Every Thanksgiving we head up to my in-laws who live in El Dorado County. It's always a relaxing trip, so I figured I could explore the area wineries during the down-time. Our plan for months prior was an all family drive out to Amador County on Friday, the Wednesday trip was a spur-of-the-moment drive that my brother-in-law and I did when nothing else was going on.
Wednesday (Apple Hill - El Dorado County)
Lava Cap Winery ($5 reserve tasting, wines $18-$30)
'09 Viognier Reserve, '09 "American River Red" Cuvée (Syrah/Merlot/Cab Franc/Zin), '07 Zinfandel Reserve, '07 "Rocky Draw" Zinfandel, '09 Syrah, '08 Petite Sirah.
A few years back we had our wedding near Placerville. Some friends from LA came up for the wedding and stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in Placerville. The owners of the B&B recommended that they check out Lava Cap. Our friends had a great time visiting the winery and recommended that we stop by sometime. Lava Cap has a great view off their deck and a warm/low-key tasting room. It was the day before Thanksgiving, so the tasting room was pretty busy. There were a total of fifteen wines to choose from, split between the regular list and the reserve list. I opted toward the reserve tasting but wasn't wowed by the wines. The flavors were all pretty basic. I enjoyed the Peitite Sirah most and the Zins were pretty good as well.
Experience: B- / Wine: C+
Boeger Winery (free tasting, wines $15-$19)
'09 "Boejerlais", '07 Cabernet Franc, '09 Barbera, '07 Zinfandel, '08 Zinfandel - Walker Ranch Vineyard, '08 Petite Sirah.
Like Lava Cap, Boeger is in the Apple Hill area near Placerville. Apple Hill is a popular tourist area in the fall, so the tasting room here was busy as well. Boeger's pretty well set up to handle large crowds - they have a very long counter and plenty of open space. The staff were efficient and helpful. The regular tasting list had eleven wines on it, we were able to choose six. I was excited to try the "Boejerlais" - their version of a Beaujolais - it was light and refreshing. Overall the wines were pretty good, a little more complex than the wines at Lava Cap. The Cab Franc and the Zins were slightly too hot. Dug the Petite Sirah.
Experience: B / Wine: B-
Cielo Estate (free tasting)
'09 Vermentino, NV Quatre Vignes (Syrah/Grenache/Counoise/Mourvedre), '06 Carignane, '09 Magnifique (Merlot/Cab Franc/Cab), '08 Zinfandel Reserve - Herbert Vineyard, '09 Petite Sirah Reserve - Herbert Vineyard.
Cielo is a brand new winery. They just took over the old Sogno vineyard during the spring. It's an easy drive to Cielo from my in-laws, so I was hopeful that the winery would be decent. The have a very airy tasting room, and have a number of trinkets for sale. We were the only visitors and the time, and Nicole was a very engaging and fun host. There were sixteen wines to chose five tastings from. Since the winery is so new, none of the grapes used in the wines are from the estate yet. They are sourcing from a number of locations around the state currently. I appreciated the fact that the made wines that were different from the normal varieties of Gold Country wines. Overall the wines were good, especially the red blends - and the prices were very reasonable.
Experience: B- / Wine: C+
Friday (Shenandoah Valley - Amador County)
Story Winery (free tasting, wines $14-$26)
'10 "Miss Rose", '09 Chenin Blanc, '08 "Quartz" Zinfandel, '07 "Picnic Hill" Zinfandel, '08 "Hilltop" Zinfandel, NV Almond Sparkling Wine.
It's definitely a red flag when a winery has both White Zin and Almond Champagne on their tasting list. Putting that aside, Story is a cool little winery. They have a nice deck on the hillside and an intimate tasting room. The staff were extremely helpful. I did not think highly of any of the wines. Most of the wines were clunky and simple. I did appreciate that they were using mission grapes to blend in a few of the wines as a nod to the history of California and the region - though those blends did not taste great. The zins were okay, the "Quartz" was the best of the lot.
Experience: B / Wine: C-
Cooper Vineyards (free tasting, wines $17-$32)
'10 Pinot Grigio, '10 Viognier, '10 Roussanne, '09 Barbera, '09 Barbera Riserva, '08 Alicante Bouschet, '08 Zinfandel, '08 Petite Sirah, '07 Syrah, '07 "Dicembre" (late harvest Alicante Bouchet), '10 "Pink" (Sauv Blanc/Pinot Grigio/Viognier).
Cooper was my favorite winery on this visit. They have an airy and well spaced out tasting room. They had piles of walnuts out for folks to take home that had been harvested that morning from the Cooper orchard. The white wines were not great. The Barberas were pretty good. We enjoyed the Alicante and the Zin quite a bit. I'd never heard of the Alicante grape before, so it was neat to try. The late harvest Alicante was good as well. The staff were all really friendly and excited to share what they knew about wine. I definitely got the feeling that Cooper is a winery that puts a lot of energy into making good quality wine and sharing it with people as though they are friends and family.
Experience: B+ / Wine: B+
Terra d'Oro Winery (free tasting, wines $10-$30)
Montevina '10 Sauvignon Blanc, '08 Barbera, '08 Sangiovese, '06 Forté (Sangiovese/Cab), '08 Aglianico, '09 Aglianico, '09 Teroldego, '08 Zinfandel, '07 SHR Zinfandel, '07 Deaver Old Vine Zinfandel, NV Zinfandel Port.
So far, Terra d'Oro is the most corporate winery I've experienced in the Gold Country area. They have a huge winemaking complex out front, and then a large warehouse-y tasting room in the back. The place lacks any true personality, everything is very superficial. They are more than gracious with their wines at the tasting. Both the Terra d'Oro wines, and the Montevina wines (their budget label) have long tasting lists that you are free to try anything on the lists. Most of the wine was decent, but not above that. The Anglianico was the most enjoyable to drink.
Experience: C- / Wine: C-
Helwig Vineyards & Winery (free tasting, wines $15-$35)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '10 Viognier, '10 Syrah Rosé, '09 "Round Up Red" (Syrah/Zin/Primotivo), '09 "East Block" Zinfandel, '09 "Sea of Grapes" Zinfandel, '09 Petite Sirah.
Helwig is a brand new winery. The ownership has had a vineyard in the area for a while, but only recently decided to purchase these grounds and build a full winery. The grounds of the winery are stunning. The buildings sit on top of a knoll, and have panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley. The buildings and cave are smartly designed and have a subtle modern feel. The staff person we had was nice. The red wines were good, especially the "Round Up" and the "East Block."
Experience: B / Wine: B
Driving around in the foothills and popping into wineries for tastings is a great way to spend time with family. The scenery, especially in the fall is idyllic. For the most part the El Dorado and Amador County wineries are very personable. The wineries were well attended during the holiday week, and it was fun to chat with other visitors about which wineries to check out. We weren't knocked off our feet by the wines that we tried this time around, wines were a bit too clunky, or too hot - but it's still a wonderful experience. There are many more wineries to explore in the area, and we look forward to trying a lot more out during future holiday trips.
November '11 Santa Barbara County Trip - In Which We Meet a Legend
Since we had a free weekend, we decided to head up to the Santa Barbara wine country to visit a few wineries we hadn't been to before. As it worked out, the general theme of the trip was keystone winemakers. Ken Brown is the owner and winemaker Ken Brown Wines. Rick Longoria is the owner and winemaker at Longoria. Sashi Moorman is a partner/creator/winemaker at Piedrasassi, one of the winemakers at Evening Land, and the winemaker at Stolpman. We planned to spend most of our trip at the Wine Ghetto - which now my favorite wine destination. It was an especially cool time of the year to visit, the Ghetto was a hive of activity. Wineries were receiving their grapes from the fields and were in the beginning stages of creating wine.
Saturday (Buellton, Highway 246, Lompoc)
Road Music: Florence and The Machine - Lungs
Ken Brown Wines ($10 private tasting, wines $35-$50)
'08 Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay, '08 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, '08 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, '09 Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir, '08 "A" Cuvee Syrah.
Ken Brown has had an immense influence on the growth of the wine industry in Santa Barbara County. He began making wine in the area 35 years ago and was the head winemaker at Zaca Mesa and Byron before creating his own wine label. Tastings are by appointment only. We had an excellent time. Ken makes tremendous wine and is a wealth of knowledge. He shared wine growing techniques with us like we were old friends, and it was interesting to hear about the growth of the wine industry in the region during his career. Anyone who is at all interested in the essence of wine and seeing the passion that goes into making great quality wine should visit Ken Brown.
Experience: A+ / Wine: A
Piedrasassi / New Vineland Winery ($10 tasting, wines $26-$56)
New Vineland '09 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, Piedrasassi '08 Central Coast White Wine, New Vineland '08 Santa Barbara County Syrah, Piedrasassi '08 Central Coast Syrah, Piedrasassi '08 Rim Rock Vineyard Syrah, Piedrasassi '06 Santa Ynez Valley Sangiovese Dessert Wine.
Piedrasassi is a super hip and funky place. Everything about their tasting room exudes style. The winery is pretty new and they have a very small distribution. Each wine was exciting to drink and were of high quality. The tasting was accompanied by their Syrah jelly on cheese and red wine vinegar and olive oil on heirloom tomatoes. We felt cooler and smarter for having visited.
Experience: B+ / Wine: B+
Evening Land Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $25-$60)
'10 Chardonnay, '10 Etoile Pouilly-Fuisse Chardonnay - Burgundy, '09 Oregon Pinot Noir - Eola-Amity Hills, '09 Sonoma Pinot Noir - Occidental Vineyard, '09 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, '09 Sta. Rita Hills - The Tempest Vineyard.
Evening Land is moving their tasting room into a different space in the Wine Ghetto soon, so their current tasting room is no frills. The goal of Evening Land is exhibit how a specific place has an effect on wines. Evening Land makes wines from four distinct places: Burgundy France, Oregon, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara County. These distinctions are made through Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. All of the wines had good flavors, but were slightly short on length and complexity. We had a very nice conversation with the staff person there - she was very helpful.
Experience: B / Wine: B
Stolpman Vineyards - Lompoc Tasting Room ($10 tasting, wines $19-$68)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 'L'Avion' Roussanne, '10 'La Cuadrilla' (Syrah/Grenache/Petit Sirah/Viognier), '08 Estate Sangiovese, '09 "Originals" Syrah, '09 'Hilltops' Syrah, '09 'La Coppa' Sangiovese, '09 La Croce (Syrah/Sangiovese), '08 'Angeli' Sangiovese.
On the day of our trip, we learned that Stolpman had just opened their new tasting room in the Wine Ghetto. We'd visited Stolpman's Los Olivos tasting room back in April and were huge fans of their wines. The current setup of this tasting room overlooks the warehouse floor - and given that harvest is just completing we were able to watch the Stolpman team make new wine while we tasting their current wines. The tasting list had a number of Sangiovese's. The entry-level priced Sangio was very good, and the "La Croce" and "Angeli" were fantastic. Alicia was a great host.
Experience: B+ / Wine: A-
Sunday (Lompoc)
Road Music: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Scandalous
Longoria Winery - Lompoc Tasting Room ($10 tasting, wines $22-$48)
'10 Albariño - Clover Creek Vineyard, '08 Pinot Noir - Fe Ciega Vineyard, '09 Pinot Noir - Rancho Santa Vineyard, '09 Pinot Noir - Bien Nacido Vineyard, '04 Syrah - Alisos Vineyard.
