November '12 Central Valley Pit Stop - Klinker Brick

I'm regularly listen to the 3 Wine Guys podcast, and time and time again they mention Klinker Brink, and speak of the Zins - especially the "Old Ghost" - with reverence.  So when we decided to stop at a winery in Lodi on our way back down to SoCal, it seemed like a good opportunity to visit.

Klinker Brick Winery ($5 tasting, wines $15-$37)
'11 Rosé (Syrah/Grenache/Carignane/Mourvedre/Zinfandel), '10 Sangiovese - Amador, '10 Old Vine Zinfandel, '10 "Old Ghost" Old Vine Zinfandel, "Bricks and Mortar" Red Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Sirah/Zinfandel), '10 "Farrah" Syrah, '05 "Gold Brick" Late Harvest Zinfandel

Our visit was on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so the tasting room was busy, but there was still plenty of space at the bar. The tasting room was spacious with plenty handcrafted goods to sell. The staff generally kept on tops of things, but didn't seem all that knowledgeable about wine culture. At the end of my tasting, I asked to revisit the Rosé - and asked if I could swish out the remaining red wine with a small splash of the Rosé, but the staff person thought that was crazy and swished out with water instead. So was I got was a watery Rosé for the second tasting.
The Rosé was a fun blend of a variety of grapes, slightly sticky, but with a nice vegital note. The Zins are their bread and butter. All were jammy, were about 15.5% alcohol per volume, and were made to be appealing to a wide cross-section of wine drinkers. The quality and the flavors improved from the baseline - Old Vine, the mid-level Marisa Vineyard, and the Old Ghost - their premiere. The Old Ghost wasn't a wine that I'd pay $37 for, but it was a fun drink - also kind of neat to enjoy grapes from a 101 year old vineyard.  The Bricks and Mortar is a new blend for the winery. Another jammy fella, sweet and zippy. The Syrah was a funny wine. It had huge flavor on the front-end which gave way to a much more quiet back-end. I'm thinking that the winemaker recognized that it was too full-flavored and quieted out the wine so it would be more friendly. The Late Harvest Zin was a totally wacky finish to the tasting. Sweet chewy smoke with overt bacon notes. It was fun to sip, but I don't think that it would something that I'd want to drink much more than that.
Experience: B- / Wines: B-

The folks at Klinker Brick seem to know what they are doing. They make real wine that people want to buy. It's not stuff that's in my sweet spot, but I enjoyed it well enough - and definitely respect their business acumen. Since it's only the second winery that I've visited in the Lodi area, I don't yet have a feel for how it stacks up to other places - but my guess is that it's one of the better ones.

April '12 Central Valley Pit Stop - Van Ruiten

Being that my wife and I both have family in NorCal, we drive through the Central Valley with frequency. Even though it doesn't have the same wine cache as the Sonoma and Napa regions, the Central Valley is a prolific growing region for all sorts of agriculture, including wine grapes. Lodi has a rich history of wine growing, thanks to the influx of Gold Rush era immigrants who brought grape vines with them - particularly Zinfandel. I've thought during the past few trips to visit family that we should stop and check out the area.

Van Ruiten Family Vineyards ($5 tasting, wines $13.99-$34.99)
'11 Pinot Grigio, '10 Lake County Sauvignon Blanc, '10 Chardonnay, '08 "Double Barrel" Chardonnay, '10 Clarksburg Pinot Noir, '10 Cab-Shiraz, '08 Cabernet Sauvignon, '10 "Lot No. 498" Cabernet Sauvignon, '09 Petit Sirah, Winsome '08 Old Vine Zinfandel, Glory Days '09 Zinfandel, '07 Late Harvest Viognier
Upon entering the tasting room, we were warned that they were out of their Old Vine Zin, which I guess can be an issue for folks if they don't find out immediately. Not a big deal for us, we take on all wines equally. The ambience was quite nice. In the warmer months, the winery hosts a band every Sunday afternoon, and there were a bunch of folks digging the music outside on the patio drinking bottles that they had purchased inside. Everyone was very friendly. Strangers struck up conversations with us and the staff person who attended to us was very talkative. The place had a mellow and welcoming vibe. We've never tried Lodi wines before. My expectation was that the wines would be high in alcohol, that all of the reds would taste the same, and that they would serve White Zin. I have to give more credit to Van Ruiten.  I was not blown away by the wines - none were refined or complex, but they showed some balance and definitely were not the high octane bombers that I expected. The reds generally had flavor variences between them, some good, some not so good. The Petit Sirah was the most emblematic of this experience. My tasting note on this one reads: "mediocre melted Boysenberry sorbet." That generally fits with most of the Van Ruiten reds because most of the wines had a clear, decent flavor to them, but that's the most of it. The good reds had a basic good flavor, while the bad reds, had a less-enjoyable basic flavor to them. And we were not served a White Zin - so that's a good thing. The Pinot Grigio was enjoyable, and the Winsome Zin (Winsome is one of Van Ruiten's budget labels) was tasty for the price. The '08 Cab, the Cab-Shiraz, and the Late Harvest Viognier were definite lowlights.
Experience: B- / Wines: C+

It's a long drive between LA and Sacramento. It's long and it's curious, because along those seemingly empty 384 miles there is actually a lot going on. Even though California sees itself as a cosmopolitan touchstone, it is at root an agricultural state. Along I-5 or the 99, food is being grown. Wine is my kind of agricultural product, so it's nice to know that when I find myself passing through, I can stop and enjoy some of their wares.

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.