June's Epilogue

While the end-of-May trip was a significant research trip, it wasn't over on the 31st. Over the next three days we wound down our trip with eight more wineries and forty-six more wines.

Final trip count:

• 8 days
• 34 wineries
• 233 wines

The wineries, in no particular order...

• Zichichi (zee-KEY-key)
• Talty
• Frick
• Williams Selyem
• A. Rafanelli
• Truett-Huerst
• Rued
• V.M.L.

Zichichi

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/6/6

2008 Estate Zinfandel $32/$/$28

Sweet caused shudders.

Hints of candied blackberry on the nose. Blackberry flavors appear with hints of residual sugar. The alcohol finish lingers in the back of your throat.

2010 Old Vine Estate Zinfandel $38/$/$30

85 year old vine.

Black currant and red currant on the nose. A little flabby acids with fresh ripe berries that dominate.

2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $30/$/$30

Fruit sourced out of Yountville.

Nice fruit with no structure, acidity, or potential for longevity.  It’s a juicy red wine and little more.

2011 Estate Zinfandel Futures $32/$26/$-

Intense fruit that comes across as a having residual sugar. The alcohol hangs in the back of the throat.

2011 Estate Old Vine Zinfandel $36/$28/$28

This is a much better balanced zinfandel with intense fruit, but some vanilla, toast and mocha to balance the fruit. The alcohol still lingers in the back of your throat.

Talty

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/8/8

2009 Dwight Family Zinfandel $30/$-/$-

Young, spicy nose. Very nice balance of fruit and spice with a medium-to-light body.   The palate is cherry, plum, and spice.  The sage finish is just enough to brag.

2009 Filice Connolly Zinfandel $38/$-/$34

The nose still has spice on it, but it’s far more fruit forward (Jamie describe).  The palate is full fruit with quite a bit of strawberry. Yum. Much more muted nose, with little or no spice balance. Good body, older vines (65 years old). Modestly complex fruit.

2009 Willam Talty Estate Zinfandel $38/$-/$34

Field blend. Mild raspberry notes on the bouquet. Nice integration of raspberry, cherry, and blackberry. The red currant comes out after following tastes.

2008 William Talty Estate Zinfandel $38/$/$39

This is the best nose thus far with a very fruit forward nose with all the baking spice you enjoy.  The palate is very well balanced with a great finish.  It leaves you wanting another drink, but also wanting the next bite of dinner.  The red currant is softer, allowing the black currant, blackberry, and toasty cedar to appear.

2009 Drouthy Neebors Syrah $35/$/$38

Black rasbberry and blackberry don’t jump, but certainly speak to you in a mature feminine manner.  The winemaker’s recommendation of grilled salmon is a good thing to remember for this lighter, delicate syrah.  The palate has a nice forest, mushroom, and black raspberry taste balance. 

This would be a spectacular syrah with a little more earth notes. The tartness of the red currant makes you want a little more of that balanced spicy.

2009 Judge Family Syrah $38/$/$40

Winemaker definitely recommends trying the 2010 judge family syrah.

He recommends pairing with anything mushroom.  The nose is far more complex with spice, mushroom, forest, and fruit. I think the earthy notes will appear over time with some cellaring.  This is a good syrah.

Frick

TRL/Staff/Wine: 6/6/6

2009 Viognier, Estate, Gannon Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley  $27/$24/$24

Nice tropical nose.  The palate follows with mango and pear that lingers.

2009 Counoise Estate, Owl Hill Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley $26/$23/$-

The nose is floral w/ strawberry and plum, but the palate is huge and very odd. At one point I thought I was actually eating flower petals infused with fig, plum, and spices.

2009 Cinsault Dry Creek Valley $29/$23/$-

The nose was muted, but the palate had raspberry, bramble berry and black plums.

2007 Carignane Old Vine, Dry Farmed $23/$20/$-

Classic Carignane with blackberry and black cherry flavors, layered with a mild spice.  It’s a typical Carignane.

2008 Conley Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley Grenache $27/$24/$13

The nose presents as if the wine is fortified, but I’ve discovered that is just the cedar notes coming through.  The palate is a bit bitter to me.  I could not access the fruits.

C2 (C-squared) $22/$19/$20

Floral bouquet with undercurrent of plum and red cherries. Nice, easy-drinking petite body with a dusty finish that lingers. 

Williams & Selyem

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/10/10

2010 Chenin Blanc Limestone Ridge at Vista Verde Vineyard $25/$19

Stirred with the lees given the fermentation is done in concrete eggs, giving it a bigger mouthfeel. The nose is blank but the palate has bright, tart, lemony/limey flavor.

2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard $94 /$95 ($115)

This is a spectacular wine! The nose is unique, bright with bing cherry, red currant, with notes of strawberry, charcoal, and vanilla beans.  The vanilla notes leave a silky finish and incredible sense that no other pinot has ever done. The fresh, ripe raspberry dominates the palate, but the layer of vanilla adds to this incredibly complex pinot.  Don’t swirl this too much, it’s too delicate.

2008 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $49/$50

Mix of Russian River Valley Dijon Clones (115, 667) and Pommard clones with true Sonoma Coast grapes. Notes of wild berries, fresh herbs, cranberries, and white pepper.  The palate brings forth notes of ripe berries, fresh herbs, and a long, silky finish. Don’t swirl this too much, it’s too delicate.

2010 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $49/$54

Much of the same nose as the 2008, with notes of wild raspberry, rose petal and hints of mocha. The palate explodes with notes of wild berries, white pepper, cranberries, and a silky finish.

2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $49/$49

More Pommard clones. Lush fruit with full body and (Pommard and Dijon 115). Blackberries, plums, and hints of toffee on the bouquet. The dark fruit finishes boldly with a silky mouthfeel.

2006 Hawk Hill Chardonnay Russian River Valley $50/$35

Very rich honey and fig notes on the nose and palate.  This is a fantastic chardonnay; however, you could not pull it as a “chardonnay”.  You need to know that this is a more honey, creamy, fig-like fruit wine which would pair beautifully with the cream-cheese fig cracker appetizer or the a delicious apricot-cheddar cheese.  Lovely. Even though this is an oaked wine, it’s smooth as though it wasn’t.

V. M. L.

TRL/Staff/Wine:10/8/7

Used to be C. Donatello, and Belvedere previously. Whomever ends up in this facility will always inherit a beautiful winery and tasting room.

2011 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc $22/$18/$14

Very light sauv. Blanc. High citrus on the nose, but muted just enough on the palate.  Ok.

2010 Russian River Valley Chardonnay $25/$20/$25

45% new French Oak/ 55% 1-2 year old for 10 months

 The French oak opens up the nasal passages, but once you’re past it, the pear and orange aromas win out.  The palate is light with lemon and a little creaminess.  Nice chardonnay.

