Sunce

What an incredible difference from last year! When we stopped here last year, the offering was limited to two or three barrels. This year, the barrel room was open and they were pouring from upwards of 14 barrels! I confess that I was done for the weekend, by that point, so I don't have much to offer, except to say that don't let one year be the only indicator; four times as many wines to choose from, year-to-year is a wonderful surprise.

Joseph Swan

I do like stopping at Joseph Swan to see what their barrels are offering. They often have 6-8 barrels open for the tasting and the case price is more than reasonable. Moreover, they'll have a vintage wine on clearance for a ridiculous price.

Joseph Swan, in my opinion, has some of the best-balanced zinfandels in the valley, particularly at that price point ($19-$25). I often believe they are under-priced, but it's their market and I'm not complaining. Unfortunately, I lost my tasting partner this year before we stopped here (and subsequently Sunce), so my heart wasn't in it. Even though the wines weren't compelling as futures, I'd likely buy them for full price if I was walking out the door with them. In fact, if you can get your hands on some vintage Lone Redwood, horde it! They've since ripped out the vines, but it was a delectable zinfandel.

Sapphire Hill

This is a winery we've regularly purchased futures at. In fact, we had to stop this year just to pick up last year's futures. If you find yourself milling about Healdsburg, wander down to Front Street and stop into the tiny little winery that is Sapphire Hill. You'll be amazed at how enjoyable their selection is; Chardonnay, Winberrie Zinfandel, Porky's Patch Zinfandel, Syrah, to name a few.

This year, the wines weren't tasting well. In the past, I've had to negotiate with Lisa over which futures we commit to, but this year, none of their offerings were compelling. That did not, however, deter us from filling out the rest of the case to include one of their 2006 Chardonnays (stainless and oak fermented), the 2004 Bastoni Ranch Zinfandel, and 2008 Porky's Patch Zinfandel.

In fairness, barrel tasting here has been a temperamental experience. One year, we rolled in on a Friday and the Syrah was tasting poorly. We dropped back in on Sunday and it was compelling enough to buy futures. They seem to be dramatically affected by the weather, as in this case, the temperature had dropped Thursday night and the barrels were a little below their optimal aging temp. Moreover, they hadn't warmed up for tasting yet, as they had by late Sunday afternoon. Another opportunity to continue to collect empirical data! Cheers!

Mill Creek

If I haven't said it before, Mill Creek is a charming little winery. Set back from the road, in the middle of the vineyards as most of them are, it's a quaint little tasting room that is appropriately sized and staffed. They really fit a price niche and are thoroughly enjoyable.

This year, their merlot in the barrel was an incredible steal! I think they undervalue their merlots, perhaps intimidated by Twomey down the road. The two wines aren't in the same class (or style) so a comparison wouldn't be fair. Truth be told, I think they have a corner on the market in their demographic, in Russian River Valley. In any case, I'm really looking forward to the case of 2008 Estate Vineyard Merlot we'll be receiving next year.

Stop here and try their cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, and don't forget "Left of Starboard", their fortified wine. Not only will you not be disappointed, I challenge you to leave without a bottle!

Twomey

Since Twomey moved into the old Roshambo winery/tasting room in Russian River Valley, they've endeavored to establish their presence, as they have in Napa County (Calistoga). Their merlots are complex and approach a French style, but in an agreeable and accessible way. Their attempts at Pinot Noirs in Russian River Valley, though, have left me wanting. This year's offering out of the barrel was no exception and a local patron had the best use for it when she tossed it into her repugnant boyfriend's face.

The stop is worthwhile, during the year, but it won't make my list for next year's barrel tasting. At least during the year, they don't bogart the better vintages, protecting them from the juvenile oenophiles that tend to swamp certain wineries during these events.

Armida

This was the second stop on the third day and right after the epic 2-hour adventure at Siduri. The timing was good, though, because Armida always puts out a spread of finger foods and it's a fair distance to drive, allowing our palates (and palate processors) time to recover.

If you haven't read previous blogs about Armida, let me summarize quickly. This is a fun stop. Whether they're geared up for a big weekend or they're cruising quietly through the week, you'll have a nice time here. I'll cut it short for the sake of brevity of this blog and begin a contribution on the Review page.

I normally abhor tasting vintages that are younger than a year. In this case, I don't mind a bit. The 2009 Maple Vineyard Zinfandel is a delight! The maturation process on the wine will be very rapid and, quite likely, one of their best vintages of this wine. It was more than worthy of a case, which we generously shared a third of with a friend.