Longoria also has two tasting rooms - one in Los Olivos and one in Lompoc. The Lompoc tasting room is attached to their winemaking facility. Christopher was kind enough to tour us around the warehouse and pointed out the different processes that were going on. We had a great time chatting with Christopher about a variety of topics and we enjoyed the wines that were on the tasting list. The three Pinots had unique differences - we enjoyed the Fe Ciega and Bien Nacido quite a bit. The Syrah was awesome as well.
Experience: A- / Wines: B+
After visiting a few other wine regions recently it was really nice to come back to SBC. There is such a true passion there that it's impossible to not get excited about wine. This was especially true when we visited with Ken Brown. He is one of the most influential people to the wine industry in the region - and he's willing to spend an hour just chatting with us and share with us his great knowledge. There's no ulterior motive there - he's a dude who's committed his life to wine and will share his love of wine purely. Experiences like that are truly unique, and I'm glad we were a part of it.
Saturday (Buellton, Highway 246, Lompoc)
Road Music: Florence and The Machine - Lungs
Ken Brown Wines ($10 private tasting, wines $35-$50)
'08 Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay, '08 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, '08 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, '09 Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir, '08 "A" Cuvee Syrah.
Ken Brown has had an immense influence on the growth of the wine industry in Santa Barbara County. He began making wine in the area 35 years ago and was the head winemaker at Zaca Mesa and Byron before creating his own wine label. Tastings are by appointment only. We had an excellent time. Ken makes tremendous wine and is a wealth of knowledge. He shared wine growing techniques with us like we were old friends, and it was interesting to hear about the growth of the wine industry in the region during his career. Anyone who is at all interested in the essence of wine and seeing the passion that goes into making great quality wine should visit Ken Brown.
Experience: A+ / Wine: A
Piedrasassi / New Vineland Winery ($10 tasting, wines $26-$56)
New Vineland '09 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, Piedrasassi '08 Central Coast White Wine, New Vineland '08 Santa Barbara County Syrah, Piedrasassi '08 Central Coast Syrah, Piedrasassi '08 Rim Rock Vineyard Syrah, Piedrasassi '06 Santa Ynez Valley Sangiovese Dessert Wine.
Piedrasassi is a super hip and funky place. Everything about their tasting room exudes style. The winery is pretty new and they have a very small distribution. Each wine was exciting to drink and were of high quality. The tasting was accompanied by their Syrah jelly on cheese and red wine vinegar and olive oil on heirloom tomatoes. We felt cooler and smarter for having visited.
Experience: B+ / Wine: B+
Evening Land Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $25-$60)
'10 Chardonnay, '10 Etoile Pouilly-Fuisse Chardonnay - Burgundy, '09 Oregon Pinot Noir - Eola-Amity Hills, '09 Sonoma Pinot Noir - Occidental Vineyard, '09 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, '09 Sta. Rita Hills - The Tempest Vineyard.
Evening Land is moving their tasting room into a different space in the Wine Ghetto soon, so their current tasting room is no frills. The goal of Evening Land is exhibit how a specific place has an effect on wines. Evening Land makes wines from four distinct places: Burgundy France, Oregon, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara County. These distinctions are made through Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. All of the wines had good flavors, but were slightly short on length and complexity. We had a very nice conversation with the staff person there - she was very helpful.
Experience: B / Wine: B
Stolpman Vineyards - Lompoc Tasting Room ($10 tasting, wines $19-$68)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 'L'Avion' Roussanne, '10 'La Cuadrilla' (Syrah/Grenache/Petit Sirah/Viognier), '08 Estate Sangiovese, '09 "Originals" Syrah, '09 'Hilltops' Syrah, '09 'La Coppa' Sangiovese, '09 La Croce (Syrah/Sangiovese), '08 'Angeli' Sangiovese.
On the day of our trip, we learned that Stolpman had just opened their new tasting room in the Wine Ghetto. We'd visited Stolpman's Los Olivos tasting room back in April and were huge fans of their wines. The current setup of this tasting room overlooks the warehouse floor - and given that harvest is just completing we were able to watch the Stolpman team make new wine while we tasting their current wines. The tasting list had a number of Sangiovese's. The entry-level priced Sangio was very good, and the "La Croce" and "Angeli" were fantastic. Alicia was a great host.
Experience: B+ / Wine: A-
Sunday (Lompoc)
Road Music: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Scandalous
Longoria Winery - Lompoc Tasting Room ($10 tasting, wines $22-$48)
'10 Albariño - Clover Creek Vineyard, '08 Pinot Noir - Fe Ciega Vineyard, '09 Pinot Noir - Rancho Santa Vineyard, '09 Pinot Noir - Bien Nacido Vineyard, '04 Syrah - Alisos Vineyard.
Longoria also has two tasting rooms - one in Los Olivos and one in Lompoc. The Lompoc tasting room is attached to their winemaking facility. Christopher was kind enough to tour us around the warehouse and pointed out the different processes that were going on. We had a great time chatting with Christopher about a variety of topics and we enjoyed the wines that were on the tasting list. The three Pinots had unique differences - we enjoyed the Fe Ciega and Bien Nacido quite a bit. The Syrah was awesome as well.
Experience: A- / Wines: B+
After visiting a few other wine regions recently it was really nice to come back to SBC. There is such a true passion there that it's impossible to not get excited about wine. This was especially true when we visited with Ken Brown. He is one of the most influential people to the wine industry in the region - and he's willing to spend an hour just chatting with us and share with us his great knowledge. There's no ulterior motive there - he's a dude who's committed his life to wine and will share his love of wine purely. Experiences like that are truly unique, and I'm glad we were a part of it.
September '11 El Dorado County Trip - Exploring the In-Laws Backyard
A few times each year we head up to El Dorado County to spend time with my wife's family. During our recent visit over Labor Day weekend, we decided to check out a few of the local wineries. Gold Country is considered a minor wine region, so I wasn't expecting Sonoma/Napa quality - but I was curious what the wine tasting experience would be like.
Saturday (Gold Hill)
David Girard Vineyard (free tasting)
'09 Coda Blanc (Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Rolle, Viognier), '09 Rousanne, '09 Viognier-Roussanne, '08 Rosé (Grenache/Mourvedre), '09 Grenache, '09 Triptych (Syrah, Grenache, Counoise), '08 Riv d'Or (Cab/Merlot).
There is a very welcoming atmosphere at David Girard. There's a nice outside patio for the guests, a playground for kids, even a dog walk. It being Labor Day weekend, the tasting room was very busy - and the staff was a bit flustered by that, even with that they were very nice. I was not stoked at all about the wine. Everything felt out of balance. Wine was either oaky, artificial, too fruity, or flat.
Experience: B- / Wines: D
Sunday (Pleasant Valley)
Narrow Gate Vineyards ($3 reserve tasting, wines $18-$34)
'09 Chardonnay, '09 Reserve Chardonnay, '09 Viognier-Roussanne, '08 Grenache, '08 Syrah, '09 Primotivo, '08 Petit Sirah-Syrah, '08 Syrah-Viognier, '07 Dunamis (Grenache/Syrah), '07 Cabernet Sauvignon.
After our visit at David Girard, I was getting a bit worried that El Dorado County wine was not good. Narrow Gate put that fear to rest. I wouldn't say that their wine was excellent, but it was pretty good - especially the whites and the 'Dunamis.' The owners - Frank and Teena Hildebrand were working in the tasting room, and were more than excited to share their certified-biodynamic wines. It was a warm and friendly place. Every person that came was welcomed as if they were family.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B-
Holly's Hill Vineyards ($5 reserve tasting, wines $18-$25)
'09 Patriarche Blanc (Roussanne/Grenache Blanc/Viognier), '09 Roussanne, '10 Viognier, '10 Grenache Rosé, '10 Grenache, '09 Patriarche (Mourvedre/Syrah/Grenache/Counoise), '09 Petit Patriache (Grenache/Counoise), '09 Mourvedre, '09 Mourvedre Classique, '07 Hill Top Syrah, '08 Wylie-Fenaughty Syrah, '08 East Slope Syrah, '08 Cabernet-Syrah, '08 Petite Sirah, '09 Late Harvest Roussanne.
Yeah that's right, fifteen wines on the tasting list - eleven on the 'no charge' list. It was a crazy amount of wine - and the pours seemed to be considerably more than and normal tasting. But I'm pretty sure that my judgement wasn't clouded - Holly's Hill is a darn good winery. It's a beautiful space overlooking the foothills with picnic tables and a nice deck. They had perhaps the friendliest winery dog I've ever met. The wines were all at least pretty good and some were very good. Most had slight imbalance issues, but were overall enjoyable to drink, and were all reasonably priced. Holly's Hill is what I was hoping for in an El Dorado County winery: solid, unassuming, fun, and original.
Experience: A- / Wines: B+
Joining us for our winery visits was my father-in-law. He's aware of our wine infatuation but has been resolute that he's strictly a beer and whiskey man. We persuaded him to come out with us to the tastings, just to give it a shot. I was nervous that if the wineries were snobby, or if the wines were bad, he would have been unwilling to join us for future wine trips. Thankfully we found some solid and down-to-earth wineries in El Dorado County, and will likely have my father-in-law joining us in the future.
Saturday (Gold Hill)
David Girard Vineyard (free tasting)
'09 Coda Blanc (Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Rolle, Viognier), '09 Rousanne, '09 Viognier-Roussanne, '08 Rosé (Grenache/Mourvedre), '09 Grenache, '09 Triptych (Syrah, Grenache, Counoise), '08 Riv d'Or (Cab/Merlot).
There is a very welcoming atmosphere at David Girard. There's a nice outside patio for the guests, a playground for kids, even a dog walk. It being Labor Day weekend, the tasting room was very busy - and the staff was a bit flustered by that, even with that they were very nice. I was not stoked at all about the wine. Everything felt out of balance. Wine was either oaky, artificial, too fruity, or flat.
Experience: B- / Wines: D
Sunday (Pleasant Valley)
Narrow Gate Vineyards ($3 reserve tasting, wines $18-$34)
'09 Chardonnay, '09 Reserve Chardonnay, '09 Viognier-Roussanne, '08 Grenache, '08 Syrah, '09 Primotivo, '08 Petit Sirah-Syrah, '08 Syrah-Viognier, '07 Dunamis (Grenache/Syrah), '07 Cabernet Sauvignon.
After our visit at David Girard, I was getting a bit worried that El Dorado County wine was not good. Narrow Gate put that fear to rest. I wouldn't say that their wine was excellent, but it was pretty good - especially the whites and the 'Dunamis.' The owners - Frank and Teena Hildebrand were working in the tasting room, and were more than excited to share their certified-biodynamic wines. It was a warm and friendly place. Every person that came was welcomed as if they were family.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B-
Holly's Hill Vineyards ($5 reserve tasting, wines $18-$25)
'09 Patriarche Blanc (Roussanne/Grenache Blanc/Viognier), '09 Roussanne, '10 Viognier, '10 Grenache Rosé, '10 Grenache, '09 Patriarche (Mourvedre/Syrah/Grenache/Counoise), '09 Petit Patriache (Grenache/Counoise), '09 Mourvedre, '09 Mourvedre Classique, '07 Hill Top Syrah, '08 Wylie-Fenaughty Syrah, '08 East Slope Syrah, '08 Cabernet-Syrah, '08 Petite Sirah, '09 Late Harvest Roussanne.
Yeah that's right, fifteen wines on the tasting list - eleven on the 'no charge' list. It was a crazy amount of wine - and the pours seemed to be considerably more than and normal tasting. But I'm pretty sure that my judgement wasn't clouded - Holly's Hill is a darn good winery. It's a beautiful space overlooking the foothills with picnic tables and a nice deck. They had perhaps the friendliest winery dog I've ever met. The wines were all at least pretty good and some were very good. Most had slight imbalance issues, but were overall enjoyable to drink, and were all reasonably priced. Holly's Hill is what I was hoping for in an El Dorado County winery: solid, unassuming, fun, and original.