2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $30/$24/$30

100% French oak.

Nice silky finish. Modest notes for strawberry, raspberry, and vanilla (clearly, from the oak).

2010 Ivywood Vineyard Pinot Noir $45/$36/$38

Vineyard is north of Occidental.

Blackberry with hints of some type of meat spice, (light pepper or rose) on the nose. The palate is tight with acidity and would benefit from some time in the cellary. The pomegranate will come out in due course.

2010 Winemaker’s Select

Vineyard is in the middle Occidental, Forestville, and Sebastopol.

I’m not sure if there’s pomegranate on the nose or not, but there’s a dark fruit that is not quite blackberry on the nose.  The palate is mild and pleasant, but the Dubliner cheese we were tasting with the wine paired beautifully.  It also had a kick from the chocolate covered pomegranate tasting paired with it.  Interesting and good.

2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel  $22/$18/$22

Holy jammy batman!  Ripe blackberry jam and black licorice on the nose and palate.  Not much else.  Definitely a porky’s patch type.  Mom likes it.

Truett-Hurst

TRL/Staff/Wine: 9/9/9

Left with a half-case. This is an exceptionally club-worthy winery.  The humble exterior of the tasting room belies the rustic, spacious, and charming interior. Walk through the room and you’ll discover tiered picnic areas that lead to the creek behind the property.  This is designed for tastings for 16 and a comfortable seating for 15 more. My only gripe is that the wines are tasted in Riedel O’s.

Staff is already bubbly and informative…within seconds upon our arrival. The energy and enthusiasm was maintained throughout the experience without missing a beat.

This is a stop where you can stock up on meats, cheeses, water, spreads, and crackers. Like Sbragia, this will provide you the resources to extend your tasting day. Moreover, they offered us cheese and crackers to pair with their tastings.

2011 Salmon Run Zinfandel Rose $17/$14/$-

Light crisp and very rose’ like.

2010 White Sheep Pinot Noir $40/$32/$28

Blend of two Dijon Clones, 777, and 667, grown in Green Valley. Light floral notes with subtle layer of raspberry and black cherry. Good color and viscosity. Flavors are warm and comfortable. 100% Pinot Noir

2010 Black Sheep Pinot Noir $40/$32/$37

Blend of two Dijon Clones, 828 and 115. The nose is muted, but the flavors are much more accessible and enticing. Good body with cherry, mild blackberry, and hints of fig. 100% Pinot Noir

2010 Southdown Zinfandel $29/$23/$32

Hints of black tea on the nose with notes of blackberry. The palate follows perfectly, the humble notes of a blackberry/black tea.

2010 Red Rooster Zinfandel $29/$23/$28

The blackberry and leather bouquet. The palate finishes with a tart blackberry and raspberry. Nice body and finish that lingers.

2009 Rattler Rock Zinfandel $29/$23/$32

Interesting nose, with notes of strawberry, boysenberry. Very light and bright fruit on the palate.

2009 GPS Mendocino County Dark Horse Vineyard  $40/$32/$37

40% PS/$30%Syrah/$30% Grenache

Wow, do I ever smell the petit syrah.  This has a nice sweet overtone of strawberry syrup on the nose, but the palate is more of a balanced syrah and Grenache with the right amount of pepper and black fruits to balance the strawberry.

2010 Dry Creek Valley Old Vine Burning Man Petite Sirah   $33/$26/$38

The nose was a little inaccessible, with subtle hints of lavender and plum.  Oh my goodness, was there a rich blend of chocolate and black currant that is so balanced it hits you only as a yum with no “oooh sweet” to it, as the dusty finish explains to your palate.

A. Rafanelli

TRL/Staff/Wine:  8/6/5

With all of the hype surrounding the "King of Zins", I had high expectations. I'm hoping we just caught them on a bad day, because I have never been so underwhelmed.

2010 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley //-

The nose is a little cold but the blackberry is struggling to get out. It has an unusual quality on the finish, with notes of red currant and liquorice.

2009 Merlot Dry Creek Valley //-

The bouquet is hiding on us…Soft finish with some earthy tartness. Pinnacle of simplicity.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Very young, but soft tannic nose. Subtle notes of vanilla bouquet. The finish is nice and velvety, but I’m still chasing the fruit.

Rued

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/8/7

2010 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley $16/$15/$-

Pear and kiwi on the nose, with hints of lemon. Clean, stainless steel fermentation with a thin fruit on the palate.

2010 Chardonnay Russian River Valley $18/$16/$-

Nose is a bit cold and muted. Aromas of subtle green apple and white peach, and the oak appears as it warms. The oak layer dominates the palate.

2009 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $28/$25/$-

Spicy nose and palate with a hint of bing cherry. Aromas of vanilla and rose. Thin body and delicate

2008 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley $25/$23/$30

Notes of candied blackberry, blueberry and vanilla.  The body is nice and well balanced.

2009 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley  $25/$23/$32

The nose on this is so much bigger with much more smokiness to it. The fruit is meat-infused. The blackberry and black pepper are well-balanced in the wine. The body is bigger, with more viscosity and a mild tart, finish.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley $45/$41/$32

Dusty nose with hints of black pepper, cardamon. Loads of pepper, tannins, with a subtle clovish flavor. The fruit was inaccessible to me. 

May Winery Tallies - 187 Wines & 26 wineries

May 26, 2012 (6 wineries/38 wines)

• Balletto Winery (8 wines)
• Red Car Wine Co. (6 wines)
• Lynmar Estates (5 wines)
• Gary Farrell Winery (5 wines)
• Skewis (6 wines)
• Martinelli (8 wines)

May 27, 2012 (4 wineries/28 wines)

• Trione (8 wines)
• Sausal (7 wines)
• Hanna (7 wines)
• Gopfrich (6 wines)

May 28, 2012 (4 wineries/30 wines)

• Landmark (10 wines)
• Imagery (9 wines)
• Kenwood  (9 wines)
• Matanzas Creek (12 wines)

May 29, 2012 (5 wineries/29 wines)

• Bennett Lane (6 wines)
• Turnbull (5 wines)
• Sequoia Grove (8 wines)
• Francis Ford Coppola Winery (4 wines)
• Cakebread Cellars (6 wines)

May 30, 2012 (4 wineries/39 wines)

• La Crema (7 wines)
• Williamson Wines (5 wines)
• Topel  (10 wines)
• Portalupi (4 wines)
• Sapphire Hill (13 wines)

May 31, 2012 (3 wineries/23 wines)

• Pellegrini (10 wines)
• Benovia (8 wines)
• Soujourn (5 wines)

Soujourn

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/6/6

Nice, intimate setting. Long table with informational props, like soil jars. Crackers and water.  Their vinification process includes whole cluster fermentation, hand press-downs. 50% new oak, 50% 1yr old French oak.