Once done with the barrel tasting, we rolled up to the tasting bar and like many other wineries we frequent, were immediately recognized. Janet, who recognizes us on sight, passed us off to Steve Cousins, brother of Bruce Cousins, and co-owner of Armida. For the next half hour, Steve took us through a few of the wines they had out for tasting, and a few they didn't. We got a real education on the Maple Vineyard that was a special moment for us all. In the end, another case of wine was tucked under our arm (2007 Armida Il Campo) and another great story.

Robert Young

This was at least our third barrel tasting at Robert Young. As you'll note in the prefacing blog, it was at the end of the day, so note-taking was virtually non-existent. My recollection of this winery is that they were, uncharacteristically, tasting some young wines. Usually, they wouldn't taste a wine so young as a year old, but we were seeing it.

Now, understand that Robert Young (Alexander Valley) is probably the best bordeaux blend winemaker in Sonoma County. Their Scion rivals any other in the valley (including Marlstone from Clos du Bois) and their Red Winery Road is a wonderfully fruit forward, complex red wine that can real versatility. This year, though, a couple of the wines weren't tasting well. I might argue that they went overboard with the cheese pairing and did the wines a disservice. Nonetheless, we absconded with three bottles of one of their best vintages (2003). It was no simple task, either; it took more than my charms to ply the wine from their library stores. Lo, I owe our booty to the wiles of my blond, busty, beautiful companion and the feminine charm that oozes from her pores. To her I say, Cheers!

Mauritson

Of all the zinfandel producers in Dry Creek Valley, Mauritson has some of the best balanced. I've never been able to put my finger on why I haven't joined the club here, because I do enjoy their wines. Their Rockpile Winery label has taken off since the early vintages, which were merely vineyard designated wines under the Mauritson label.

As I've said, I do enjoy their wines, but for some reason I've not found them altogether compelling. You know, as strange as it may sound, sometimes it's just a vibe. The tasting room is nice enough, the staff is perfectly pleasant and engaging, and the wines are priced fairly. I just can't figure it. Well, the nice thing about a mystery such as this is that empirical data collection is quite rewarding!

Siduri

TRL/Staff/Wine: 6/10/10

For new people, walking into the warehouse where Siduri makes their wines and seeing a dozen people at a dozen tables ready to to pour 2-3 wines might be quite intimidating. We've been at it for so long, and have tasted at Siduri so many times, we're often a tad crestfallen when they're only tasting 7-8 wines (see October 2007). For you rookies, hold on to your glass...this will be a long and bumpy ride.

Note that Siduri doesn't have a wine club (they don't need one), so the second-of-three prices will be the "event" price, discounted for barrel tasting, for select wines.

2008 Russian River Valley Viognier: 22/17/-

2008 Chardonnay Rosellas Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands: 24/19.5/20
Lemon is the predominant note, with a little toast. No real buttery feel. Easy to drink.

2008 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir: 30/33
East to drink; nice nose. Simple fruit.

2008 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir: 30/40
Smoky and well-balanced. More complex.

2007 Sonatera Pinot Noir: 29/44Multi-layered. Great spice/fruit balance!!

2007 Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir: 50/29/39
Makes me think of rain. No real spice but rounded; needs to settle down. Open for 4-5 hours prior to serving.

2007 Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir: 50/34/34
Sharp nose, but so smooth all the way down. Very nice. Green nose, but unmatched palate.

2007 Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir: 50/29/38
Soft palate, good nose but doesn’t draw you in.

2008 Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir: 50/38
Mild-to-bland palate/nose. The finish had merit.

2008 Cargasacchi Vineyard: 50/39/43
Spicy/smoky nose with bright fruit on the palate.

2008 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir: 55/39
Bright fruit; very accessible. Full mouthfeel, fruity, but too expensive.

2006 Stolpman Vineyard Nebbiolo: 19.50/29
Strawberry!

2009 Lewis Vineyard Pinot Noir (Futures): 39/-
Developing fast for something harvested 6 months ago. Has good fruit potential but little hints of spice/smoke. Still a little effervescent (for which I would usually cry foul) and tangy, but you can feel/taste the fullness of the fruit. A bit smoky.

2009 Sierra Mar Vineyard Clone 943 Pinot Noir (Futures): 45/-
Bright fruit on the nose. Palate falls short; needs more time in the barrel to develop. Has some potential.