Experience: A- / Wines: B+
Joining us for our winery visits was my father-in-law. He's aware of our wine infatuation but has been resolute that he's strictly a beer and whiskey man. We persuaded him to come out with us to the tastings, just to give it a shot. I was nervous that if the wineries were snobby, or if the wines were bad, he would have been unwilling to join us for future wine trips. Thankfully we found some solid and down-to-earth wineries in El Dorado County, and will likely have my father-in-law joining us in the future.
August '11 Napa Trip - Tours, Disappointment, and Kick-Assery
After spending two days enjoying the hell out of Sonoma, we jumped over to Napa. I knew that Napa was likely to be more expensive, more snotty, and probably less fun. But it is the mecca of domestic wine, so I had to go. We based our list off of accumulated recommendations from friends.
Monday (Rutherford)
Road Music: Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Frog's Leap ($20 tour, wines $18-$75)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 Chardonnay, '08 Merlot, '07 'Rutherford' Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 Petite Sirah, '08 Zinfandel.
Visiting Frog's Leap is like visiting a friend's large vacation rental. It is a welcoming and peaceful environment. The tour started in the vineyard, stopped off in the orchard, the crush pad, the barrel warehouse, and ended in the processing barn. Sean was a tremendous guide and host. At each stop we were poured a different glass of wine. All of the wine was very good. The Rutherford Cab was incredible. After the tour was over we were encouraged to relax anywhere on the grounds or even continue to explore. Frog's Leap is known for being non-traditional and quirky, as well they are extremely friendly and open - which in my limited experience in Napa strays from the norm. An additional plus - Frog's Leap works hard at utilizing environmental sustainable techniques such as dry-irrigation.
Experience: A+ / Wines: A-
Cakebread Cellars ($15 tour, wines $24-$61)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '08 Chardonnay, '08 Chardonnay Reserve, '09 Zinfandel, '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 Syrah.
Several of my friends are big fans of Cakebread wines, so I made sure to put it on the must visit list. We were confused about what we had signed up for when we arrived. The woman at the main desk checked our reservation, then poured us our first glass of wine. She then simply directed us to sit outside on benches in the parking lot, among the cars and heavy equipment. For about ten minutes I thought this was going to be where we were going to have our tasting. Eventually our tour guide gathered us up, and began our tour. The tour started in the gardens, made a few stops in the vineyard, and then back into the garden. Our tour guide was nice enough, but seemed to be speaking from a well-rehearsed monologue, and the content of the tour was pretty superficial. The wines were pretty darn good, but the overall experience at the winery left a lot to be desired.
Experience: C- / Wines: B+
Rutherford Hill Winery ($25 tour)
'06 Merlot, '07 Cabernet Franc, '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, '07 Malbec, Luke Donald '06 Claret, '06 'Devil's Peak', '04 Zinfandel Port.
Going on a third tour in one day was a bad choice. Not only was taking another tour on a hot day a bad choice, the tour itself was bad. The tour guide was a crotchety guy who would only take questions at very specific instances. He seemed to be speaking from a script and was passionless about the delivery of that script. The tour started outside at the hilly overlook, headed into the large caves where the barrels are stored (which was our main interest in the tour), and then into the production area. The caves are a pretty awesome thing to see, but the guide managed to make them underwhelming with his soulless tour. The wines that we tried were all okay, but nothing at all impressive. Rutherford Hill does have a nice view of Napa Valley from the eastern slope, so if you decide to go there, make sure to bring a picnic.
Experience: D / Wines: C+
Tuesday (Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford)
Road Music: Massive Balloon - Massive Balloon
Clos Pegase ($20 tasting?, wines $28.50-$48)
'07 'Hommage' Chardonnay, '08 Pinot Noir, '07 Cabernet Franc, '07 Syrah, '07 Cabernet Sauvignon.
We went to Clos Pegase due to their reputation for having awesome art and architecture. We had also heard good things about their wine. On both fronts we were pleased. We arrived slightly before the winery opened, so we checked out the outdoor sculptures while we waited. The buildings seem slightly run down - paint was chipping, and the place felt a bit dour - though since we were the first there it was quite empty, which could have added to the starkness. Maybe once more people arrive that feeling may change. We were attended to by Harry, who was extremely intelligent and happy to share information. I dug the wines. The Chardonnay was excellent, and the Cab Franc and the Cab Sauv were really enjoyable.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B+
Long Meadow Ranch Winery ($20 Signature Flight tasting, wines $19-$85)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '04 Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 E.J. Church Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 Ranch House Red.
A good friend directed us to Long Meadow Ranch. The tasting room has a stylish modern western vibe to it. They also raise beef and produce, so there is a focus on the intersection of food and wine. It was quiet in the tasting room, and the staff were nice though distant. It was a bit of a sterile place - there was nothing special about the experience. The Cabs and the Ranch House Red were very tasty.
Experience: B- / Wines: B+
St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery ($15 tasting)
'09 Dollarhide Sauvignon Blanc, '06 Estate Edu (Cab Blend), '06 Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Estate Dollarhide Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Merlot, '06 Petit Verdot, '06 Malbec.
This is a behemoth of a complex. The space has a very corporate feel. Inside is not much different. The tasting room is quite large, though since it was an off-day, there were only a few other visitors there. Quickly the corporate feeling eroded, as our pourer - Joe - began to chat with us. He was a fun guy, and had lots to talk with us about. He definitely put me at ease. Toward the end of our tasting Joe encouraged us to go upstairs to check out the art and exhibits. The wine-themed exhibits were not that great, but there was an awesome Wayne Thiebaud exhibit up there. We enjoyed the wine quite a bit. Each one had refined characteristics but expressed individuality.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B+
Heading into Napa I was warned that the region was largely snotty and corporate. In general that seemed to be true. Napa is one of the most important wine growing regions in the world - so of course big money is going to being prevalent. But in instances the wine tasting experience is well delivered so the corporatism doesn't mar the experience. Frog's Leap seems to completely side-step (or hop) the issue by having a different model. Clos Pegase and St. Supéry are very corporate, but they hire smart tasting room folks and serve great wine, so it works out. My experiences at Cakebread and Rutherford Hill were negatively affected by the corporate atmosphere though. The number of wineries in Napa is huge, so I'm sure that there are lots more hyper-corporate places, corporate-but-good paces, and completely original places for me to visit in the future.
Monday (Rutherford)
Road Music: Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Frog's Leap ($20 tour, wines $18-$75)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 Chardonnay, '08 Merlot, '07 'Rutherford' Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 Petite Sirah, '08 Zinfandel.
Visiting Frog's Leap is like visiting a friend's large vacation rental. It is a welcoming and peaceful environment. The tour started in the vineyard, stopped off in the orchard, the crush pad, the barrel warehouse, and ended in the processing barn. Sean was a tremendous guide and host. At each stop we were poured a different glass of wine. All of the wine was very good. The Rutherford Cab was incredible. After the tour was over we were encouraged to relax anywhere on the grounds or even continue to explore. Frog's Leap is known for being non-traditional and quirky, as well they are extremely friendly and open - which in my limited experience in Napa strays from the norm. An additional plus - Frog's Leap works hard at utilizing environmental sustainable techniques such as dry-irrigation.
Experience: A+ / Wines: A-
Cakebread Cellars ($15 tour, wines $24-$61)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '08 Chardonnay, '08 Chardonnay Reserve, '09 Zinfandel, '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 Syrah.
Several of my friends are big fans of Cakebread wines, so I made sure to put it on the must visit list. We were confused about what we had signed up for when we arrived. The woman at the main desk checked our reservation, then poured us our first glass of wine. She then simply directed us to sit outside on benches in the parking lot, among the cars and heavy equipment. For about ten minutes I thought this was going to be where we were going to have our tasting. Eventually our tour guide gathered us up, and began our tour. The tour started in the gardens, made a few stops in the vineyard, and then back into the garden. Our tour guide was nice enough, but seemed to be speaking from a well-rehearsed monologue, and the content of the tour was pretty superficial. The wines were pretty darn good, but the overall experience at the winery left a lot to be desired.
Experience: C- / Wines: B+
Rutherford Hill Winery ($25 tour)
'06 Merlot, '07 Cabernet Franc, '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, '07 Malbec, Luke Donald '06 Claret, '06 'Devil's Peak', '04 Zinfandel Port.
Going on a third tour in one day was a bad choice. Not only was taking another tour on a hot day a bad choice, the tour itself was bad. The tour guide was a crotchety guy who would only take questions at very specific instances. He seemed to be speaking from a script and was passionless about the delivery of that script. The tour started outside at the hilly overlook, headed into the large caves where the barrels are stored (which was our main interest in the tour), and then into the production area. The caves are a pretty awesome thing to see, but the guide managed to make them underwhelming with his soulless tour. The wines that we tried were all okay, but nothing at all impressive. Rutherford Hill does have a nice view of Napa Valley from the eastern slope, so if you decide to go there, make sure to bring a picnic.
Experience: D / Wines: C+
Tuesday (Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford)
Road Music: Massive Balloon - Massive Balloon
Clos Pegase ($20 tasting?, wines $28.50-$48)
'07 'Hommage' Chardonnay, '08 Pinot Noir, '07 Cabernet Franc, '07 Syrah, '07 Cabernet Sauvignon.
We went to Clos Pegase due to their reputation for having awesome art and architecture. We had also heard good things about their wine. On both fronts we were pleased. We arrived slightly before the winery opened, so we checked out the outdoor sculptures while we waited. The buildings seem slightly run down - paint was chipping, and the place felt a bit dour - though since we were the first there it was quite empty, which could have added to the starkness. Maybe once more people arrive that feeling may change. We were attended to by Harry, who was extremely intelligent and happy to share information. I dug the wines. The Chardonnay was excellent, and the Cab Franc and the Cab Sauv were really enjoyable.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B+
Long Meadow Ranch Winery ($20 Signature Flight tasting, wines $19-$85)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '04 Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 E.J. Church Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 Ranch House Red.
A good friend directed us to Long Meadow Ranch. The tasting room has a stylish modern western vibe to it. They also raise beef and produce, so there is a focus on the intersection of food and wine. It was quiet in the tasting room, and the staff were nice though distant. It was a bit of a sterile place - there was nothing special about the experience. The Cabs and the Ranch House Red were very tasty.
Experience: B- / Wines: B+
St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery ($15 tasting)
'09 Dollarhide Sauvignon Blanc, '06 Estate Edu (Cab Blend), '06 Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Estate Dollarhide Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Merlot, '06 Petit Verdot, '06 Malbec.
This is a behemoth of a complex. The space has a very corporate feel. Inside is not much different. The tasting room is quite large, though since it was an off-day, there were only a few other visitors there. Quickly the corporate feeling eroded, as our pourer - Joe - began to chat with us. He was a fun guy, and had lots to talk with us about. He definitely put me at ease. Toward the end of our tasting Joe encouraged us to go upstairs to check out the art and exhibits. The wine-themed exhibits were not that great, but there was an awesome Wayne Thiebaud exhibit up there. We enjoyed the wine quite a bit. Each one had refined characteristics but expressed individuality.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B+
Heading into Napa I was warned that the region was largely snotty and corporate. In general that seemed to be true. Napa is one of the most important wine growing regions in the world - so of course big money is going to being prevalent. But in instances the wine tasting experience is well delivered so the corporatism doesn't mar the experience. Frog's Leap seems to completely side-step (or hop) the issue by having a different model. Clos Pegase and St. Supéry are very corporate, but they hire smart tasting room folks and serve great wine, so it works out. My experiences at Cakebread and Rutherford Hill were negatively affected by the corporate atmosphere though. The number of wineries in Napa is huge, so I'm sure that there are lots more hyper-corporate places, corporate-but-good paces, and completely original places for me to visit in the future.