2010 Rodgers Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $48/$/$30

Grown on the eastern edge of the Sonoma coast ava.  Muted nose, delicate fruit. A little smokiness.

2010 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast $48/$/$27

Much bigger nose with smoky notes. Smoky palate, with a little bit of cold meat, like prosciutto.  The palate does not actually follow the nose and lacks the spice needed to balance this into a nice pinot. After some time there’s a cola note on the bouquet.

2010 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast $48/$/$30

Big nose with sour fruit on the palate and an alcohol finish that lingers. Needs more fruit balance.

2009 Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $59/$/$44

Lisa- Has a nose very similar to what I expect from a Howell Mtn. cabernet with deep blackberry exploding from the glass.  The palate is so full of fruit you are actually surprised by it.  The blackberry and blueberry balance with a bit of earthiness and the dusty finish that dries your mouth just enough to say wine has been here.

2008 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $69/$/$50

Plum and blackcurrant blend on the nose to give you a cooler nose. Earthy notes on the finish with deep rich fruits. The body is full, the finish is smooth.

Benovia

TRL/Staff/Wine:  10/10/10

This may be our first perfect score EVER!  Here's what you need to know about Benovia...

• There's no wine club; get on their mailing list. 
• They make 4,000 cases per year and you're not going to want to miss an opportunity for ANY of them! 
• The staff (Roger) is exceptionally knowledgeable. This guy has been around here for the last 4 decades, knows some of the pioneers of the area, and can tell you details and stories that will far exceed your expectations!  I've been coming out here for years, have visited wineries hundreds of times and have NEVER encountered someone with more encyclopedic knowledge! In the hour and a half we were there I learned an IMMENSE amount! You’ll gain so much information about their vinification process, their growing process, and anything else you want to know.

2010 Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay $32/$-/$32

Wonderful tropical fruit notes that lingers in your nose forever.  The fruit follows perfectly with some spicy oak. I really like this wine.  Lisa - Almost perfect chardonnay.  This could be a little less tropical and a little more buttery for me, but very nice.

2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $45/$-/$42

Wonderful nose! Perfect nose with bright red fruits (mild cherry, raspberry) with black fruits layered on the palate (blackberry, blueberry) Light body but the fruits didn’t appear as watered down. This had a spring release.

2009 Savoy Anderson Valley Pinot Noir $56/$-/$40

Very light bodied wine with subtle notes of strawberry, cranberry, and raspberry. Short finish

2009 Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir $62/$-/$56

What a wonderful floral, fruit nose! Dry farmed with a significant Vineyard pedigree (Williams Selyem, Kosta Browne, DeLoach). Wonderful bright fruit with sour strawberry, with cherry and cranberry notes on the palate.

2009 Bella Una Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $56/$-/$60

Proprietary blend of Pinot Noir Cuvee.  Seductive aromas of ripe blackberry that really represent the region. Juicy mouthfeel with a dusty finish, inviting you to imbibe more.

2009 La Pommeraie Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $56/$-/$56

Characterized as a cabernet lover’s Pinot Noir. Deep black cherry with notes of boysenberry. Silky finish with lingering fruit. The palate is viscous and rich, with balanced acidity. I'd like to say much more about this wine, but I might enthuse some people who would want to ply it out of my cellar. {BARK} Back! Back!

2009 Sonoma County Zinfandel $38/$-/$40

Ripened blackberry nose, with a wine that is exclusively free run juice. Lots of aromatics. Very balanced finished with a mild earthy finish.

2009 Sonoma Mountain Grenache $32/$-/$32  

This is a really nice Grenache with dark fruit notes and a light strawberry finish and modest peppery. I rarely like grenaches because they’re rough, but these are smooth with complexity. They call it a garnacha style which is a Spanish style.

Pellegrini

TRL/Staff/Wine: 6/8/7

2010 Sauvignon Blanc Lake County $15/$12/$14

Pear and apple on the nose.  The green apple tartness dominates the palate with a crisp finish.

2009 Chardonnay Russian River Valley  $18/$14/-

Unoaked chardonnay. Muted nose with crisp acidity on the palate. Lemon notes with bright tartness.

2007 Olivet Lane Reserve Chardonnay  $35/$28/$25

There’s something tropical and woody about the nose. The palate follows exactly but in greater proportion. This is a non-standard chardonnay, so don’t be surprised.

2010 Five Barrel Section Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $35/$28/$30

Bright raspberry and cherry bouquet. The flavors follow, but it’s thin and uninspiring.

2010 Eight Cousins Vineyard Russian River Valley Zinfandel $26/$21/$28

Rich raspberry, blackberry, and red currant on the nose.  The palate follows nicely with a thin body and light pepper.

2007 Napa Valley Dolcetto $18/-/$20

Muted nose (might have been too cold). Smooth, rich flavor with no acid spicy Italian food wine. This is an easy drinking wine with a accessible fruit.

2007 Eight Cousins Merlot Russian River Valley $22/$18/$20

Another cold nose. Flavors of cherry tomatoes, mushroom, with mild earth and no tannins.  

2009 Cloverdale Ranch Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $28/$22/-

A little smoky, but mostly spice with black cherry and red currant on the nose.  Light-bodied for a cabernet, but it doesn’t taste as if it’s lacking at all.  In fact it has a very pleasant finish.

2006 Milestone $30$/24/$27

Red fruit with cedar notes and mint. Dark fruit and earthy. The fruits are well integrated, and modestly complex.

2005 Finale (Late Harvest Zinfandel Port) $40/$/$30

The Brandy doesn’t overwhelm you like you would expect. It’s a nice smooth, fruit forward, accessible fruit with candied blackberry. The brandy is very subtle and unobtrusive. This is agood dessert wine, but one I’d enjoy at a lower price.

Portalupi

TRL/Staff/Wine: 7/7/5

2009 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $46/$/$-

The alcohol is heavy on the nose. I’m having trouble finding the fruit that has been swallowed by the alcohol on the nose. The cherry is bright and sour across the palate and the alcohol lingers in the back of your throat.

2009 Mendocino County Barbera $36/$/$-

Plum on the nose with high alcohol. It comes across the palate as sour blackberries.

2009 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel $32/$/$-

This has classic notes of Dry Creek Valley zinfandel with a heavy layer of rose. The red currant, black berry and raspberry appear on the palate, but again…the alcohol lingers.

2010 Vaso di Marina $28/$/$-

This is a red blend of cabernet franc, zinfandel, and petite sirah. I’ve never smelled anything like it.  It’s a long term puzzle to distinguish all the flavors on the nose. Black liquorice on the nose coupled with black currant and cherry. 

Topel

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/8/8

2010 Chardonnay Classique Mendocino County $35/$/$26

Has the color of a sauvignon blanc. Fresh, tropical fruits on the nose and the palate. Easy-drinking, but pricey for a simple chardonnay.

