O-S (Owen Sullivan)
ULYSSES 04 $45/$50
Wine Spectator rating 90 points

It makes you want to crank up the rock & roll and play air guitar!

A real crowd pleaser, Ulysses is made to attract attention,
with its over-the-top, massive scent and flavors, and its dense texture.

Bill Owen is known for his wildly rich wines, and this one delivers.
In the nose, there's aromas of black raspberries, ripe black fruit, hints of fresh saddle leather, sweet tobacco, vanilla, and candied cherry. The flavors echo the scent, with opulent, lush black stone fruit and black raspberry, layered over notes of espresso, super dark chocolate, more sweet tobacco, and figs. The flavors go on and on, with the super concentrated richness typical of Bill Owen's style. Always one of his best wines, this one stops you in your tracks with its intensity.

From the winery: "Our Ulysses Red from Sheridan Vineyard has for the last four vintages shown the most distinctive qualities of any in our cellar. Dense purple-black color, the 2004 Ulysses has aromas of jammy blackfruit, allspice and anise. The lush silky texture is framed with firm tannins and acidity that balance the rich blackberry and ripe black plum fruit yielding a lush, massive wine with unfolding layers of fruit, toast, and coffee notes."

Mystic Wines: Big and Bargain

While on the Theme of Big Wines, here are two of the best deals in the Northwest right now.

RIck Mafit, owner and winemaker of this one-guy shop, is lowkey, and does not submit his wines for review. He makes his reds mostly from the same fruit sources as Sineann (he actually turned Peter on to several of Peter's best vineyard sources). His prices are almost ridiculously low for what you get, and he's consistent. Mystic wines are well made, full bodied, mutilayered, and impressive. They're great for parties, real hits with anyone who enjoys really big red wines.
And when your friends hear the prices, they're going to be quite, quite pleased for you.

Mystic Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 McDuffy Vineyard $22.45/$24.95
Rick says “My best Cab ever—easy!” and we agree.  Huge nose of cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, graphite and cedar pencil shavings, and hints of desert herbs.  Concentrated black cherry and black raspberry storm out of the glass.  Sweet, slightly spicy cedar and black tea wrap around the black fruit core, leading to a lengthy finish. 

 The fruit comes from McDuffy Vineyard, and it lends a structure and backbone to the wine. Sineann alsos make beautiful wine from this vineyard.Even though it’s a big wine, the Mystic Cab is balanced and pairs well with your favorite cut of red meat.
A Cab this good at this price doesn’t come around very often.

At right below, Rick Mafit in his lab.

Mystic Reserve Merlot 2002 Hillside Vineyard $31.46/$34.95

It starts with complex aromas of dried lavender and rich plum touched with dusty, dark chocolate. This is no light, fruity Merlot—it’s got a voluminous mouth of dark plum and cherry.  Your palate gets caressed with ultra fine tannins before the finish arrives. Dried black cherries and a dollop of dark chocolate mingle with violets and lavender before a slight peat-smoke edge hits. Rick crafts wines that complement food and the Reserve Merlot, with its perfect balance, would pair well with many heartier dishes.

This is a single-vineyard bottling, entirely from the Hillside Vineyard, five miles south of The Dalles, Oregon (and the source for Owen Roe’s incredible 2004 Zinfandel). 

Rick on the Merlot Reserve: "Compounding the highly rated history of this vineyard and its Merlots with the qualities of the fabulous 02 Vintage, this wine is a standout in my book. Rich ripe cassis and blackberry with elegantly soft yet structured tannin ( a combination of the fruit and about 50% new oak-Seguin-Moreau Chateau Frere thin staved barrels.) Round and soft in the mouth with hints of cocoa and supple, tight, fine grained tannin that will age for years.

If we may help with an order, please let us know.
We're available by phone at 541-752-7418 from
8 AM Pacific time until 6PM Pacific time,
Monday through Saturday,
and we answer email on Sundays.

Thanks for your support -we appreciate your orders
and your suggestions.

Our customers always give us our best ideas!

Jean, Chris, Kevin, and Wendy, and Marcus
541-752-7418

Avalon Wine
201 SW 2nd Street
Corvallis OR 97333
541-752-7418
www.avalonwine.com
store@avalonwine.com

Jean Yates
Owner
jean@avalonwine.com
541-424-8004 (direct line)

Marcus Looze
Manager
marcus@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

Chris Haggerty
Customer Service
store@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

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