August '11 Sonoma Trip - Full Blown Awesomeness
When a good friend moved back to California, we decided to head up to Sonoma and Napa to celebrate. We built a strong list of wineries to visit and met up with old friends during the trip. We visited Sonoma for two days, and Napa for another two. I split the trip into two blogs. One for Sonoma and one for Napa. It was an awesome trip. We had an amazing time and drank superb wine.
Friday (Central Valley)
Road Music: Sparklehorse - Good Morning Spider
CRU Wine Company ($10 tasting, wines $20-$35)
Carmichael '10 'Blanco Fresco' Albariño, '09 'Vineyard Montage' Chardonnay, '09 Chardonnay - Sierra Madre Vineyard, '08 'Vineyard Montage' Pinot Noir, '08 'Appellation Series' Pinot Noir - Sierra Madre Vineyard, Carmichael '08 "Rojo del Rey' Tempranillo, Carmichael '07 'Satisfaction' Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the Central Valley on Highway 99, we saw a billboard for CRU. Considering we were on our way up to Sonoma for a wine trip, we thought it would be appropriate to give this place a try. Nothing gained, nothing lost. CRU's Madera location is a mid-way point for their two wine growing areas - to the west the Central Coast, which is where their CRU labeled wines come from - and to the east the Sierra Foothills for their lower priced Yosemite Views wines. The people were nice in the tasting room. We were given a long and varied tasting, but the wine was inoffensive at best. The Albariño had the best flavor. I've had ton wines that taste better for a fraction of their prices. We "checked in" on Yelp so that we didn't have to pay the tasting fee - if you can do the same, why not stop here if you have free time and are are curious? Otherwise, keep driving.
Experience: C / Wine: D
Saturday (Dry Creek)
B.R. Cohn Winery ($10 tasting?, wines $24-$100)
'09 Chardonnay - Sonoma County, '09 Reserve Chardonnay, '09 Pinot Noir - Russian River Valley, '08 Zinfandel - Sonoma Valley, '08 Zinfandel - Olive Hill Estate, '07 Cabernet Sauvignon - Olive Hill Estate, '07 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon - Olive Hill Estate.
Fun fact: the owner of B.R. Cohn - Bruce Cohn is the manager of the Doobie Brothers. We were given a choice of four tastings from a long list. I wasn't wild about the wine that I tried. Most of the wine came off a bit simple, good flavors but not balanced. The exceptions were the Pinot and the Cab. The grounds and building were attractive with a cool funky vibe.
Experience: B- / Wines: C+
Imagery Estate Winery (Member's tasting, $29-$42)
'09 White Burgundy, '09 Sangiovese, '08 Petit Sirah, '08 Langrien, '08 Cabernet Franc - Dry Creek, '10 Cabernet Franc (barrel tasting), '07 Barbera.
Imagery is a unique place to visit. Great art, nice architecture, extremely friendly staff - especially Pat in the member's room. Imagery's wines fell somewhere between good to pretty good for me. The White Burgundy was my favorite.
Experience: A- / Wines: B-
Benzinger Family Winery (Member's reserve tasting, wines $24-$80)
'10 'Signaterra' Sauvignon Blanc - Shone Farm, '09 'Signaterra' Chardonnay - Carneros, '09 'De Coelo' Pinot Noir - Terra Neuma, '06 'Oonapais' Bordeaux - Sonoma Mountain, '07 'Three Blocks' Bordeaux Blend - Sonoma Valley, '07 'Obsidian Point' Estate Blend - Sonoma Mountain, '07 'Tribute' Bordeaux Blend - Sonoma Mountain, '08 Tribute' Bordeaux Blend, '10 Muscat Canelli - Lake County.
A hilly, meandering complex with lush garden trails and tram tours dashing about. The tasting room was packed, and there was a chaotic atmosphere. Thankfully our friends were members so we had access to a member's counter. Our attendant - Alyssa - was fun and knowledgeable. Five of the wines that we tasted were excellent - Sauv, Pinot, Obsidian Point, and both Tributes. Also much respect to Benzinger for having wines that are organic/biodynamic.
Experience: B / Wines: A-
Ledson Winery & Vineyards (Member's private tasting, wines $26-$86)
'09 Russian River Sauvignon Blanc, '08 Carneros Chardonnay, '09 Russian River Pinot Noir, '07 Mes Trois Amours (Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre), '07 Sonoma Valley 'Ancient Vine' Zinfandel, '07 Sonoma Valley Estate Merlot, '07 Sonoma County Cepage (Cab/Cab Franc/Petit Verdot/Merlot), '07 Sonoma Valley Syrah, '08 Knights Valley Sangiovese, '07 Knights Valley Bellisimo (Cab/Merlot), '06 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.
Our Ledson experience was sheer opulence. The grounds of the winery are incredible. The castle is hulking and ornate at the same time. Our friends coordinated a private balcony tasting that overlooked the garden. The staff person that took care of us - Guy - was awesome. Well versed in the wine, down to earth and hilarious. All of the wines had solid and classy characteristics. The Bellisimo and the Cab Reserve were fantastic.
Experience: A- / Wines: A-
Sunday (Russian River Valley)
Road Music: Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Ridge Vineyard - Lytton Springs ($10 tasting, wines $32-$40)
'09 Jimsomare Chardonnay, '07 Lytton Springs 'Z-List', '08 Geyserville 'Z-List', '08 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
You certainly cannot hate tasting wine on a patio overlooking an expansive vineyard on a calm Sunday morning. Ridge has a great setup. Comfy couches and chairs that allows you to relax, enjoy good company and to take in the day. Ridge is one of the original Zin makers in Sonoma - so I had high hopes. All of the wines fell slightly below my expectations. The Lytton Springs Zin was very meek, the Geyserville was a bit more peppy. One our way out we struck up a conversation with a staff person - Alice - who was really nice and helpful.
Experience: B / Wines: B-
Unti Vineyards (no tasting fee, wines $16-$35)
'10 Rosé - Sonoma County, '10 Cuvee Blanc - Estate, '08 Grenache -Estate, '08 Zinfandel - Estate, '07 Syrah - Estate, '07 Syrah Benchland - Estate, '08 Montepulciano - Estate, '09 'Green House' Zinfandel.
We had absolutely no intention of visiting Unti. As we drove by, my friend pulled into the parking lot, thinking that Unti was another winery that she really wanted to check out. Even though she realized she was mistaken we decided to go in anyway. We did not call ahead for an appointment, but they agreed to see us just the same. Thank god for serendipity. All of the wines were superb. Great, complex flavors that were very approachable and extremely well-priced. Kristen was an awesome staff person - very clear and friendly. The space was awesomely low key. Unti was our favorite of the whole trip.
Experience: A / Wines: A
Truett Hurst (complementary tasting, wines $20-$33)
'10 Swallowtail Chardonnay, '09 Rattler Rock Zinfandel, '09 Red Rooster Zinfandel, '08 Burning Man Petite Sirah, '09 Red Field Blend (Syrah/Zin/Primotivo), NV Dessert Wine.
Truett Hurst is a very customer friendly place. The whole vibe is welcoming and mellow. We were given some barbeque, there was live music, a beautiful garden, and without a doubt the best picnic spot at a winery that I've ever seen. Adirondack chairs facing a slow moving creek, canopied by oaks. An awesome spot to enjoy the afternoon. Amy was our pourer - she was extremely friendly and fun. The wines weren't all that great. Booming, big flavor but not enough complexity and lots of heat.
Experience: A- / Wine: C+
Papapietro Perry Winery ($10 tasting, wines $28-$54)
'08 Pinot Noir - Sonoma Coast, '08 Pinot Noir - Charles Vineyard/Anderson Valley, '08 Pinot Noir - Peters Vineyard/Russian River Valley, '08 Pinot Noir - Leras Family Vineyards/Russian River Valley, '08 Pinot Noir - Elsbree Vineyard/Russian River Valley, '08 Zinfandel - Elsbree Vineyard/Russian River Valley.
We did not feel a connection with this place. The wine was okay, but were priced too high. None of the wine was very well structured. There were good flavors, but often they all felt clumped together. The staff person that waited on us was not knowledgeable. Another negative to this place was the super-schlocky t-shirts that they were selling.
Experience: C- / Wines: C
Michel-Schlumberger Wines ($10 tasting, wines $24-$50)
'10 La Bise Pinot Blanc, '07 Le Sage Merlot, '07 'Humanitas' Malbec, '91 Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 La Source Syrah, '07 'Humanitas' Pinot Noir, '08 Cabernet Franc.
I had read really good things about Michel-Schlumberger from the website Wine for Normal People. A serene setting removed from the main drag - perfect for an afternoon visit. We sat on a mission-style patio next to a fountain. Debbie was an excellent host. The wine was very good. The Syrah and the Pinot Noir were my favorites.
Experience: A- / Wines: B+
J Vineyards ($20 tasting, wines $20-$60)
'10 Pinot Gris, '09 'Barrel 16' Chardonnay, '08 'Barrel 16' Pinot Noir, '09 Pinot Noir - Robert Thomas Vineyard Block 2, NV Brut Rosé, '02 Vintage Brut.
We've had J before and really enjoyed it - and they have a good reputation. Maybe we came at a bad time or on an off-day, but our experience was really disappointing. None of the wines stood out compared to others that we'd had that day. Even the upper-echelon wines had negative qualities. Finally, the staff there were unfriendly. They did not seem to enjoy their jobs at all. Hopefully that was all an aberration.
Experience: D+ / Wines: C+
Sonoma is such a vibrant yet mellow place. So much great wine and food. It's a wonderful place to explore - especially with friends. I'm not sure that its a trip that we could ever replicate - but I'm going to try.
Friday (Central Valley)
Road Music: Sparklehorse - Good Morning Spider
CRU Wine Company ($10 tasting, wines $20-$35)
Carmichael '10 'Blanco Fresco' Albariño, '09 'Vineyard Montage' Chardonnay, '09 Chardonnay - Sierra Madre Vineyard, '08 'Vineyard Montage' Pinot Noir, '08 'Appellation Series' Pinot Noir - Sierra Madre Vineyard, Carmichael '08 "Rojo del Rey' Tempranillo, Carmichael '07 'Satisfaction' Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the Central Valley on Highway 99, we saw a billboard for CRU. Considering we were on our way up to Sonoma for a wine trip, we thought it would be appropriate to give this place a try. Nothing gained, nothing lost. CRU's Madera location is a mid-way point for their two wine growing areas - to the west the Central Coast, which is where their CRU labeled wines come from - and to the east the Sierra Foothills for their lower priced Yosemite Views wines. The people were nice in the tasting room. We were given a long and varied tasting, but the wine was inoffensive at best. The Albariño had the best flavor. I've had ton wines that taste better for a fraction of their prices. We "checked in" on Yelp so that we didn't have to pay the tasting fee - if you can do the same, why not stop here if you have free time and are are curious? Otherwise, keep driving.
Experience: C / Wine: D
Saturday (Dry Creek)
B.R. Cohn Winery ($10 tasting?, wines $24-$100)
'09 Chardonnay - Sonoma County, '09 Reserve Chardonnay, '09 Pinot Noir - Russian River Valley, '08 Zinfandel - Sonoma Valley, '08 Zinfandel - Olive Hill Estate, '07 Cabernet Sauvignon - Olive Hill Estate, '07 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon - Olive Hill Estate.