2008 Simpson Vineyard Grenache (Futures)
Driest Grenache I’ve ever tasted. Makes your cheeks pucker.

2008 Carlisle Vineyard Zinfandel (Futures)
No notes, but worthy of splitting a half-case.

2006 Page Nord Syrah
Lackluster

2006 Sapphire Hill Vineyard Syrah
Great fruity nose, but the palate bombs.

2006 Judge Family Vineyard Syrah
Great, full nose with strong notes of truffle. The acidity on the palate hides the fruit, however.

2007 Christiansen Vineyard Syrah: 19.5/25-36 (opinions differ)
Nice fruit, uncharacteristic of a syrah. Not earthiness, but some spice.

2007 Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah: 27/32
Nice, accessible fruit with mild tannins. Late spice on the finish. The nose really is appealing.

2007 Rosella’s Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands: 33/33
Meaty nose; classical earthy syrah. Fruit is not as accessible as other syrahs, but good, nonetheless.

2007 Gary’s Vineyard Syrah: 33/30
A “light” version of Rosella’s Vineyard syrah. Consistently lighter, smoother, and less bold.

2006 Pinot deals
Oddly labeled, I know, but the long and short of this is that one of Siduri’s distributors returned a batch of their 2006 vintage pinot noirs. Nearly all of them were well priced at $40/bottle; these were selling for $15/bottle! The most notable pinots included the 2006 Sonatera Vineyard and the 2006 Amber Ridge Vineyard.

2009 Hirsch Pinot Noir
Great nose! Good smoky flavor. Keep an eye out for this – it’s going to be great!

So this is the point of the story where I get to brag a little and substantiate why I keep returning to Siduri. Lisa and I were poring over our notes in an attempt to build a modest, two-case order when Jody (whom we met the very first time, years ago) recognized us and came up to greet us. After pleasantries were exchanged, Jody finds Adam (co-owner and winemaker) and sends him our way. Naturally, this wasn’t the first time we’ve enjoyed his company and his free reign in the winery. After a brief conversation, he directed us back into the barrel room. Now, we had been taking notes on all of the aforementioned wines, which bored the three friends we’d brought with us to the extent that they had been waiting out by the car for a bit. After conferring with Adam, however, I ran out and passed along the command, “grab your glasses, Adam is taking us into the back.” Two of the three friends knew exactly what this meant (having been with us during previous events) and grabbed their glasses without question and chased after me, dragging the questioning “rookie” behind them. Meanwhile, Adam is setting up in the barrel room to offer us a couple of recent formulations. I must confess, at this point, that the Gewurstraminer that he poured us, while interesting didn’t compel me to take notes. Honestly, I was still a bit wrapped up in the special experience. After another wine, he led us to the purpose of my mission… Behold, as he thiefed from the barrel, I heard the angels sing!

2008 Simpson Vineyard Syrah (5o cases)
WONDERFUL! OMG! Mere weeks from being released, it happens to be my favorite vineyard-designated syrah from Novy (Siduri is Pinot Noir; Novy is the label they use for everything else).
2008 Susan’s Hill Syrah
Big fruit, mild spice. Needs more integration. The spice is awaiting its turn, but it’s still very accessible.

2007 Susan’s Hill Syrah
Well integrated, nice spice, great nose – not as full fruit, but the fruit does show.

2007 Simpson Vineyard Syrah
Smoky, like a pinot, but earthy like a syrah. Smooth – not so fruity.
The 2008’s are going to be the better wines, in my opinion.

2009 Oley (dessert wine)
Muscat nose. So sweet! Caramel, honey, orange, peach. Delicious without making you sleep or stop. So GOOD! Also to be bottled in April. Adam says that this will be the best wine in his library, and I have to agree. On its merits, it is the best of their wines. Fun note about this tasting: Adam thiefed from the stainless steel barrel and then from the oak barrel that he was aging the wine in. It gave you the experience of what the two components were like before he blends and integrates them before bottling. Fascinating!

Unti

TRL/Staff/Wine: 6/9/9

We weren't sure Unti would be tasting this year, as they kind of prefer to stay a little lower-keyed. Fortunately, they were open for business...

2007 Grenache

Full grenache! Good, but the finish is really short.

2007 Zinfandel

Nice spice, but fruit is understated. No acidity to ruin the search for fruit... Just no excuse for the lack of fruit. Oh...wait...yeah, this is what's considered an Italian style zinfandel. Not my taste.

2008 Barbera

Not to be released until May (280 cases), but it'll be worth the return trip. Of all the barberas I've had, I enjoy this one the most.