2009 Pinot Noir Reserve – Monterey $40/$/$40

Perfect pinot nose.  This is what a pinot should always smell like. The smoky, tobacco, cola scents are well coupled with the cherry. There’s only a thin, silky finish after the sour cherries dissipate.

2009 Monhoff Vineyard Zinfandel $30/$/$-

Bright blackcurrant, raspberry with some notes of vanilla on the nose. The thin body left the sense of the fruits in skin form. It was a little disappointing…

2007 Extended Elevage Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $50/$/$55

Big rose on the nose, with clove from the stove.  Very smooth, dusty finish, with hints of plum and black currant.

2007 Battuello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $40/$/$55

Brighter fruit on the nose, with only hints of floral aromas. The fruit is reminiscent of dark berries. The finish is dusty with lingering alcohol.  This is a drink alone wine, akin to a juicy meritage.

2008 Battuello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $40/$/$60

The nose on this is the best, yet, with more complexity that includes dark berries, peppercorn, and a white pepper.  The palate seemed to fall just short, but I may be a bit too critical. The wine has a tattered velvet finish with bright berries.

2006 Meritage – Le Mariage Mendocino County $36/$/$55

60 cabernet 25 merlot 10 petite verdot 5 malbec

Big deep earth and deep dark berries on nose and the palate. Awesome! I was enjoying it so much I couldn’t take decent notes!

2007 Red Blend Topel Estate Blend Mendocino County $36/$/$-

Nice dark fruits, but a little muted nose. The finish is dark, and velvety, but a bit drying to the palate.  The fruits on the nose don’t flow as smoothly over the palate as you’d expect…a little bit of a sour taste is what dries on the finish.

2007 Syrah Noir Cuvee’ Donnis $32/$/$35

Dark fruits with juicy flavors/$feel.  Slightly earthy and dusty.  The fruits flow richly over the palate with a very nice earthy finish. 

2009 Petite Syrah, Topel Estate Vineyard $36/$/$35

Very woody nose, with notes of red currant, vanilla, and rose.  It has a silky finish with red currant and anise. 

Williamson Wines

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/8/7

Large tasting room with many tables, chairs and a long bar. It’ll handle nearly twenty normal patrons and two long tables for private tastings. They pair their wine with food and provide a cheese club option.

2010 Chantilly Chardonnay $38/$/$26

Fresh crisp nose with notes of lemon and butterscotch. Very well-balanced oak and fruit notes. Paired with a mango cheese of some sort.

2010 Rapture Pinot Noir $45/$/$45

Paired with Irish cheddar with a little truffle salt. Bouquet is a little muted, but the flavor has a nice smoked black fruit flavor.  The cheese WAY over-powered the Pinot Noir . I like the wine, it has good balance and is well-integrated.

2008 Seduce Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley $57/$/$55

Paired with Irish cheddar and double cream French blue cheese, called St. Agur.  Black pepper on the nose with hints of cinnamon and blackberry. The earthy notes brings a nice finish that alludes to a structure that will provide longevity for another five years. The sweetness of the pairing (honey) flairs out the acidity that overwhelms everything else.  Dusty blackberry and plum provides a nice, pleasureable drink.

2009 Entice Cuvee $47/$/$50

Blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry aromas. The fruit doesn’t hide on the palate, but also leaves a dusty finish. The pairing was better than the last three, but it removed the dusty finish of the wine.

2009 Enchant Trinity $47/$/$-

Grenache, syrah, and mouvedre

Châteauneuf-du-Pape style of wine

Hints of many things, including cherry, strawberry, tobacco, blackberry, raspberry and some raspberry. The blend was well-integrated with earthy notes. It wasn’t appealing to me, but it was a decent wine. The food pairing KILLED me.  Cheese with merlot-soaked onions changed the wine for the worse. 

La Crema

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/10/7

Nice tasting room. Staff recommended other places to taste wines within the Healdsburg Square area.  

Oddly, they served the wines in Riedel O’s. 

2010 Russian River Valley Chardonnay $30/$24/$24

Tropical scents over the lip of the glass, with hints of honey. The alcohol comes across with the oakiness.  Notes of baked pear.

2008 Los Carneros Chardonnay $30/$24/-

Slight notes of butterscotch. The lemon zest dominates the palate with nice, clean acidity.

2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $40/$32/$28

Clove! Aargh!  But seriously, the notes of sassafras really dominate with a layer of cherry. Thin body with medium alcohol on the finish. The fruit is subtle and difficult to access.

2010 Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir $40/$32/-

Blackberry, cherry, black currant with a dominant layer of tea leaves.

Very spicy notes on the palate. The winemaker notes say that it has a velvety finish with it’s tannic structure, but I didn’t get any of it.

2008 Los Carneros Pinot Noir $40/$32/$34

Fresh cherries on the nose with little spice.  Smooth and well-integrated fruits that make it difficult to distinguish the differences.

2009 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir $50//$42

The bouquet is much more accessible with mild spicy notes and some baking spice.  The palate follows the humble black cherry and baking spices.

2008 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 9 Barrel $90//$49

The nose was a little flat, I think because the bottle had been open a day. There’s a quality that is unique to this wine and any other Pinot Noir that I’ve ever tasted.  Doublemint gum!  I like the black cherry and dusty finish.  It’s a great wine, but the price kills me.

Matanzas Creek

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/9/8
This place has got to be the most out-of-the-way location I have ever found. We drove for miles without civilization in sight, on narrow, bumpy country roads until we found the drive way that took us half-way up the mountain. There, tucked in among the trees was a spectacular venue! Words are useless to describe it. Inside is all the accommodations you could ask for, to include private tasting rooms, a long tasting bar, and a handy retail establishment. The staff behind the bar was a grower, himself, and had so much to say about the wines, the grapes, the regions, the years they were grown, the winemaker, the vinification process, {deep breathe}... As late as this stop was, they treated us as though we were their first customers of the day. ...Fantastic!

2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County $21/$18/$12

Smells of pink grapefruit. 8% Semillon Sauvignon Musque’

Light bodied and mildly acidic from modest oak. Enjoyable.

2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Bennett Valley $30/$23/$25

The nose is rich with white fruits, such as pear, lime, and white peach. The fruits explode in your mouth, making it a very enjoyable wine.

2011 Sauvignon Blanc Helena Bench, Knights Valley $40/$34/$26

The nose is slightly creamy with some lemon zest and grapefruit on the palate that finishes long with modest acidity.

2008 Chardonnay Sonoma County $26/$22/$25

Crisp lemony nose with oak notes (from the 25% new French oak). Very smooth and creamy with oak finishing in your esophagus.

