June '12 East Bay Pit Stop - Steven Kent/La Rochelle

Livermore is conveniently located when we drive up for family visits. After a long drive up I-5, swinging onto the 580 heading toward the East Bay, there's often a traffic slowdown that begins in Livermore. Many times prior I've thought: "there's wineries here, why not stop and take a short break?" This is the first time I've followed through on that idea. In reading wine blogs, I'd heard recommendations for Steven Kent Winery, so we decided to make that our inaugural stop.

La Rochelle Wine ($10 tasting, wines $24-$42)
'11 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Rosé, '08 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, '08 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir - San Vicente Vineyard/Monterey
La Rochelle is a label within the Steven Kent Winery portfolio it focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are grown in cooler coastal climates, not in Livermore where the Steven Kent Winery is. Steven Kent Mirassou is related to the Mirassou wine empire that spans six generations. 
The grounds at the Steven Kent winery back right up to a vineyard, and the place has a Tuscan villa feel. When we visited, there was a wine bar set up on the front patio. The very friendly staff person at the patio bar explained our options:
a. Enjoy a choice of three tastings and keep the glass on the front patio.
b. Head to the Barrel Room and choose between a Steven Kent label tasting or a La Rochelle tasting for $10.
c. For $20 have a sit down reserve tasting of either Cabernets or Pinots, paired with cheese.
We chose the Barrel Room option, and decided that we'd go with the La Rochelle tasting. The Barrel Room, is set up like a stand up restaurant. We waited to be greeted by a host. After discussing which tasting we wanted, we were taken to our table-barrel. It's a dimly lit and quiet place. We were attended to by an odd woman, who would pour each glass of wine, state the seemly scripted description of the wine, stand staring at us for an uncomfortable moment, then wander off inexplicably. Aside from the woman on the patio, all of the staff that we spoke with were bland and strange. 
Since we had a flight of four Pinots, it was easy to draw commonalities between the wines. All were slight and calm, but had a high acid kick. These characteristics were nice, but since there was a lack of tannen kick, the profile was not well connected, and the wines all ran a bit hot - some more than others. The fruit tones weren't well distinguished, and tasted clumped together. The Sonoma Coast was the best of the lot. Prices were high for the amount of enjoyment that I got from the wines. 
Experience B- / Wines C+