2005 Benchland Syrah

Smoky nose and full of flavor. Quite honestly, the Unti syrahs are the standard by which I measure most other syrahs.

2005 Syrah Reserve Dry Creek Valley

Fantastic nose with a wonderfully balanced palate. The amazing thing about this syrah was the whole cluster fermentation, which often leaves the syrah tasting a little green; nothing could be further from the truth, here.

Michel Slumberger

The most notable thing about this winery is the layout of the grounds. The main building encircles a long courtyard with fountains. The tasting rooms are small and intimate, with outdoor patios surrounded by sweet-smelling flora. The surroundings belie the character of the wines, which over very delicate and minerally, in the typical style of a French Bordeaux. Moreover, the clownish atmosphere of the staff and the patrons (of which there were scores) may have tainted our following opinions. The quality wines were being tasted in the reserve tasting, but they weren't worth anywhere near the price they were listed at. I won't bother to embarrass them by listing them, here.

This was our second outing to Michel Slumberger; the first was five years before. My impression hasn't changed...

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend

Very tannic. Would not purchase. Has to lay down for 10 years.

2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Notes of blueberry pie, but a confusing cab; still tannic (2 -year lay down)

2006 Dry Creek Valley Pinot Noir

Great nose, but lacked flavor with a flat palate; barely simple.

2006 Dry Creek Valley Merlot "Le Sage"

Very tannic - hid the fruit. Might be good in 3-4 years.

1992 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley

Smooth with a good backbone. Tobacco, dried black fruits with a nose reminiscent of a merlot.

1993 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Cree Valley

More dried fruit with good tannic balance; so integrated that it's hard to distinguish fruits.

1996 Reserve Cab Dry Creek Valley

No nose, but nice palate. A little stringent and green; won't likely improve to strong fruit. Very minerally.

2000 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley

Balanced and accessible.

Tres Hermanas

TRL/Staff/Wine: 7/7/6

The wines are serving cold on the nose.

2007 Barbera: $24/$19/$27
Nice nose, fruit forward. Velvet palate and finish. Pleasant – not over the top like most Barberas. Fruit is less accessible on the palate.

2007 Syrah
Spice on the nose is strong w/ earthy, almost truffle aroma (white pepper).

2006 Syrah: $25/$20/$31
Nose is plush. Red cherry, fig, raspberry palate follows. Hints of liquid smoke.

2005 Syrah: $25/$20/$33
More smoke on nose, fruit is brighter fig and cherry. Palate doesn’t follow. Finish needs structure.

2005 Syrah/Sangiovese (70/30): $30/$24/$-
Nice blend – makes me think of an Italian wine, but has more fruit than earth. Very peppery on the palate. The nose has a bright fruit that doesn’t appear as prominently on the palate. The nose is sangio; the palate is syrah.

2007 Refosco: $38/$30/$22
Italian varietal grown in Paso Robles. Nice fruit, full. No structure; the fruit doesn’t follow. It’s a good social wine and a good blending wine.

Fess Parker

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/?/?

The tasting room bars have accommodations for two dozen people. There were four dozen when we stopped in. Edging into the room, to try to reach the bar wasn’t an option. The TRL is a 10, but we’ll have to find out about the wine another day.

Zaca Mesa

TRL/Staff/Wine: 9/9/9

This is a very large tasting room, accommodating at least 18 people. They only charge $10 for a tasting of nine wines, which is refunded with a purchase. This is a very club-worthy winery.

2009 Estate Z Gris: 16/12/9
Strawberry & citric with rose aromas.

2009 Estate Viognier: 20/16/22
No finish, but the nose is huge! Great and creamy, especially for a viognier! Very accessible for a white and good for a viognier. Fruity and floral.

2007 Estate Z blanc: 28/23/28
Very creamy; nice, smooth palate for a lovely pear and citrus nose. Easy to drink with a finish that sits on your palate without the acidity.

2006 Estate Grenache:
Smokey, nice full strawberry/raspberry Grenache – totally enjoyed this one.

2006 Estate Z Cuvee: 20/16/28
Blackberry/blueberry; easy quality, fantastic price.

2006 Syrah: 23/18/28
Spicy nose, some-to-none tannic structure. Spice comes through on the palate. Light-to-medium bodied. Dark wild berries with notes of violets.

2006 Z Three: 42/33/35
Syrah/mourvedre/Grenache. Nice, spicy nose and palate. Medium bodied; needs a little earthiness about it. Good wine for gamy meat.