Fun fact: the owner of B.R. Cohn - Bruce Cohn is the manager of the Doobie Brothers. We were given a choice of four tastings from a long list. I wasn't wild about the wine that I tried. Most of the wine came off a bit simple, good flavors but not balanced. The exceptions were the Pinot and the Cab. The grounds and building were attractive with a cool funky vibe.
Experience: B- / Wines: C+
Imagery Estate Winery (Member's tasting, $29-$42)
'09 White Burgundy, '09 Sangiovese, '08 Petit Sirah, '08 Langrien, '08 Cabernet Franc - Dry Creek, '10 Cabernet Franc (barrel tasting), '07 Barbera.
Imagery is a unique place to visit. Great art, nice architecture, extremely friendly staff - especially Pat in the member's room. Imagery's wines fell somewhere between good to pretty good for me. The White Burgundy was my favorite.
Experience: A- / Wines: B-
Benzinger Family Winery (Member's reserve tasting, wines $24-$80)
'10 'Signaterra' Sauvignon Blanc - Shone Farm, '09 'Signaterra' Chardonnay - Carneros, '09 'De Coelo' Pinot Noir - Terra Neuma, '06 'Oonapais' Bordeaux - Sonoma Mountain, '07 'Three Blocks' Bordeaux Blend - Sonoma Valley, '07 'Obsidian Point' Estate Blend - Sonoma Mountain, '07 'Tribute' Bordeaux Blend - Sonoma Mountain, '08 Tribute' Bordeaux Blend, '10 Muscat Canelli - Lake County.
A hilly, meandering complex with lush garden trails and tram tours dashing about. The tasting room was packed, and there was a chaotic atmosphere. Thankfully our friends were members so we had access to a member's counter. Our attendant - Alyssa - was fun and knowledgeable. Five of the wines that we tasted were excellent - Sauv, Pinot, Obsidian Point, and both Tributes. Also much respect to Benzinger for having wines that are organic/biodynamic.
Experience: B / Wines: A-
Ledson Winery & Vineyards (Member's private tasting, wines $26-$86)
'09 Russian River Sauvignon Blanc, '08 Carneros Chardonnay, '09 Russian River Pinot Noir, '07 Mes Trois Amours (Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre), '07 Sonoma Valley 'Ancient Vine' Zinfandel, '07 Sonoma Valley Estate Merlot, '07 Sonoma County Cepage (Cab/Cab Franc/Petit Verdot/Merlot), '07 Sonoma Valley Syrah, '08 Knights Valley Sangiovese, '07 Knights Valley Bellisimo (Cab/Merlot), '06 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, '06 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.
Our Ledson experience was sheer opulence. The grounds of the winery are incredible. The castle is hulking and ornate at the same time. Our friends coordinated a private balcony tasting that overlooked the garden. The staff person that took care of us - Guy - was awesome. Well versed in the wine, down to earth and hilarious. All of the wines had solid and classy characteristics. The Bellisimo and the Cab Reserve were fantastic.
Experience: A- / Wines: A-
Sunday (Russian River Valley)
Road Music: Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Ridge Vineyard - Lytton Springs ($10 tasting, wines $32-$40)
'09 Jimsomare Chardonnay, '07 Lytton Springs 'Z-List', '08 Geyserville 'Z-List', '08 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
You certainly cannot hate tasting wine on a patio overlooking an expansive vineyard on a calm Sunday morning. Ridge has a great setup. Comfy couches and chairs that allows you to relax, enjoy good company and to take in the day. Ridge is one of the original Zin makers in Sonoma - so I had high hopes. All of the wines fell slightly below my expectations. The Lytton Springs Zin was very meek, the Geyserville was a bit more peppy. One our way out we struck up a conversation with a staff person - Alice - who was really nice and helpful.
Experience: B / Wines: B-
Unti Vineyards (no tasting fee, wines $16-$35)
'10 Rosé - Sonoma County, '10 Cuvee Blanc - Estate, '08 Grenache -Estate, '08 Zinfandel - Estate, '07 Syrah - Estate, '07 Syrah Benchland - Estate, '08 Montepulciano - Estate, '09 'Green House' Zinfandel.
We had absolutely no intention of visiting Unti. As we drove by, my friend pulled into the parking lot, thinking that Unti was another winery that she really wanted to check out. Even though she realized she was mistaken we decided to go in anyway. We did not call ahead for an appointment, but they agreed to see us just the same. Thank god for serendipity. All of the wines were superb. Great, complex flavors that were very approachable and extremely well-priced. Kristen was an awesome staff person - very clear and friendly. The space was awesomely low key. Unti was our favorite of the whole trip.
Experience: A / Wines: A
Truett Hurst (complementary tasting, wines $20-$33)
'10 Swallowtail Chardonnay, '09 Rattler Rock Zinfandel, '09 Red Rooster Zinfandel, '08 Burning Man Petite Sirah, '09 Red Field Blend (Syrah/Zin/Primotivo), NV Dessert Wine.
Truett Hurst is a very customer friendly place. The whole vibe is welcoming and mellow. We were given some barbeque, there was live music, a beautiful garden, and without a doubt the best picnic spot at a winery that I've ever seen. Adirondack chairs facing a slow moving creek, canopied by oaks. An awesome spot to enjoy the afternoon. Amy was our pourer - she was extremely friendly and fun. The wines weren't all that great. Booming, big flavor but not enough complexity and lots of heat.
Experience: A- / Wine: C+
Papapietro Perry Winery ($10 tasting, wines $28-$54)
'08 Pinot Noir - Sonoma Coast, '08 Pinot Noir - Charles Vineyard/Anderson Valley, '08 Pinot Noir - Peters Vineyard/Russian River Valley, '08 Pinot Noir - Leras Family Vineyards/Russian River Valley, '08 Pinot Noir - Elsbree Vineyard/Russian River Valley, '08 Zinfandel - Elsbree Vineyard/Russian River Valley.
We did not feel a connection with this place. The wine was okay, but were priced too high. None of the wine was very well structured. There were good flavors, but often they all felt clumped together. The staff person that waited on us was not knowledgeable. Another negative to this place was the super-schlocky t-shirts that they were selling.
Experience: C- / Wines: C
Michel-Schlumberger Wines ($10 tasting, wines $24-$50)
'10 La Bise Pinot Blanc, '07 Le Sage Merlot, '07 'Humanitas' Malbec, '91 Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 La Source Syrah, '07 'Humanitas' Pinot Noir, '08 Cabernet Franc.
I had read really good things about Michel-Schlumberger from the website Wine for Normal People. A serene setting removed from the main drag - perfect for an afternoon visit. We sat on a mission-style patio next to a fountain. Debbie was an excellent host. The wine was very good. The Syrah and the Pinot Noir were my favorites.
Experience: A- / Wines: B+
J Vineyards ($20 tasting, wines $20-$60)
'10 Pinot Gris, '09 'Barrel 16' Chardonnay, '08 'Barrel 16' Pinot Noir, '09 Pinot Noir - Robert Thomas Vineyard Block 2, NV Brut Rosé, '02 Vintage Brut.
We've had J before and really enjoyed it - and they have a good reputation. Maybe we came at a bad time or on an off-day, but our experience was really disappointing. None of the wines stood out compared to others that we'd had that day. Even the upper-echelon wines had negative qualities. Finally, the staff there were unfriendly. They did not seem to enjoy their jobs at all. Hopefully that was all an aberration.
Experience: D+ / Wines: C+
Sonoma is such a vibrant yet mellow place. So much great wine and food. It's a wonderful place to explore - especially with friends. I'm not sure that its a trip that we could ever replicate - but I'm going to try.
July '11 Santa Barbara County - Going Where We're Supposed To
The route for our third trip to SBC was pretty much written before we headed out. There were a number of wineries that were on our must try list: Fiddlehead, Alma Rosa, Beckmen, Qupe, and Dierberg Star Lane. These were all wineries that we had been told we had to see. It was nice to see that after visiting the area three times we were still able to find new wineries to enjoy.
Friday (Lompoc Wine Ghetto)
Road Music: Radiohead - In Rainbows
Fiddlehead Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $22-$50)
'08 Sauvingnon Blanc - Happy Canyon, '04 "Hunnysuckle" Sauvignon Blanc, '10 "Goosebury" Sauvignon Blanc, '10 "Pink Fiddle" Pinot Noir Rosé, '07 "Seven Twenty Eight" Piinot Noir - Fiddlestix Vineyard, '07 "Oldsville Reserve" Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley.
Fiddlehead was high on my list of wineries to visit because I've heard great things about their wine. Our high expectations were not met. The Pinots were nice, but slightly too hot on one, and too flabby on the other. The Rosé was pretty good, but just pretty good. The tasting room staff person was not friendly or informative. This probably affected our opinion of the wines.
Experience: C- / Wine: C+
Loring Wine Company ($10 tasting, wines $35-$45)
'09 Chardonnay - Sierra Mar Vineyard/Santa Lucia Highlands, '09 Pinot Noir - Shea Vineyard/Willamette Valley, '09 Pinot Noir - Keefer Ranch Vineyard/Russian River Valley, '09 Pinot Noir - Rosella's Vineyard/Santa Lucia Highlands, '09 Pinot Noir - Aubaine Vineyard/ San Luis Obispo County, '09 Pinot Noir - Cargasacchi Vineyard/Sta. Rita Hills, '09 Pinot Noir - Clos Pepe Vineayrd/Sta. Rita Hills, '09 Pinot Noir - Rancho La Viña/Sta. Rita Hills.
A tasting at Loring is interesting. They serve eight wines, seven of which are big flavor Pinots. The Pinots are served in geographic order, starting with furthest away (Oregon) - and ending with closest to the tasting room location (a few miles away). Each wine was unique from one another. That said, none of the wines were great and with all of the Pinots tagged at $45, not worth the price.
Experience: B- / Wine: B-
Zotovich Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $28-$42)
'09 Chardonnay, '08 Pinot Noir, '10 Viognier, '08 Syrah.
Zotovich is a new winery and seems to be gaining acclaim. We weren't wowed during our visit. The Chardonnay was quite good, and the Syrah was pretty good. The Pinot and Viognier were not as enjoyable. While we were there a group of well lubricated middle-aged men who arrived in a limo dominated the attention of the one staff person - so we weren't able to learn much about the Zotovich wine making process.
Experience: C+ / Wine: B-
Saturday (Santa Rosa Road, Buellton, Los Olivos)
Road Music: Easy Star All-Stars - Radiodread
Lafond Winery ($10 tasting, wines $22-$48)
'08 Chardonnay, '07 Estate Chardonnay, '08 Pinot Noir, '08 Pinot Noir - Arita Hills Vineyard, '06 Pinot Noir - Lafond Vineyard, '09 Syrah.
We did not expect much from Lafond. We chose it because it was on the same road near as Alma Rosa. We were thanking our random luck after our visit, because it was an excellent stop for us. We enjoyed the full roster of wines. The Chardonnay, '06 Pinot, and Syrah were the standouts. Lafond really rolls out the red carpet for visitors. They had an awesome complementary spread of cheese, meat, fruit, and sweets to pair with the wines. Our favorite part about Lafond was Diane. She was extremely nice, passionate, and helpful. Lafond is one of the oldest wineries in the region - and it seems that they have great confidence in their wine and their customer service.
