world: Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, to name a few.
And April 7, the 74th annual Augusta National Invitation Tournament begins at the azalea-lined greens of the Augusta Golf Course in Augusta, Ga.
Kansas City native Tom Watson won two Masters, in 1977 and 1981. Watson is teeing off again this year, and he’ll have family by his side — sort of: His brother, Raymond “Ridge” Watson, the winemaker at Joullian Winery in Carmel Valley, will have two of his wines there. The Joullian Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay 2006 and the Sias Cuvée Carmel Valley Zinfandel 2005 will be widely available in Augusta and at the Masters.
But if you can’t make it to the gallery at Augusta, you can still partake in the wine-sipping ritual. Those two wines are widely available in the Kansas City area.
On the nose and at first sip, the grapes and the oak are well-matched partners in the Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay, but just as it seems the oak will lead, the crisp, refreshing flavors of the juice take over. The initial Chardonnay voluptuousness gives way to a bright, almost sparkling Granny Smith apple snap with just a hint of soft creaminess on the finish. It’s a much brighter, livelier Chardonnay than many other California chards.
The Zinfandel is more an austere yet earthy Rhone than a typical jammy, blousy California jam pot. The nose has a bit of black pepper, leather and cherry; the finish is elegant and lingering. As a result, the Zin is quieter, less boisterous than most American Zins; it’s just the quaff for the hushed reverence of the Masters.
Joullian Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay 2006 and Sias Cuvée Carmel Valley Zinfandel 2005 Available at Gomer’s Midtown for $20 and $25, respectively.
| Lauren Chapin, The Star