2006 Estate Mesa Reserve Syrah (“The Mesa”): 42/33/42
Dark berries and beef on palate. Very beefy nose; grilled heaven. Classic syrah! Earthy palate, mouthfeel.

Firestone

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/7/6

Generally speaking, all of the wines lacked structure and acidic backbone. The tasting room was huge, accommodating three dozen patrons (by my rough count) with charm and sophistication. Overall, the wines produced by this vintner left me with the impression that they were catering to a specific demographic; the young, emerging oenophiles with juvenile palates. The quality reaches new heights of mediocrity, which certainly has a profitable place in the market. Yes…I’m saying they sold out.

2007 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County:25/19/29
Light nose, mildly spicy and semi-dried fruit (strawberry). Palate mirrors the nose with more “presence”. The right glass will mean the difference. Spice will emerge in the right glass.

2007 Cabernet Franc: 22/17/18
If you’re accustomed to Northern California Cab Francs, then this will befuddle you. It has none of the prominent characteristics you’d come to expect, such as the green pepper on the nose. It is a smooth, flavorful cab franc, nonetheless. It’s an inexpensive date, but not too cheap.

2006 Syrah: 18/14/18
Nose is bright with both fresh and dried cranberries, tempered with a little cassis. The palate speaks of a full-bodied Grenache, not a syrah.

2006 Lineage, Chairman Series: 35/26/-
This is their flagship Bordeaux blend (all five grapes). Northern California has an edge on this Bordeaux blend. Smooth, but the flavors are extremely muted! It has the body of a Pinot Noir and the flavors of…I don’t know what.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Chairman Series: 35/26/30
No tannic structure. Simple plum/boysenberry. Nose holds back the flavors to come. The most flavorful, to be sure. If you’re introducing someone to Cabernet Sauvignon, this isn’t the one to choose.

Alma Rosa

TRL/Staff/Wine: 7/7/7

As with other wineries in Santa Barbara County, don’t forget the tasting fee. It’s often between $10 and $20. With the wines here, you’re going to be left to wonder how the wine will taste in the right glass. The tasting room was tiny, barely accommodating 5 at the bar.

2008 Clone 115 La Encantada Vineyard : 43/34/32
Uh…no. Young and acidic. The fruit is inaccessible.

2008 Clone 667 La Enacantada Vineyard Santa Rita Hills : 43/34/-
Nose and palate represent themselves as a Pinot Noir but just barely.

2008 Santa Rita Hills: 32/25/36
Nice. Accessible. Fair balance of fruit and spice with more toward the fruit. Well-priced and easy to drink anytime…alone. Stereotypical, basic Santa Rita Hills.

2007 Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard Santa Rita Hills: 43/34/36
The clone 667 with the Swan clone; nose is typical Swan but the palate has no spice balance, only simple red fruit.

Sanford

TRL/Staff/Wine: 9/8/8
Charming tasting room, set back from the road, overlooking the Santa Rita Hills. The bar presents their wines in nice burgundy glasses, as they should be. There won’t be any surprises when you get the wine home.

2007 La Riconada Vineyard Chardonnay : $38/$31/$31

Crisp nose with aromas of melon. The candied lemon peel flashes on the palate after the natural finish.

2007 La Entrada Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills:$45/$36/30

Light on the nose. The palate is light-bodied, citrus.

2007 flor de campo, Santa Barbara County: $48/$38/-

Fermented in neutral oak. Full-bodied. Nose is peachy/nectarine, with hints of a sweet flower (jasmine, I think). Nice tree leaf (sweet), but not sure what it is.

2008 La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills: $54/$43/$43

Lots of cherries on the nose. Not any single cherry, but various species, including the sweet and spicy. The palate has mild spice, but no tannic structure. This is a nice pinot, with broad accessibility, but not for “discriminating tastes”.

2008 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills: $60/$48/$47
Much more spice on the nose, with dried red fruit. Another accessible wine, but this has good character to it. The palate is more surprising as compared to the nose. Modestly bright, with spice to balance and linger. This one you want to drink in a relaxed, meant for long-lasting pleasure environment.

2007 Domino del Falcon Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills: $75/$60/$42

Made from a single block, implying limited production. Big spice on the nose. Light-bodied with delicate fruit on the palate. The spice on the nose is almost absent on the palate.