Experience: A- / Wine: B+
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards ($15 for Pinot only tasting, wines $32-$43)
'08 Pinot Noir - La Encantada Vineyard Clone 115, '08 Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills, '07 Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills, '08 Pinot Noir - La Encantada Vineyard, '09 Pinot Noir - La Encantada Clone 667.
The Sanfords - who own Alma Rosa - are basically the first family of this wine region. They began planting Pinot Noir in 1970. After separating from Sanford Winery in 2005, they created Alma Rosa in their minds eye. They create organic and sustainable wine. We had a choice of a mixed tasting with a variety of wines for $10, or a Pinot Noir only flight for $15. We went with the Pinot flight. The bummer was that our friends decided to go with the mixed flight, so they were served in a different area from us, which was kind of annoying that we couldn't hang out. The grounds are funky and cool - though a bit crowded when we were there. Our pourer was not knowledgeable about the wines unfortunately. It was fun to see Chris Burroughs, the Tasting Room Manager, who had a role in "Sideways." We dug each wine. There were interesting differences between them and each had high quality. The '07, '08 La Encantada, and the '09 were our favorites.
Experience: B- / Wines: B+
Cold Heaven Cellars ($10 tasting)
'09 Viognier - Santa Ynez Valley, '09 Viognier - Le Bon Climat Vineyard, '09 Viognier - Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, '07 Domaine des Deux Mondes "Saints and Sinners" Viognier, '09 "Makepeace" Pinot Noir, '09 "Nevertell" Pinot Noir, '03 "Second Sin" Syrah, '03 Late Harvest Viognier.
Cold Heaven is known for Viognier, which is a nice departure from the norm in the region. The tasting room was in a state of disarray while we were there. Apparently the manager had just quit, and the staff person there was trying to figure out how to deal with everything. Withstanding that, the wine was very nice. It was nice to visit a winery that put a lot of energy into making good quality white wine.
Experience: C+ / Wines: B
Beckmen Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $16-$39)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 Le Bec Blanc (Rossanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc), 09 Cuvee Le Bec (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Counoise), '09 Syrah, '09 Grenache - Purisima Mountain Vineyard.
Beckmen has a really good reputation. They are 100% biodynamic, which is huge undertaking and in my opinion makes better wine. They have a rambling property with picnic areas looking over a small pond. The staff there were not engaging, which put a damper on the experience. We had a choice between a regular $10 flight and a $15 reserve flight. We chose the regular flight. The wines on the regular list were nicely priced. We dug all of the wine especially the Syrah and the Grenache.
Experience: C+ / Wines: B+
Qupé Winery ($10 tasting)
Verdad '10 Albariño, '10 Viognier, '10 Marsanne, '08 Chardonnay, Verdad '08 Tempranillo, '09 Grenache, Ethan '09 Syrah, '05 Syrah.
Qupé is a very solid winery. They are also one of the original wineries of the region. We enjoyed all of the wines on the tasting list. They host three wine labels: Verdad - for their Spanish wines, Ethan - for wines created by Ethan Linquist, the second generation of the owners, and Qupé. The Albariño, and the '05 Syrah were the standouts. It was a busy day and the staff were efficiently handling customers. The guy that took care of us was really low key, verging on uninterested.
Experience: B / Wines: A-
Sunday (Highway 246)
Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $20-$80)
Star Lane '08 Sauvignon Blanc, Star Lane '09 Sauvignon Blanc, Dierberg '08 Chardonnay, Dierberg '07 Pinot Noir, Star Lane '07 Merlot, Star Lane '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Star Lane '05 Cabernet Sauvignon, Star Lane '06 "Astral" Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.
Of all of the wineries that we visited on this trip Dierberg was our favorite - which is saying a lot. The tasting room is a funky farmhouse brightly painted. The staff were very helpful. They spoke in depth and at a level that suited our experience level with wine. The winery has two labels. Dierberg produces the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a vineyard near Santa Maria. Star Lane produces Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon from their warmer weather Happy Canyon location. Each wine aside from the Chard were unique, complex, and tasty. We really enjoyed the Merlot and all of the Cabs.
Experience: B+ / Wines: A-
Another fine weekend spent in Santa Barbara County. Qupé and Dierberg Star Lane really blew us away, Lafond and Cold Heaven were great finds, Alma Rosa and Beckmen were good - though slightly below our high expectations. The mellow mood of the wineries and the opportunity to learn from the staff sets the region apart from others.
Friday (Lompoc Wine Ghetto)
Road Music: Radiohead - In Rainbows
Fiddlehead Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $22-$50)
'08 Sauvingnon Blanc - Happy Canyon, '04 "Hunnysuckle" Sauvignon Blanc, '10 "Goosebury" Sauvignon Blanc, '10 "Pink Fiddle" Pinot Noir Rosé, '07 "Seven Twenty Eight" Piinot Noir - Fiddlestix Vineyard, '07 "Oldsville Reserve" Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley.
Fiddlehead was high on my list of wineries to visit because I've heard great things about their wine. Our high expectations were not met. The Pinots were nice, but slightly too hot on one, and too flabby on the other. The Rosé was pretty good, but just pretty good. The tasting room staff person was not friendly or informative. This probably affected our opinion of the wines.
Experience: C- / Wine: C+
Loring Wine Company ($10 tasting, wines $35-$45)
'09 Chardonnay - Sierra Mar Vineyard/Santa Lucia Highlands, '09 Pinot Noir - Shea Vineyard/Willamette Valley, '09 Pinot Noir - Keefer Ranch Vineyard/Russian River Valley, '09 Pinot Noir - Rosella's Vineyard/Santa Lucia Highlands, '09 Pinot Noir - Aubaine Vineyard/ San Luis Obispo County, '09 Pinot Noir - Cargasacchi Vineyard/Sta. Rita Hills, '09 Pinot Noir - Clos Pepe Vineayrd/Sta. Rita Hills, '09 Pinot Noir - Rancho La Viña/Sta. Rita Hills.
A tasting at Loring is interesting. They serve eight wines, seven of which are big flavor Pinots. The Pinots are served in geographic order, starting with furthest away (Oregon) - and ending with closest to the tasting room location (a few miles away). Each wine was unique from one another. That said, none of the wines were great and with all of the Pinots tagged at $45, not worth the price.
Experience: B- / Wine: B-
Zotovich Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $28-$42)
'09 Chardonnay, '08 Pinot Noir, '10 Viognier, '08 Syrah.
Zotovich is a new winery and seems to be gaining acclaim. We weren't wowed during our visit. The Chardonnay was quite good, and the Syrah was pretty good. The Pinot and Viognier were not as enjoyable. While we were there a group of well lubricated middle-aged men who arrived in a limo dominated the attention of the one staff person - so we weren't able to learn much about the Zotovich wine making process.
Experience: C+ / Wine: B-
Saturday (Santa Rosa Road, Buellton, Los Olivos)
Road Music: Easy Star All-Stars - Radiodread
Lafond Winery ($10 tasting, wines $22-$48)
'08 Chardonnay, '07 Estate Chardonnay, '08 Pinot Noir, '08 Pinot Noir - Arita Hills Vineyard, '06 Pinot Noir - Lafond Vineyard, '09 Syrah.
We did not expect much from Lafond. We chose it because it was on the same road near as Alma Rosa. We were thanking our random luck after our visit, because it was an excellent stop for us. We enjoyed the full roster of wines. The Chardonnay, '06 Pinot, and Syrah were the standouts. Lafond really rolls out the red carpet for visitors. They had an awesome complementary spread of cheese, meat, fruit, and sweets to pair with the wines. Our favorite part about Lafond was Diane. She was extremely nice, passionate, and helpful. Lafond is one of the oldest wineries in the region - and it seems that they have great confidence in their wine and their customer service.
Experience: A- / Wine: B+
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards ($15 for Pinot only tasting, wines $32-$43)
'08 Pinot Noir - La Encantada Vineyard Clone 115, '08 Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills, '07 Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills, '08 Pinot Noir - La Encantada Vineyard, '09 Pinot Noir - La Encantada Clone 667.
The Sanfords - who own Alma Rosa - are basically the first family of this wine region. They began planting Pinot Noir in 1970. After separating from Sanford Winery in 2005, they created Alma Rosa in their minds eye. They create organic and sustainable wine. We had a choice of a mixed tasting with a variety of wines for $10, or a Pinot Noir only flight for $15. We went with the Pinot flight. The bummer was that our friends decided to go with the mixed flight, so they were served in a different area from us, which was kind of annoying that we couldn't hang out. The grounds are funky and cool - though a bit crowded when we were there. Our pourer was not knowledgeable about the wines unfortunately. It was fun to see Chris Burroughs, the Tasting Room Manager, who had a role in "Sideways." We dug each wine. There were interesting differences between them and each had high quality. The '07, '08 La Encantada, and the '09 were our favorites.
Experience: B- / Wines: B+
Cold Heaven Cellars ($10 tasting)
'09 Viognier - Santa Ynez Valley, '09 Viognier - Le Bon Climat Vineyard, '09 Viognier - Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, '07 Domaine des Deux Mondes "Saints and Sinners" Viognier, '09 "Makepeace" Pinot Noir, '09 "Nevertell" Pinot Noir, '03 "Second Sin" Syrah, '03 Late Harvest Viognier.
Cold Heaven is known for Viognier, which is a nice departure from the norm in the region. The tasting room was in a state of disarray while we were there. Apparently the manager had just quit, and the staff person there was trying to figure out how to deal with everything. Withstanding that, the wine was very nice. It was nice to visit a winery that put a lot of energy into making good quality white wine.
Experience: C+ / Wines: B
Beckmen Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $16-$39)
'10 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 Le Bec Blanc (Rossanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc), 09 Cuvee Le Bec (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Counoise), '09 Syrah, '09 Grenache - Purisima Mountain Vineyard.
Beckmen has a really good reputation. They are 100% biodynamic, which is huge undertaking and in my opinion makes better wine. They have a rambling property with picnic areas looking over a small pond. The staff there were not engaging, which put a damper on the experience. We had a choice between a regular $10 flight and a $15 reserve flight. We chose the regular flight. The wines on the regular list were nicely priced. We dug all of the wine especially the Syrah and the Grenache.
Experience: C+ / Wines: B+
Qupé Winery ($10 tasting)
Verdad '10 Albariño, '10 Viognier, '10 Marsanne, '08 Chardonnay, Verdad '08 Tempranillo, '09 Grenache, Ethan '09 Syrah, '05 Syrah.
Qupé is a very solid winery. They are also one of the original wineries of the region. We enjoyed all of the wines on the tasting list. They host three wine labels: Verdad - for their Spanish wines, Ethan - for wines created by Ethan Linquist, the second generation of the owners, and Qupé. The Albariño, and the '05 Syrah were the standouts. It was a busy day and the staff were efficiently handling customers. The guy that took care of us was really low key, verging on uninterested.
Experience: B / Wines: A-
Sunday (Highway 246)
Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $20-$80)
Star Lane '08 Sauvignon Blanc, Star Lane '09 Sauvignon Blanc, Dierberg '08 Chardonnay, Dierberg '07 Pinot Noir, Star Lane '07 Merlot, Star Lane '06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Star Lane '05 Cabernet Sauvignon, Star Lane '06 "Astral" Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.
Of all of the wineries that we visited on this trip Dierberg was our favorite - which is saying a lot. The tasting room is a funky farmhouse brightly painted. The staff were very helpful. They spoke in depth and at a level that suited our experience level with wine. The winery has two labels. Dierberg produces the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a vineyard near Santa Maria. Star Lane produces Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon from their warmer weather Happy Canyon location. Each wine aside from the Chard were unique, complex, and tasty. We really enjoyed the Merlot and all of the Cabs.
