TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/10/10
With this winery, you could examine their approach to wine and reach a couple of conclusions: 1) they really prefer to follow old, traditional techniques of making wine; 2) they're really trying to make a successful business of it, on the cheap; 3) their approach is a little bit of both. For starters, all of their wines are unfiltered, unfined. They are bottled via gravity feed, which puts them in a very exclusive club among California vintners. They hand-label their bottles. While they don't grow their own grapes, they follow a business model that is close to Siduri's, which is to tend to the vineyards from which they are buying their fruit. Since it's only the two of them (Dylan & Tobe) and some remote family members, their product offering is both small, yet impressively large. Case production would never likely hit more than 400 for a wine, but what they do make is strong, marketable product with broad appeal and a great quality-price ratio.
The tasting room is quite cute, constructed in a train caboose that comfortably holds 6-8, but is rated for 11. If you're going to give them a try, you'll want to look for the Gravenstein Station near the Sebastopol Inn for the next few weeks. They are in the process of moving it all to a new wine "ghetto" in Santa Rosa (on or about August 1st).
When it comes to tasting room staff, I don't know how it gets any better than to honored to be served by the winemaker/owner. Tobe, a very charming woman, was full of information about the wine, her winery, and other tidbits that really enhanced the experience. This was one of those quintessential, intimate Sonoma County wine tasting experiences that everyone should have.
2006 Sleep Hollow Chardonnay: $30/$25/$32Only wine of its own rootstock. Not cloned. Santa Lucia Highlands of origin. Nice honey on the nose and palate. Will be really nice when served at the right temp.
2006 Kendric Vineyard Pinot Noir:$45/$38/$35
On Marin/Sonoma County line. Clones115/667/Pommard. Huge strawberry and blueberry on the nose, with a little bit of spice on the back end. Lisa says “mmmm, Strawberry Rhubarb pie”, which indicates the strange small spice on the nose. The palate is much smoother and more subtle than expected. Not sure if it’s not yet developed, or if it will never be, but it’s a nice light little pinot which would not stand up to any food. Drink alone.
On Marin/Sonoma County line. Clones115/667/Pommard. Huge strawberry and blueberry on the nose, with a little bit of spice on the back end. Lisa says “mmmm, Strawberry Rhubarb pie”, which indicates the strange small spice on the nose. The palate is much smoother and more subtle than expected. Not sure if it’s not yet developed, or if it will never be, but it’s a nice light little pinot which would not stand up to any food. Drink alone.
2007 Roma Vineyard Pinot Noir. $50/$42.5/$50What a fantastic, complex nose, uncharacteristic of a Pinot Noir. Not that Pinots have simple bouquets, but that this one made us both ask "This is a Pinot?". Single barrel - 24 cases. Not fully integrated yet, but this will be a stellar wine, in time. Full-body on the palate with a slight earthiness on the finish. Low acidity, but very well structured. Get your grubby hands on these while you can!
2006 Santa Ynez Valley Grenache: $25/$21/$30Wild strawberry, with a layer of black fruit over it (might be black currant). This is a really nice Grenache, with a good flavor, medium body, and slight earthiness. I am rarely enthused about Grenaches, but this one had me by the nose.
2005 Vinolocity 18% Syrah, and the rest Grenache:$30/$23/$30
Mild, light strawberry nose, with much more alcohol on the palate. Great full body to match the huge strawberry and zin-like white peppery nose.
Mild, light strawberry nose, with much more alcohol on the palate. Great full body to match the huge strawberry and zin-like white peppery nose.
2006 Ripken Petite Sirah: $32/$27/$32Lodi AVA. 19 feet below sea level. Long hang time. It's the first to bud and the last to be harvested (Halloween). See what I mean about winemaker tidbits?
Just a little bit of anise on the nose and palate, but other than that this is just a prime example of a petite sirah on the nose, The palate lost a little of the earth/spice I’d expected, but I believe that was due to the tasting glass. This needs a vinum extreme syrah glass for the slightly larger bowl. Easy to drink as is.-Lisa
Robust earth and spice on the palate! I think this will absolutely pair well with a peppery steak, but it’s not so overpowering as you’d expect from a petite sirah. It can be consumed alone, as well. This is one of the best petite sirah for the price I’ve ever had.
Just a little bit of anise on the nose and palate, but other than that this is just a prime example of a petite sirah on the nose, The palate lost a little of the earth/spice I’d expected, but I believe that was due to the tasting glass. This needs a vinum extreme syrah glass for the slightly larger bowl. Easy to drink as is.-Lisa
Robust earth and spice on the palate! I think this will absolutely pair well with a peppery steak, but it’s not so overpowering as you’d expect from a petite sirah. It can be consumed alone, as well. This is one of the best petite sirah for the price I’ve ever had.
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