2010 Chardonnay Bennett Valley $40/$34/$30

The palate speaks of more melon and tart fruits. Subtle notes of honeysuckle. Thin body with a slight film that persists.

2008 Pinot Noir Bennett Valley $30/$25/$30

Blackberry and cherry leap out of the glass and into your nose. The cherry lives in skin-form over the palate leaving a fair acidity on the finish. This is a humble Pinot Noir that can be enjoyed without fanfare.

2007 Merlot Bennett Valley $35/$23/$32

Earthy and peppery nose with hints of thyme. Peppery, with a bold cab-based finish. The fruits are hard to find, but this is a steakhouse merlot.

2009 Merlot Bennett Valley $40/$34/$38

Contains Carmenere, a vine that is rare and used to be a staple in Bordeaux before it was wiped out.

Love the nose! Plums, blackberries, and fresh black fruit. I enjoy this as it still has a velvety finish without being obtrusive.  This can be consumed with a steak or by itself.

2006 Syrah, Sonoma County $30/$25/$35

Deep dark, but slightly jammy nose. Not jammy, but full fruit complexity with blackberry, black currant, plum, with black pepper and oak on the finish.

2007 Syrah, Bennett Valley $25/$21/$28

Little redder fruit on the nose, less challenging and dark. This is a smooth fruit wine with less complexity, but easy to drink with no lasting affect to cause you to feel as if you’ve consumed a bottle.  Easy and dangerous, but not a girly drink.  This is for grown-ups.

2008 Journey Red $100/$85/$65

Gratuitous pic of the Chariot of Bacchanalia

Lavender nose w/ notes of black currant and cedar. The palate is fine with well integrated flavors and minerality. This is an elegant wine, but I struggle with the price point. This is a modest meritage and I like it…at a lower price.

2009 Denouement, White Dessert Wine

Aromas of stone fruits that follow simply on the palate. This is the dessert in a dessert wine.

Cakebread Cellars

TRL/Staff/Wine: 9/8/7

WARNING: This content may contain bias, snobbery, and iconoclastic views.
Almost every time I roll into Napa Valley, I'm struck by several things. The first is how "privileged" I should feel to have the opportunity to taste their wines. Lo, I should pay for the privilege of being in California!  I call up one winery (of whom I've never heard) to make a tasting appointment and they have the unmitigated arrogance of exclusivity to require that I pay $100 per person to taste their wines.  It made me want to puke. When this wind of superiority and elitism blows across my path, I feel the urge to cut through it with my $90K Jaguar and yell "Go F#&k Yourself!" out the window. {Ironic, I know. That's why it's funny.}

You know, I don't really mean to drop this entire load on Cakebread and, truth be told, there are a good number of wineries in Napa Valley for whom I have a great deal of respect. (Freemark Abbey, Conn Creek, Cuvaison, to name a few)  Today, however, Cakebread set me off, because this whole self-effacing image that they tried to portray - characterizing themselves as the biggest small winery - just comes across as disingenuous and haughty.  Don't stand there and tell me the owner characterizes his annual production of 145,000 cases as "small". There are reputable wineries with better price points on their wines who won't produce that much wine in their family's generation!  AARRGH!  ...enough already.

Everything the pourer told us ran contrary to what we’ve learned over the years. For example, he indicated that the smooth creaminess of a chardonnay mouthfeel is attributed to the malolactic fermentation (or conversion, as he put it). Funny, the rest of us have been told that it's attributed to the measure of French oak being used in the fermentation process. Having personally consumed chardonnays from 100% French oak next to chardonnays from 100% stainless steel, I have empirical data to support my position. Moreover, he indicated that their chardonnay was more consistent with the French style (meaning lighter and having more minerality), which it wasn’t (because it didn't).  It was early in the tasting series where he lost me as he tried to impart to us the notes of green apple on the "small production of 90,000 cases" of chardonnay. Nobody in the group got those notes, either.


I'm strangely amused by their wine club discount of 12%. Not 10%, nor 15%...not even something standard, like 20%. More dumbshit Napa Valley antics... They come in all forms. But, enough ranting...

2011 Sauvignon Blanc $24/$22/$10

Intense lemon zest on the palate. No acidity.

2010 Napa Valley Chardonnay $37/$34/$24

Buttery lemon nose. Medium viscosity. The palate is smooth, creamy, and welcoming with little-to-no acidity. The lemon peeks through on the palate. 

2009 Chardonnay Carneros $55/$49/$29

Very tropical, melony aromas (perhaps even some pineapple). Extremely smooth with no acidity, but no creaminess like the previous wine. There is a little oakiness to it.  The palate comes across with a tart finish but no apple to it.

2009 Merlot $54/$49/$32

95% merlot/5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bright black currant, cherry,and blackberry flow freely over the lip of the glass.  The fruit is thinner on the palate than it is on the nose, leaving a slight disappointment. It’s carried well enough with a subtle oak note that leaves a dusty finish. The light-to-medium body that this wine has allows the alcohol to dominate.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $60/$53/$42

Bright raspberry notes, again, with notes of plum. The fruit is deep on the palate, but there’s very little-to-no tannic backbone. This has a red currant and mildly velvet finish. The body is thinner than I prefer in a Cabernet Sauvignon but it’s not so thin that it’s considered delicate.  The nose is reminiscent of a zinfandel fruit bomb.

2009 Napa Valley Syrah $55/$49/$35

Carneros syrah.  Very deep black currant bouquet. No real spice to it.  The little bit of earth is not enough to make this a good full syrah. It has a full body with a simple blackberry and earth palate.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/6/7

So, sue me if I had a predisposed notion before coming here. For those of us who are in it to be serious about the product (wine, if you hadn't figured it out), this is the place that turns our stomach. It's like saying Epcot has the most diverse culinary offering in the country, all in one place. Blech!

So, what is it that I'm on about? I'm talking about the Hollywood commercialism that takes a brand with little or no substance, and surrounds it with hype and superficial accoutrements to make a gross profit. There's no call for that behavior in Sonoma Valley...that's what Napa Valley's for. In this case, Coppola took a perfectly respectable winery (albeit unsustainable business), built a pool (yes, a pool) on the grounds for its patrons, adorned the floors, walls, and ceilings with movie memorabilia, and crafted whatever he could make for the masses to put into a bottle with yet more self-aggrandizing garnishment.

2009 Su Yuen Riesling $12//$8

4% Residual sugar

Cool, tropical fruit on the nose. The palate follows. This is pretty close to a dessert wine by itself.

2010 Diamond Collection Pinot Noir $21//-

The clove and tea leaves on the nose is off-putting to me. I can’t find my way to the fruit. The tart strawberry and raspberry lingers on the palate.

2009 Francis Coppola Reserve Dry Creek Valley Syrah $34//$33

Best of class winner at the Sonoma county harvest fair 2011

Nice red currant and blackberry notes on the nose. No acidity, just mild alcohol and rich fruit flavor, consistent with the nose, to include plum accents.

