September '12 Local Visit - D'Argenzio Winery

D'Argenzio is a Sonoma-based winery with a unique idea: since one brother lives up in Sonoma and makes wine, and the other brother lives in Los Angeles and has retail space, why not operate two tasting rooms? It's a pretty unique idea, and one that I think is pretty clever. LA's a big ass place, and there are tons of wine fans here, so why not create some brand loyalty from afar? After hearing good things from coworkers, a friend and I decided to check it out one evening.


D'Argenzio Winery ($10 tasting, wines $30-$36)
'06 "Old Vine Cherry Block" Pinot Noir, '06 Pinot Noir, '08 Super Tuscan (Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Sirah), '10 Barbera, '09 Zinfandel, '06 Petit Sirah
All of the wines are sourced from Sonoma vineyards, some in the Russian River Valley, some in Dry Creek. Right out of the gate, I was impressed by the Old Vine Cherry Block Pinot Noir. Bright nose, mature color, subtle kick. The second Pinot did not perform as well, sweet - which was a less desirable characteristic that showed up to some degree in all of the wines. The Super Tuscan was a easy sipper with a variety of flavors, though I felt it was too chewy for its profile. They were kind enough to let us try the new Barbera, which was created by the son of the LA-based owner. We dug it - it was young and promising. I was fond of the Zinfandel - it was also sweet, but well balanced, some complexity, and not overpowering. The Petit Sirah was overtly sweet, and was bland on the back end.
It's a neat space, lots of old-style wood, with lots of attention to the decor. There are music nights frequently, thought while we were there, we were the only visitors. We were attended to by Anabel, the Tasting Room Associate, and Richard, the brother that lives in LA and decided to open up the tasting room. They were excited to share wine and talk about where to get great food in LA.
It's a nice opportunity to participate in the tasting room experience in town and not have to hoof it two or more hours away. The staff is knowledgeable, and the space is well maintained. I wasn't blown away by the wine, but a few - the Cherry Block Pinot and the Zinfandel - were quite nice. I'd recommend the place for folks looking for a nearby experience, but I wouldn't seek out their wine while up in Sonoma.
Experience B- / Wines: C+