Experience: B+ / Wines: A-
Another fine weekend spent in Santa Barbara County. Qupé and Dierberg Star Lane really blew us away, Lafond and Cold Heaven were great finds, Alma Rosa and Beckmen were good - though slightly below our high expectations. The mellow mood of the wineries and the opportunity to learn from the staff sets the region apart from others.
May '11 Temecula Trip - Not Sure Why They Grow Wine There
Road Music: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell
I was curious about exploring the Temecula wine country. Only recently has Temecula become a popular wine tourism region. Temecula has mixed reviews. From friends I had heard both "it's not that bad" and "it is that bad." Since friends of ours were planning on going, we decided to join.
Temecula is way the hell out there. It's a fun drive out there, but its also distressing to see how much of the Southland is developed. I feel great compassion for anyone who commutes into LA from places like Lake Elsinore and Chino.
Once off the freeway, the main road - Rancho California - to the wineries seems to be a part of a typical planned suburban community. Gated neighborhoods and strip malls eventually give way to open farmland and wineries. To me, it seemed as though the wineries were also part of the planned community. They were all spaced apart the same basic distance, and faced the main road in a similar manner. The two wineries that we visited were on this main stretch.
Ponte Family Estate ($20 tasting, wines $23.95-$46)
'09 Viognier, '10 Vermentino, NV Moscato, '08 Dolcetto, '08 Nebbiolo, '08 Tempranillo, '09 Super Tuscan, '10 "Beverino"(dessert wine), NV Late Harvest, '07 Zinfandel Port.
Ponte is winery machine, squeezing in as many tasting bars as possible while still leaving plenty of space to sell random trinkets to patrons. Nothing about the location felt authentic. They offered a number of different wines, but none were very good, and all were overpriced - if one was so inclined to buy. You are given six tastings from a list of fifteen wines. Almost half of the wines on their tasting list were dessert wines, which is a red flag to me. And the place was packed to the gills. Every inch of every bar was patronized. Ponte's motto is "If you like it, it's good wine"™ (yeah, they trademarked that). To their credit people were buying wine by the case - so apparently some folks thought that it was indeed good wine.
Experience: D / Wine: D+
Wiens Family Cellars ($15 tasting, wines $22-$42)
'09 Solace (white blend), '09 Pinot Noir, '09 "Crowded" (Pinot/Zin/Merlot), '07 Meritage (Pinot/Cab/Verdot), '09 Sangiovese, NV Amour De L'Orange Champagne.
We were curious to check out Weins because we noticed a sign that said "Big Reds" out front. We are fans of Italian reds, so we figured that Weins was worth a shot. None of the wines knocked my socks off, though I thought that the Crowded was pretty good. There were lots of people at Weins, but it was not as crowded as Ponte. The guy that attended to our tasting was very nice and helpful. Just like at Ponte, you get to choose six tasting from a list of fifteen.
Experience: C / Wine: C-
I heard a very interesting podcast about Temecula wineries on GrapeRadio. The wineries interviewed discussed a deep interest in creating higher quality wines and raising the wine IQ of the people that visit. The challenge is that there is a greater interest for Almond Champagne rather than well-made wine. So perhaps market demand forces wineries in Temecula to create products and experiences such as they are. In any case, I am not chomping at the bit to go back to Temecula anytime soon.
I was curious about exploring the Temecula wine country. Only recently has Temecula become a popular wine tourism region. Temecula has mixed reviews. From friends I had heard both "it's not that bad" and "it is that bad." Since friends of ours were planning on going, we decided to join.
Temecula is way the hell out there. It's a fun drive out there, but its also distressing to see how much of the Southland is developed. I feel great compassion for anyone who commutes into LA from places like Lake Elsinore and Chino.
Once off the freeway, the main road - Rancho California - to the wineries seems to be a part of a typical planned suburban community. Gated neighborhoods and strip malls eventually give way to open farmland and wineries. To me, it seemed as though the wineries were also part of the planned community. They were all spaced apart the same basic distance, and faced the main road in a similar manner. The two wineries that we visited were on this main stretch.
Ponte Family Estate ($20 tasting, wines $23.95-$46)
'09 Viognier, '10 Vermentino, NV Moscato, '08 Dolcetto, '08 Nebbiolo, '08 Tempranillo, '09 Super Tuscan, '10 "Beverino"(dessert wine), NV Late Harvest, '07 Zinfandel Port.
Ponte is winery machine, squeezing in as many tasting bars as possible while still leaving plenty of space to sell random trinkets to patrons. Nothing about the location felt authentic. They offered a number of different wines, but none were very good, and all were overpriced - if one was so inclined to buy. You are given six tastings from a list of fifteen wines. Almost half of the wines on their tasting list were dessert wines, which is a red flag to me. And the place was packed to the gills. Every inch of every bar was patronized. Ponte's motto is "If you like it, it's good wine"™ (yeah, they trademarked that). To their credit people were buying wine by the case - so apparently some folks thought that it was indeed good wine.
Experience: D / Wine: D+
Wiens Family Cellars ($15 tasting, wines $22-$42)
'09 Solace (white blend), '09 Pinot Noir, '09 "Crowded" (Pinot/Zin/Merlot), '07 Meritage (Pinot/Cab/Verdot), '09 Sangiovese, NV Amour De L'Orange Champagne.
We were curious to check out Weins because we noticed a sign that said "Big Reds" out front. We are fans of Italian reds, so we figured that Weins was worth a shot. None of the wines knocked my socks off, though I thought that the Crowded was pretty good. There were lots of people at Weins, but it was not as crowded as Ponte. The guy that attended to our tasting was very nice and helpful. Just like at Ponte, you get to choose six tasting from a list of fifteen.
Experience: C / Wine: C-
I heard a very interesting podcast about Temecula wineries on GrapeRadio. The wineries interviewed discussed a deep interest in creating higher quality wines and raising the wine IQ of the people that visit. The challenge is that there is a greater interest for Almond Champagne rather than well-made wine. So perhaps market demand forces wineries in Temecula to create products and experiences such as they are. In any case, I am not chomping at the bit to go back to Temecula anytime soon.
April '11 Santa Barbara County Trip - Wine Ghetto!!!
After having such a great time on our first Santa Barbara trip, we decided to head back with some wino friends. This time we went with better research, and a long list of places to check out.
Friday (Lompoc Wine Ghetto)
Road Music: Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs Vols. 1-3 (all weekend)
Flying Goat Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $36-$44)
'08 "Goat Bubbles" Blanc de Blancs, '08 Pinot Noir - Dierberg Vineyard, '07 Pinot Noir - Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard, '07 Pinot Noir - Rio Vista Vineyard Clone 2A, '06 "Dijon" Pinot Noir - Rio Vista Vineyard.
None of the wine knocked our socks off. Though the Clone 2A was easily the best. Nice space, cool dogs. The tasting room attendants were fine, though not engaging.
Experience: B- / Wine: C+
Palmina Winery ($10 tasting, wines $18-$32)
'09 Tocai Friulano, '09 Arneis, '09 Dolcetto, '06 Nebbiolo, '08 Lagrein, '10 Botasea.
A very welcoming and relaxed environment. Palmina exhibits talent and confidence in making Italian-style wine while keeping prices in a reasonable range. The staff were all very friendly. One of the most fun tasting rooms that we have visited.
Experience: A- / Wine: B+
Samsara Wines ($10 tasting, wines $18-$44)
'10 Pinot Noir Rosé, '09 Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills, '07 Pinot Noir - Ampelos Vineyard, '07 Syrah - Melville Vineyards.
Samsara is experimental, skilled, and not worried about catering to the mainstream. The tasting room is a no frills warehouse. The gentleman at the tasting room was very informative about the Samsara process. Each wine was unique and had solid characteristics. The Rosé was superb.
Experience: B / Wine: B+
Taste of Sta. Rita Hills ($10 tasting, wines $17-$80)
'10 Moretti Bianchetto, '09 Hilliard Bruce Chardonnay, '07 Ken Brown Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills Cuvee, '08 Hilliard Bruce Pinot Noir, '09 Moretti Syrah.
We didn't originally intend on stopping at Taste of Sta. Rita Hills, but we were drawn in by the list of wineries that were featured there (specifically Ken Brown and Seasmoke). Taste of Sta. Rita Hills is a tasting room for wineries that do not have their own tasting rooms. Antonio is an enchanted and gracious host. He serves complimentary snacks that fit the wines very well. Moretti is Antonio's label. His wines are reasonably priced and solid. Ken Brown is a regional institution - and makes superb Pinots. Hilliard Bruce is a new winery that is putting together a roster of high-quality, high-end wines.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B
Jalama Wines ($10 tasting, wines $28-$36)
'08 Joseph Blair Pinot Noir "Heartbreak" - Cargasacchi/Jalama Vineyard, '08 Pinot Noir - Cargasacchi/Jalama Vineyard, '07 Syrah - Paradise Road Vineyard, '07 Syrah - La Presa Vineyard, '07 El Capitan (red blend).
Our local wine store carried Jalama wines up until recently, so we were familiar with Jalama, and are big fans. So we knew that Jalama was one place that we had to stop at for a tasting. The wines were all fantastic, especially enjoyed the Paradise Road Syrah. The person at the tasting room was helpful and insightful. While there, we found out that Jalama no longer distributes their wine to dealers, so we'll have to revisit the Wine Ghetto when we run out of the wine that we bought there.
Experience: B+ / Wines: A-
Ampelos Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $25-$45)
Chein '09 Grüner Veltliner, '06 "Rho" Pinot Noir, '07 "Lambda" Pinot Noir, '08 Pinot Noir - Fiddlestix Vineyard, '07 "Syrache" Syrah/Grenache, '07 "Gamma" Syrah, '07 "Delta" Grenache.
Our visit to Ampelos was awesome. We were able to chat with the owner Peter Work at length. He is a great dude, and a wealth of knowledge. I was glad to learn in-depth about their sustainable/organic/bio-dynamic process. Ampelos goes to great effort to be an environmental leader in the wine industry, and I think that it makes a difference in the quality of their product. Their wine is fantastic. Great Syrah, Pinot, and Grenache. It was my favorite stop during our trip.
Experience: A / Wines: A-
Saturday (Foxen Canyon Road & Los Olivos)
Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyard ($10 tasting, wines $16-$42)
'10 Z Gris, '09 Viognier, '07 Roussanne, '08 Z-Blanc (Grenache Blanc/Roussanne), '07 Z-Cuvee (Grenache/Mourvedre/Syrah), '07 Syrah, '06 Z-Three (Syrah/Mourvedre/Grenache).
In my limited experience, there is a spectrum of wineries in Santa Barbara County. One end of the spectrum are wineries that we constantly pushing to experiment and develop a unique system. One the other end are wineries that play it safe so that visitors that come to their wineries are reasonably or moderately pleased with their experience, and perhaps buy wine. Zaca Mesa is a "playing it safe" winery. Their wine tastes fine. Their tasting room is nicely decorated. Their staff are perfectly nice. But at no point while I was there did I feel that I was experiencing anything unique. Considering that Zaca Mesa seems to be doing very well there's definitely an audience that appreciate that safeness, but I'd rather explore other avenues.
Experience: C / Wines: C+
Koehler Winery ($10 tasting, wines $14-$30)
'09 Chardonnay, '08 Grenache, '08 Sangiovese, '07 Syrah, '07 Cabernet Sauvignon, '09 Riesling.