2008 Francis Coppola Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $38//$38

100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 20 months in French oak.

Nothing but cab on the nose. Hints of plum, currant, and gourmet coffee. No backbone, but the mouthfeel and fruit is big, bold, and full. This is a reasonable cab at its price.

Sequoia Grove

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/9/8

We haven't been back to Sequoia Grove in nearly five years. From my recollection, their wines were largely overpriced and lacked depth of fruit character, dominated instead by the prodigious use of American oak and the spiciness that comes with it. In many ways, they aren't any better. Their higher-end wines have gone the complete opposite direction, with deep fruit complexity without the tannic balance you might expect out of a cabernet.  That's not to say their wines were without merit, quite the contrary. Moreover, the recent remodeling has elevated their image and their ability to accommodate a tasting crowd.

2010 Carneros Chardonnay  $28/$22/$31

Lovely, fresh nose, with some creaminess. Scents of lemon and pear, and subtle hints of toasted oak. Clean palate consistent with a stainless steel fermentation process. The acidity appears after a little food (in this case a bread stick).

2009 Rebellious Red $34/$27/$33

Every year is a different wine. The nose is enigmatic as if it’s playing hide and seek in the vineyard. There’s something very different about it. The blend is unusual and almost completely indistinguishable. It’s a fun wine to consume with notes of dark fruits and a bright raspberry finish. There’s still a dusty finish, that implies a cab or merlot.

2009 Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah $34/$27$/32

The nose is hiding again on this one. There are subtle notes of forest floor, but the fruits are hard to identify.  The tannins are full and somewhat earthy. The cassis and blackberry flows forth throughout the finish.

2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $38/$30/$42

Lisa: Very green hit-you-in-the-face nose.  Not green pepper, but still a big young nose; definitely screams lay me down, but if you drank it now, you’d think it might be a good syrah.  If you drink it later, you’ll love it.

The cassis and redcurrant flush the palate leaving a peppery finish, attributed to the American oak with which they aged this wine.

2007 Lamoreaux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $90/$72/$40

Much more subdued and balanced than the Napa Cab, but still has some very good spices.  The palate is far too light and subtle for the nose; however, the feel of it is big, the taste to it is light.  A little confusing.

The nose is hard to find, again…I’m detecting a pattern.  After tasting it, I know why I couldn’t find it. There’s no acidity to transport the flavors to the nose. You can drink this all day, every day, but it is atypical of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is balanced, well-integrated, and humble, unlike the quasi-fruit bomb from Cakebread.

2007 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $90/$72/$41

Same style. No acidity means no nose, and you only find the fruit on the palate. Peppery finish, but mildly so. Blackberry, cassis, and a little tobacco on the palate.

2007 Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $90/$72/$40

So we have definitely established a pattern with the nose and fruit. The palate is smooth, but flat with accessible fruit.

2010 Sample of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Not yet bottled. Been in the barrel since November 2010. Still a barrel sample, but it’s been blended.

Seems like there’s a little mint on the nose. This’ll be nice…

Turnbull

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/7/7

I'd like to say a few good things about Turnbull.  For starters I was surprised at the quality of their offerings. As is often the case for me in Napa Valley, I can't get my head around paying the extra 25% for the branding, but they had some good wines. We spent the $20 on the reserve tasting, which was voided when we bought a bottle of the Merlot below. I note this because some wineries (Cakebread, for example) be sure they collect their tasting fee up front, regardless of how you conclude your retail experience (i.e. how many cases/bottles you buy).  A good winery, in my opinion, waits to see if you and their offerings have something in common...whether there'll be something to talk about later...whether a good match can be made.

A minor note from this experience was the seeming disinterest in our existence by the wine pourer, who spent most of her time with her back to us reading a magazine. I would have been more annoyed if I hadn't been grateful for the isolation, having just left Cakebread, as it were.

2008 Leopoldina Cabernet franc $60/$48/$30

Notes of vanilla, black pepper.

Blended with petit verdot and malbec

Typical cabernet franc with a modest earthy finish. The blackberry is there, but it’s muted by the finish.

2008 Fortuna Merlot $55/$44/$45

Full bouquet of black cherries, black berry, and cola. (the winemaker notes say black tea, but I don’t get that…until I taste it). This is a classic Napa Valley merlot, with the right balance of acidity and fruit. It has a tattered velvety finish, which is nice, and not too overwhelming.

2008 Fortuna Cabernet Sauvignon  $75/$60/$55

Enticing bouquet of blackberry, cola, and black cherry. The pepper dominates the finish on this wine, which is not ungood. The fruit is enjoyable and this is a balanced wine.

2008 Amoenus Cabernet Sauvignon  $75/$60/-

The minerality on the nose is unusual. Frankly, I had a hard time getting past it, to the fruits. The clove dominates the palate and I can’t STAND clove.

2008 Leopoldina Cabernet Sauvignon $75/$60/$60

Deep burgundy color with medium viscosity. The nose is classic Cabernet Sauvignon out of Napa Valley. The earthy, peppery nose wafts the cassis and black cherry out of the glass. The palate disappoints with less tannic backbone than expected, yet still has a fully velvet finish. The cassis and cherry are a bit muted by the finish and this would benefit tremendously by a few years in the cellar.

Bennett Lane

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/10/7

I'll tell you right off the bat that there was a lot that I liked about this winery. It is a beautiful setting, spacious yet cozy tasting room, and the staff was both professional and engaging. When you have these components in a tasting experience, you'll find that the wines will seem to have a higher value. Fortunately, Lisa wasn't feeling the love as much as I was and kept our wine objectivity in check.  Is this a place I'd return to? Perhaps. Would it be a place that I'd bring guests to? ...without even thinking twice!  Even though we weren't enamored with the wine doesn't mean others would necessarily share that opinion.  There I go again, probably giving them more credit that is deserved.  The full truth is that the bouquets on nearly all of these wines were fantastic, but the palates were simple and disappointing.

2008 Reserve Chardonnay $45/$38/-

7 months in 20% new French

Has odd smell of sauerkraut. The palate is alarmingly bitter and bland for a chardonnay. It’s an old, musty oak flavor. I think this one was probably past its prime.

2008 Maximus $35/$30/$30

Bright fruit bouquet for a blend.  Soft palate with no acidity, but very accessible.  Strawberry, raspberry… the mild velvety finish finally appears.

2007 Napa Valley Merlot $47/$40/$45

75 merlot/18 malbec/ 7 cab franc

Notes of blackberry, black pepper, and mild raspberry.  

