A Donkey & Goat

I first came across A Donkey and Goat while dining at Coco500 a year ago; the name jumped out from the wine list. While the wine was served, its label noticeably displayed a donkey and a goat, side-by-side like old best friends. What's the symbolism behind this pair, I had wondered, while enjoying the wine that went so gracefully with the food that evening.

A year later, it was a hot summer evening on August 27th, A Donkey and Goat came to Google's Wine Wednesday. Jared and Tracy Brandt, the couple behind the intriguing wine, traveled from their winery in Berkeley to share their recent releases on the tech giant's campus. Technology and wine... is there a connection?

Ah, the Spirit of entrepreneurship. Jared and Tracy were once in the heart of the tech wave in Silicon Valley. When the industry contracted, the couple ventured to explore a new passion: wine-making in the Rhone Valley of France. At Wednesday's wine event, Jared shared some of his experiences unique to France, such as harvesting techniques that were enhanced by a wine toast between each batch!

On the spotlight at Wine Wednesday were three new releases: Three Thirteen, The Recluse, and the Reserve Syrah.

Tasting notes

Three Thirteen 2006
This Rhone blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache was the most popular amongst Googlers. A dark cherry coloured wine, aromas of warm spice, plum, red pepper and a hint of coffee bean blend together nicely. This elegantly earthy, medium bodied wine paired well with the smoked salmon with creme fraiche, and the duck in blackberry and black truffle served by the Google cafe.

The Recluse 2006, Anderson Valley Syrah
The bold wine exudes confidence! Think of a baked blackberry pie, oolong tea, Venezuelan chocolate, and cigar. This deep wine is a keeper for aging and will pair well with meaty dishes. The lamb on croquette served this evening was a perfect companion.

Reserve Syrah 2005
The complexity of this Syrah makes it very mysterious. A well-balanced wine, boysenberry and dried fig aromas are enveloped with wet forest earth and tobacco. The finish reminds me of a rainbow breaking out at the end of a morning of rain.

Now - What does the Donkey and Goat represent? The story goes: Jared and Tracy noticed in France that donkeys weeded farms, and that a goat was a donkey's companion that provided a calming effect on the donkey. It's a perfect balance between work and leisure, a balance within the wines, and the balance between taking life (and wine) seriously, and having fun with it!