Koehler, like Zaca Mesa, has their tasting room on their estate. They have a nice picnic area, and a cool winery cat. Mid-day Saturday seems to be a pretty popular time - it was pretty busy though we were still taken c. The wine was pretty good, but nothing very exciting. I enjoyed their Syrah and Cab most.
Experience: B- / Wines: B-
Carhartt Vineyard ($10 tasting, wines $21-$35)
'09 Grenache Blanc, '10 Sauvignon Blanc, '10 Rosé, '09 Sangiovese, '05 Merlot, '07 Syrah.
Carhartt is a fun and relaxing stop in Los Olivos. When we arrived the tiny tasting room was packed with four other folks, so we found seats on the back patio. The attendants will bring the wine out to you for the tasting. You certainly can't hate on hanging outside on a nice shaded patio on a perfect Saturday afternoon while tasting quality wine. Carhartt wine is varies from fine to pretty good. The Syrah was quite nice.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B-
Stolpman Vineyards ($15 tasting, wines $25-$66)
'09 La Coppa Blanc (Roussanne/Viognier), '09 "L'Avoin" Roussanne, '09 La Cuadrilla (Syrah/Grenache), '07 Sangiovese, '09 "Originals" Syrah, '08 "Hilltops" Syrah, '09 "Angeli" Syrah, '08 "La Croce" Syrah, '08 Grenache.
The couple that we joined for this trip are Stolpman members, and were insistent that we must go. They were not wrong. Their wine were fantastic. Each wine that we tried was high caliber and has its own unique approach. The tasting room was busy, but the staff were very capable of taking care of many people at once. All of the Syrahs were excellent and the Grenache was great.
Experience: A- / Wines: A-
Tensley Wines ($10 tasting, wines $28-$38)
'10 Camp 4 Vineyard Blanc (Grenache Blanc/Roussanne), Lea '10 Chardonnay, Lea '09 Pinot Noir, '09 Colson Canyon Syrah.
On our second trip to Tensley we were once again please with the quality of their wine. This time around we were very disappointed with the person who attended to us. She seemed put off by our presence. Thankfully the wine is good, so we weren't affected by her demeanor. The Lea Pinot Noir was the most outstanding wine that we tried.
Experience: C- / Wines: A-
Dragonette ($15 for reserve flight tasting, wines ($18-$54)
'10 Rosé of Pinot Noir, '09 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 Pinot Noir, '09 Pinot Noir - Presidio Vineyard, '08 Syrah, '08 MJM (red blend).
Our first Dragonette trip was so great, we were really looking forward to visiting them again. Sadly, it wasn't nearly as enjoyable. The tasting room was packed and the staff were exasperated. Just the same, Dragonette makes very good wine, especially the Sauvignon Blanc and the Presidio Vineyard Pinot.
Experience: C+ / Wines: B+
Sunday (Highway 246)
Foley Estates
I seem to have misplaced my notes from our Foley stop. I can recall the overall experience though. Foley is bland. None of their wine stands out. The tasting room is attractive, but seems soul-less. The tasting room attendants are competent, but did not exhibit a passion for the wine. The spirit of corporatism emanates from each aspect of Foley's presentation. Since Foley owns other wineries in the area, you can get free tastings at Lincourt and Firestone with a receipt of your tasting from Foley.
Experience: C / Wines: C
Friday (Lompoc Wine Ghetto)
Road Music: Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs Vols. 1-3 (all weekend)
Flying Goat Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $36-$44)
'08 "Goat Bubbles" Blanc de Blancs, '08 Pinot Noir - Dierberg Vineyard, '07 Pinot Noir - Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard, '07 Pinot Noir - Rio Vista Vineyard Clone 2A, '06 "Dijon" Pinot Noir - Rio Vista Vineyard.
None of the wine knocked our socks off. Though the Clone 2A was easily the best. Nice space, cool dogs. The tasting room attendants were fine, though not engaging.
Experience: B- / Wine: C+
Palmina Winery ($10 tasting, wines $18-$32)
'09 Tocai Friulano, '09 Arneis, '09 Dolcetto, '06 Nebbiolo, '08 Lagrein, '10 Botasea.
A very welcoming and relaxed environment. Palmina exhibits talent and confidence in making Italian-style wine while keeping prices in a reasonable range. The staff were all very friendly. One of the most fun tasting rooms that we have visited.
Experience: A- / Wine: B+
Samsara Wines ($10 tasting, wines $18-$44)
'10 Pinot Noir Rosé, '09 Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills, '07 Pinot Noir - Ampelos Vineyard, '07 Syrah - Melville Vineyards.
Samsara is experimental, skilled, and not worried about catering to the mainstream. The tasting room is a no frills warehouse. The gentleman at the tasting room was very informative about the Samsara process. Each wine was unique and had solid characteristics. The Rosé was superb.
Experience: B / Wine: B+
Taste of Sta. Rita Hills ($10 tasting, wines $17-$80)
'10 Moretti Bianchetto, '09 Hilliard Bruce Chardonnay, '07 Ken Brown Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills Cuvee, '08 Hilliard Bruce Pinot Noir, '09 Moretti Syrah.
We didn't originally intend on stopping at Taste of Sta. Rita Hills, but we were drawn in by the list of wineries that were featured there (specifically Ken Brown and Seasmoke). Taste of Sta. Rita Hills is a tasting room for wineries that do not have their own tasting rooms. Antonio is an enchanted and gracious host. He serves complimentary snacks that fit the wines very well. Moretti is Antonio's label. His wines are reasonably priced and solid. Ken Brown is a regional institution - and makes superb Pinots. Hilliard Bruce is a new winery that is putting together a roster of high-quality, high-end wines.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B
Jalama Wines ($10 tasting, wines $28-$36)
'08 Joseph Blair Pinot Noir "Heartbreak" - Cargasacchi/Jalama Vineyard, '08 Pinot Noir - Cargasacchi/Jalama Vineyard, '07 Syrah - Paradise Road Vineyard, '07 Syrah - La Presa Vineyard, '07 El Capitan (red blend).
Our local wine store carried Jalama wines up until recently, so we were familiar with Jalama, and are big fans. So we knew that Jalama was one place that we had to stop at for a tasting. The wines were all fantastic, especially enjoyed the Paradise Road Syrah. The person at the tasting room was helpful and insightful. While there, we found out that Jalama no longer distributes their wine to dealers, so we'll have to revisit the Wine Ghetto when we run out of the wine that we bought there.
Experience: B+ / Wines: A-
Ampelos Cellars ($10 tasting, wines $25-$45)
Chein '09 Grüner Veltliner, '06 "Rho" Pinot Noir, '07 "Lambda" Pinot Noir, '08 Pinot Noir - Fiddlestix Vineyard, '07 "Syrache" Syrah/Grenache, '07 "Gamma" Syrah, '07 "Delta" Grenache.
Our visit to Ampelos was awesome. We were able to chat with the owner Peter Work at length. He is a great dude, and a wealth of knowledge. I was glad to learn in-depth about their sustainable/organic/bio-dynamic process. Ampelos goes to great effort to be an environmental leader in the wine industry, and I think that it makes a difference in the quality of their product. Their wine is fantastic. Great Syrah, Pinot, and Grenache. It was my favorite stop during our trip.
Experience: A / Wines: A-
Saturday (Foxen Canyon Road & Los Olivos)
Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyard ($10 tasting, wines $16-$42)
'10 Z Gris, '09 Viognier, '07 Roussanne, '08 Z-Blanc (Grenache Blanc/Roussanne), '07 Z-Cuvee (Grenache/Mourvedre/Syrah), '07 Syrah, '06 Z-Three (Syrah/Mourvedre/Grenache).
In my limited experience, there is a spectrum of wineries in Santa Barbara County. One end of the spectrum are wineries that we constantly pushing to experiment and develop a unique system. One the other end are wineries that play it safe so that visitors that come to their wineries are reasonably or moderately pleased with their experience, and perhaps buy wine. Zaca Mesa is a "playing it safe" winery. Their wine tastes fine. Their tasting room is nicely decorated. Their staff are perfectly nice. But at no point while I was there did I feel that I was experiencing anything unique. Considering that Zaca Mesa seems to be doing very well there's definitely an audience that appreciate that safeness, but I'd rather explore other avenues.
Experience: C / Wines: C+
Koehler Winery ($10 tasting, wines $14-$30)
'09 Chardonnay, '08 Grenache, '08 Sangiovese, '07 Syrah, '07 Cabernet Sauvignon, '09 Riesling.
Koehler, like Zaca Mesa, has their tasting room on their estate. They have a nice picnic area, and a cool winery cat. Mid-day Saturday seems to be a pretty popular time - it was pretty busy though we were still taken c. The wine was pretty good, but nothing very exciting. I enjoyed their Syrah and Cab most.
Experience: B- / Wines: B-
Carhartt Vineyard ($10 tasting, wines $21-$35)
'09 Grenache Blanc, '10 Sauvignon Blanc, '10 Rosé, '09 Sangiovese, '05 Merlot, '07 Syrah.
Carhartt is a fun and relaxing stop in Los Olivos. When we arrived the tiny tasting room was packed with four other folks, so we found seats on the back patio. The attendants will bring the wine out to you for the tasting. You certainly can't hate on hanging outside on a nice shaded patio on a perfect Saturday afternoon while tasting quality wine. Carhartt wine is varies from fine to pretty good. The Syrah was quite nice.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B-
Stolpman Vineyards ($15 tasting, wines $25-$66)
'09 La Coppa Blanc (Roussanne/Viognier), '09 "L'Avoin" Roussanne, '09 La Cuadrilla (Syrah/Grenache), '07 Sangiovese, '09 "Originals" Syrah, '08 "Hilltops" Syrah, '09 "Angeli" Syrah, '08 "La Croce" Syrah, '08 Grenache.
The couple that we joined for this trip are Stolpman members, and were insistent that we must go. They were not wrong. Their wine were fantastic. Each wine that we tried was high caliber and has its own unique approach. The tasting room was busy, but the staff were very capable of taking care of many people at once. All of the Syrahs were excellent and the Grenache was great.
Experience: A- / Wines: A-
Tensley Wines ($10 tasting, wines $28-$38)
'10 Camp 4 Vineyard Blanc (Grenache Blanc/Roussanne), Lea '10 Chardonnay, Lea '09 Pinot Noir, '09 Colson Canyon Syrah.
On our second trip to Tensley we were once again please with the quality of their wine. This time around we were very disappointed with the person who attended to us. She seemed put off by our presence. Thankfully the wine is good, so we weren't affected by her demeanor. The Lea Pinot Noir was the most outstanding wine that we tried.
Experience: C- / Wines: A-
Dragonette ($15 for reserve flight tasting, wines ($18-$54)
'10 Rosé of Pinot Noir, '09 Sauvignon Blanc, '09 Pinot Noir, '09 Pinot Noir - Presidio Vineyard, '08 Syrah, '08 MJM (red blend).
Our first Dragonette trip was so great, we were really looking forward to visiting them again. Sadly, it wasn't nearly as enjoyable. The tasting room was packed and the staff were exasperated. Just the same, Dragonette makes very good wine, especially the Sauvignon Blanc and the Presidio Vineyard Pinot.
Experience: C+ / Wines: B+
Sunday (Highway 246)
Foley Estates
I seem to have misplaced my notes from our Foley stop. I can recall the overall experience though. Foley is bland. None of their wine stands out. The tasting room is attractive, but seems soul-less. The tasting room attendants are competent, but did not exhibit a passion for the wine. The spirit of corporatism emanates from each aspect of Foley's presentation. Since Foley owns other wineries in the area, you can get free tastings at Lincourt and Firestone with a receipt of your tasting from Foley.
Experience: C / Wines: C
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