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga $55/$47/-

I love the deep nose on this one. Blackberry, plum, hints of chocolate.  The palate is light-bodied and simple for a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve $95/$80/$60

The nose is thicker and deeper than the last, with black cherry, cassis, mild pepper, plums, and a layer of cocoa.  Fruit flows over the palate at attention, and leaves a dusty finish. The body is better but the backbone is lacking. This would benefit from years in the cellar.

2008 Syrah $47/$40/$45

Bright, candied raspberry, little cherry, blueberry aromas.

The palate is fresh with barely any acidity and a dusty finish. The fruit is prominent, but thin. 

Kenwood

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/7/6


This place has a lot of history but it's not enough to draw me in on a regular basis. The grounds are nice, but the tasting room is crowded with retail merchandise with just enough room for a dozen or so patrons. Pay your wine tasting toll and you're given quaint little tokens to walk 15 feet with to start your tasting of your choice of five wines (out of 32).  The pourers asked me twice where I was from and was more interested in the car I was driving than in how I liked their wines, or what about them I liked.  Mind you, it's a nice car, but please people...take some pride in your product.

2010 Sauvignon blanc Reserve $15/$11/-

Very light nose with hints of lime and minerality. The palate follows, but there’s a slightly metallic finish.

2011 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County  $10/$8/$15

Soft lemon, pear, and green apple aromas. Very lemony palate with measurable acidity.

2010 Reserve chardonnay $25/$19/-

Slightly toasty nose, with some minerality, with hints of lime.  Very light bodied with a surprise note of white peach.

2009 Olivet Pinot Noir $30/$22/$28

The nose is stereotypical Pinot Noir out of Russian River Valley, with lots of bright red candied fruits, well integrated; cherry, raspberry, some currant. The palate follows exactly.

2009 Reserve Pinot Noir $25/$19/-

Very similar to the Olivet Pinot Noir, but much simpler on the nose and palate.

2009 Jack London Zinfandel $25/$19/-

I’m struggling to find the bouquet on this wine.  There’s some vanilla, blackberry, and hints of blueberry. Light-bodied with lots of oak on the palate. The fruit is overwhelmed by the oak.

2009 Jack London Syrah $20/$15/$26

Plum, fig, and vanilla aromas. The palate is very spicy and oaky, but not in an overwhelming way. The fruits will appear later, after it’s been opened a while.

2009 Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon $35/$26/-

Richer, softer nose…as though it can be consumed alone. The nose is like a soft baby blanket. This has classic structure, but little complexity or depth to it. You’d be better off if you stuffed the baby blanket into your mouth.

2002 Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon $35/$26/$30

Softer tannins with red fruit (raspberry) and hints of fig. 

Imagery

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/8/7

This is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the afternoon. It’s quite picturesque with an art gallery that showcases the art of their labels. They have the largest label collection in the world, with over 400 labels.

If the place is busy, you’ll compete for the staff’s attention. Then again, in the middle of the experience, Joe Benziger came out and introduced himself.

The patio tasting is $20 per person, and there are only 4 wines on that menu, but 6 wines later, they’ve only poured one of the original four. You got to love the generous servings…

2010 White Burgundy $29/$23/$15

Chardonnay / Pinot Blanc/ Pinot Meunier

Rich, creamy nose consistent with a chardonnay that has been oaked in French barrels for some time. It has a very viscous fluidity to it. The nose has hints of peach, pineapple, and honey. Light-bodied with little or no acidity.

2011 Wow Oui $27/$21/-

Sauvignon blanc

This doesn’t smell like any sauvignon blanc that I’ve ever had. I pick out the usual pear and lemon, but there’s a sweet fruit that is difficult to identify. Whatever it is, it’s not on the palate. This is a clean, lemony sauvignon blanc with no oakiness, acidity, or toast, as if it was fermented in stainless steel.

2010 Viognier $29/$23/$16

100% stainless steel fermented. The nose is classic Viognier but the palate is too clean, with a significant lime presence. I’d love this wine more if it had some oaked wine blended into it.

2008 Barbera $39/$31/$30

Black spices on the nose, with notes of boysenberry, plum, and leather.  This is an enjoyable barbera with a nice dusty palate that follows. The fruit sucks you, but it doesn’t meet your expectations.

2010 Sangiovese $39/$31/-

575 cases this year. 15-17 months on all new French oak. 

Bright raspberry nose. The vanilla and raspberry followed on the palate, but it was thin and the finish was slightly peppery.

2009 Tusca Brava (super Tuscan) $55/$44/$45

58 Cabernet Sauvignon/40 sangio /2 malbec

The nose has a typical super Tuscan style with good spice and earth mixed well together.  The palate follows, but is more balanced towards earth than spice.  The fruits on the nose are the same on the palate, with blackberry, cherry, and just a little bit of blueberry.  I could swear I smell a little anise, but I get confused with a toasty oak aroma when I try to pull it out.

2008 Lagrein $44/$35/$35

Sourced from the Paso Robles region.

Smells of a peppery black fruit…and it tastes of a peppery black fruit. There’s a hint of tobacco.  The finish is smooth but short, but the flavors still please.

2009 Malbec Upper Ridge $39/$31/$33

Notes of black currant, blueberry, plum, and spices. It’s a nice mouthfeel, but I believe in an earthier Malbec, which this is not. In any event, the deep dark fruits of this wine are consistent with its bouquet.

2008 Malbec $39/$31/$37

This is more suited to my tastes and expectations of a malbec. Notes of graphite on the nose are interesting, but the palate has a  complex fruit composition where the raspberry jumps along with the blueberry.

Landmark

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/9/9

What a gorgeous setting, set back from Sonoma Highway, in the middle of the vineyards. Spacious and picturesque, there's no way you'd not want to just open a bottle and spend the day there.  The staff was not only knowledgeable, but they were charming, engaging, and presented recommendations of other wineries based upon our preferences. The wine was very good and well-priced at the club discount level.  Do not miss this opportunity...

2010 Overlook Chardonnay $25/$20/$22

Grapefruit and pear on the nose; the palate follows.  20% new French oak/80% neutral. Thin body. Mild minerality with some tartness.

2010 Damaris Reserve chardonnay $40/$32/$32

Love the rich buttery, toasty, creamy nose. Nice oaky finish with lemon zest and hints of pear.

2009 Lorenzo Chardonnay Russian River Valley $55/$44/$43

Love the rich nose on this too! Hints of yeast and butter on the nose.  Light toast on the palate with less creaminess on the mouthfeel than the Damaris Reserve. This has a crisp finish with balanced acidity.

2011 Steel Plow Estate Vineyard

Grenache/syrah/mouvedre

{Lisa – very strong strawberry and pink grapefruit blend  on the nose, the I was taken aback by the memory of heavy pink syrup penicillin from when I was a kid.  Could not get past it to enjoy the palate.}

2010 Grand Detour Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $35/$28/$30

Some spice and a layer of candied cherry on the nose.  The palate is smooth with well integrated fruit that has modest appeal.