Gopfrich

It's always a pleasure to see Ray and Bonnie. You can't get a more intimate tasting experience that to be interacting solely with the grower/winemaker himself. Quiet, unassuming, and very charming, Ray Gopfrich is the quintessential boutique winemaker in Dry Creek Valley. Truth be told, Ray sells 90% of his grapes to other winemakers, which is why the available quantity under his label is so limited. It doesn't matter, though, if you remember to make his place an early stop.

(Read more about Gopfrich on the Reviews page.)

2008 Zinfandel (Futures)

Light bodied; mild fruit.

2008 Syrah (Futures): $22.50/-/$35

GREAT! Notes are tough to take as this is full-bodied and complex. Balanced fruit and spice; black cherry, mild anise, black currant. (split a case of futures)

2007 Zinfandel

Great nose. Very fruity & spicy (just enough).

2007 Syrah

Mild nose; light bodied. Fruit was very subtle. Not the best vintage for this wine. Under it's own power, I think it would have left a more favorable impression, but after the young, voluptuous 2008, it never stood a chance.

Sbragia

So, while Sbragia does have a barrel or two on their patio during this event, they don't sell it as futures. Quite frankly, they don't have trouble selling their inventory, but it never hurts to generate early enthusiasm for a release. In past years, they've been tasting the Gino's Vineyard Zinfandel, but it seems to be waning and, in its place, they're promoting their estate zinfandel (La Promessa). It's very different in character, but ultimately has broader appeal than the tightly balance Gino's had.

2009 La Promessa Zinfandel: -/-/$42

Very jammy nose. Yum! For a great open-it-up, jammy drink-of-fun. Do this one. (-Lisa)

2008 Schmidt Ranch Sauvignon Blanc

Too warm to taste.

2006 La Promessa Zinfandel: -/-/$30

Drier than the '09 - not as jammy. Still has fruit on the nose, but a lot more spice on the palate.

2006 Andolsen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: $35/-/$43

Smells like toasted Italian/American meat sandwich and strawberries. (full case)

2006 Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon: $50/-/$39

Notes of sesame seed. Good but the Andolsen is much more appealing. Personally, I've never been compelled by wines made from grapes from Monte Rosso.

2006 Cimarossa Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon: $75/-/$50

I enjoy Howell Mountain cabs (not as much as Mt. Veeder, but nonetheless...). This one was very smooth and would be great with any steak. Very well balanced. It was almost too big to be imbibed alone, unlike the preceding cabs.

Fritz

As I've likely mentioned in the past, Fritz is a regular stop when we're in Sonoma County. In earnest, we really like the wines here, the people are very personable, and the value of the wines are just right (not too cheap, not too expensive). When you return to a place year after year (albeit once or twice in that span) and the winemaker and tasting room staff recognizes you, why wouldn't you make a point to return every time? Of course, it's a lot easier to plan the stop when you have to pick up the futures from the year before (Lost Canyon Pinot, this year).

2009 Estate Reserve Zinfandel (Futures) : $192/$186/-

Very green but rich in color, texture. I'm almost always up for a half-case of Fritz Zinfandels (as evidenced by the verticals in my cellar), but it was hard to make the leap past the youth of this wine in the barrel. We're talking about 6 months in the barrel... I have faith that they'll produce a good wine. (half case purchased)

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown (Futures): $240/$210

Blended with 6% Malbec. Good tannins; medium bodied with notes of black currant and a tart prune (as if there was such a thing). (half case purchased)

2007 Lost Canyon Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Saralee's Vineyard

You'll want to let this sit in the glass a bit, but opens to a nice fruit (subtle) and a lot of spice.

2007 Vino Valpredo Squeezebox Red

After everything we'd just had, this had a nice nose, but a bland palate.

2006 Estate Zinfandel

Truffles on the nose (unusual for their zinfandel) like you'd find on a petite verdot with just a touch of anise (very characteristic).

2007 Estate Reserve Zinfandel : $37/$30/-

Good zinfandel. It's nice to see them building distinctions in their offerings (adding Reserves for the more discriminating tastes/wallets). (half case)

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon: $35/$28/$30

Light to medium bodied. Bland palate.

2007 Late Harvest Zinfandel: $35/$28/$22

Good flavor with a rich body and strong fruit. The only aggravation I have with dessert wines is that, over the last five years, their price points have climbed faster than other wines. That's not an indictment on this wine, but just late harvest/port wines, in general.

2006 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Weak, nice nose, but not all there. I suspect that tasting this after the late harvest zinfandel didn't do it justice. This is usually one of my favored cabs in Sonoma County.