2010 Spring Hill Pinot Noir $55/$44/$38

Mild notes of cola, lavender, and forest floor. I get some of the candied cherry on the edges of my palate. It’s an enjoyable, easy-drinking Pinot Noir.

2009 Kanzler Pinot Noir $65/$52/$49

This has a bright raspberry, strawberry, and cherry bouquet. This is very enticing and welcoming.  The palate has a really nice balance of acidity, fruit, spice, and slight earthiness wrapped up in a medium-bodied wine.

2010 Kanzler Pinot Noir $65/$52/$50

Richer fruit, better body, extremely balanced fruit. This is a delicious Pinot Noir. The blackberry, cherry, finish balances the minerality and hints of anise.

2010 Steel Plow Estate Vineyard Grenache $35/$28/$30

Only slight strawberry on the nose.  There is a smokey spice to this which fools you into believing this might be a pinot.  The palate announces, “I’m a Grenache” with light strawberry, hint of spice, and a little bit of minerality to balance it. Strawberry gets stronger, red apple skin.

2010 Kivelstadt Vineyard Syrah, Sonoma Valley $40/$32/$35

Nice blackberry nose with modest minerality and smokiness. The palate exudes earthy notes with good balance of black fruits, vanilla and spices.

Gopfrich

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/9/9 

Over the years, we've always had a special place in our hearts for this winery, but as I look back over my notes, we've never really given it a critical review. Today's stop endeavors to do so...but, of course, the charm of the experience makes the wine taste better!

Ray was as sharp and affable as ever, welcoming us late in the day. It had been a couple of years since we saw him last and he was as enthused about seeing us as we were to see him.  I've said it before, just because Ray requires an appointment, don't be deterred. He's incredibly accommodating and it's well worth your while to make a quick phone call.

It should be noted that Lisa took all of the notes here, today; I was just enjoying the experience. Post facto, I've made some edits, but her notes I've italicized and left alone.  Largely, my impressions are very consistent with hers.

2010 Zinfandel $28/$22/$35

Nose has a lovely spice, not too overwhelming, but distinctly Goepfrich in the woodiness of it. Quite fruit forward.  Delicious peppery, spicy, but full of dark rich fruits for easy drinking.

2010 Merlot   $30/$24/$32

A bit of green pepper on the nose, very inticing aromas; palate is mild compared to the nose with some cherry and blackberry.

This is never a tannic merlot, but it's one that both intrigues and satisfies. The fruit complexity is off the chart.

2010 Cuvee  $32/$26/$46

35% merlot; 35% syrah; 15% zin; 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Baked spices on the nose along with baked dutch apples for Mom, but beautifully balanced with a richer fruit palate.

Yeah, I don't know what the hell she's talking about (either of them). This is just a classic DCV cuvee, rich in blackberry, red currant, vanilla, and cinnamon. This is going to be so enjoyable to pull the cork and erase the day.

2010 Syrah $30/$24/$45

Again, baked spices, but this has a great sharp spice with a nice balanced baked dinner.  Mom loves this wine.  Palate feels velvety like it was open for a long time, but still tasted full bodied and perfectly Syrah.

Ok, so the best I can come up with is that the vanilla and cinnamon are making them think of baked apples. It's an unusual combination when you add the red currant, and you wonder how the hell this kind of thing happened, but there it is anyway. This is one of the appeals to this winery, for me.  It creates unique, sometimes atypical wines out of its grapes. 

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $38/$31/$42

Complex nose.  Has spice and dark fruits again, but I smell cherry in this one, (when I didn’t on the previous ones), plum; the palate does not follow as richly as the nose implied, but this is still a good cab which will probably develop a little more.

He's in a tough position here, because if anyone is able to get their hands on his 2010 vintage of this wine, they'll never want anything else. Before we left, he thiefed a little out of the barrel and it was spectacular. Again, for those of you who are accustomed to Napa cabs, this won't seem right, absent the tannic backbone that affords you the ability to lay it down for 20 years. As Ray was keen to point out (in his self-effacing manner), he doesn't have that kind of time...so he makes his cabs to be consumed sooner. And I would...if there was any of it to go around. This year's crop was fully allocated through futures purchases.  He let me in on a secret though... He sells his zinfandel grapes to Simi and his cabernet sauvignon grapes to Franciscan (in Oakville). Hmmm...

2010 Zinfandel Rose' $18/$16/$16

Nice clean rose.  This definitely tastes like it has some residual sugars, but it settles down and dries out to offer a good Rose’ flavor.

Hanna

TRL/Staff/Wine: 8/7/7

This isn't my first time here. I've been to their teeny, tiny tasting room off River Road, and I've been to this tasting room once before.  I came here during barrel tasting one year, with friends and was not (in any way) enamored with their wines. I only drank from their basic tasting menu, then, but this time I went straight to the reserve menu. It was certainly a different experience, but not to a measure that was commensurate with the prices increases. I may be a bit harsh on the wine rating but only because the wines were good...at a much lower price.

2007 Bismark Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $56/$42/$39

Mild aromas of blackberry, tobacco, and a desert plant. The blackberry is prominent on the palate with little or no acidity. This is a drink now cab that won’t impress anyone but you’ll enjoy as a nice, accessible wine.

Lisa – big nose to her – green pepper was most prominent, with just a little blackberry quite a bit of tobacco.

2007 Bismark Mountain Petite Sirah $54/$/$35

Floral nose with stereotypical petite sirah flavors. Another fruit forward wine with no acidity. There’s a quality that is missing that you expect from petite sirah (black pepper). Very drinkable, but not at this price

.

2007 Bismark Mountain Syrah 56/$42/$35

The tea, cinnamon are almost exclusive to the nose. The fruit was transparent, at first, but the dried cherries appeared with sufficient coaxing (spelled S-W-I-R-L).  This is another enjoyable wine where the tea, cinnamon, really follows on the palate.

2006 Merlot Reserve Proprietor Grown $55/$40/$30

I’m having problems finding the bouquet on this wine; cola,  a little tobacco, and cocoa flavors, which are unusual for a merlot. The acidity is gone, but there’s still a bit oakiness with notes of plum, cola, tobacco, and vanilla.

2007 Bismark mountain Cab Franc $56/$42/$-

The nose is replete with bright red and black fruits, but the palate is almost completely flat.

2007 Bismark Mountain Titan $58/$43/$60

Classic meritage blend and nose. Very complex fruit on the palate with a mild velvety finish. Flavors of plum, cocoa are prevalent and accessible. This is an enjoyable wine and probably the only one of true merit.

2007 Bismark Mountain Vineyard Zinfandel $55/$41/$-

Cherries and plum on the nose, with hints of nut shells. Light bodied with a fair amount of fruit complexity, to include blackberry, plum, and mild toffee…not really.