Last day of the California wine tour was spent in Sonoma. Beautiful clear, sunny, dry day as has been for the week. After the obligatory lunch at In-n-Out, I concentrated my touring to the Southern part Sonoma mostly in the Green Valley sub appellation.
Taft Street Winery. A “garagistes” small production winery using sourced fruit.
2014 Pinot Gris. Very light copper-colored, big grapefruit notes on the nose with crisp, vanilla oak on the finish.
2014 Chardonnay “Reserve” Chardonnay. 173 cases made, medium yellow, honeydew on the nose, ripe tropical fruit, tangerine and oak on the finish.
2013 Syrah. Dark purple with a sweet perfume of violets and rosemary, starts juicy and tightens at the end, pickle juice notes at the finish.
Marimar Estate. Owned by the Torres wine family of Spain, the winery, built to look like a Catalan Farmhouse and is perched on top of a hill with a great view overlooking the surrounding vines. Organic and unfiltered wines.
2014 Chardonnay “Acero”. Gold in color, tropical fruit notes on the nose with full and rich tropical fruit on the finish.
2013 Chardonnay “La Masia”. Light gold, crushed peaches on the nose with moderate green vegetable on the nose and lime notes on the firm finish.
2013 Pinot Noir “La Masia”. Unfiltered, medium brick, cloudy with crushed red fruit on the nose, red cherry cola on the fruit.
2012 Pinot Noir “Mas Cavalls”. Dark red to black with crushed black fruit on toasted oak on the nose, plums and dark leather on the fruit. A big Pinot.
2012 Red Blend “Don Miguel Vineyard”. Only 60 cases made, an equal blend of Syrah and Tempranillo, inky purple with dried herbs and black licorice on the nose, chunky with silky tannin and nice acidity on the finish.
Lynmar Estate. Slick, modern winery with a spectacular view from the outdoor patio.
2012 Chardonnay “Russian River Valley”. Deep gold with honey and spicy vanilla on the nose, mouth coating glycerin a nd dried flowers and honey on the long finish. Very yummy.
2012 Chardonnay “Quail Hill”. The nose more closed than the RRV Chard, dried herbs and lime on the nose, restrained on the balanced finish. Nice Chard as well.
2012 Pinot Noir “Russian River Valley”. Medium purple with warm black cherry cola on the nose, juicy, red cherry fruit.
2012 Pinot Noir “Quail Hill”. Cloudy dark red with warm smoky black cherry and dark leather on the nose, deep and concentrated with silky tannin, great balance and long finish of leather and black cherry. Very tasty.
Merry Edwards Winery: Easy going tasting room.
2012 Chardonnay “Olivet Lane”. Gold with dark flowers and honey on the nose, lemon custard on the full fruit with tart lime on the finish.
2012 Pinot Noir “Klopp Vineyard”. Dark purple, barnyard and black licorice on the nose, concentrated with bitter black cherry on the finish, some heat.
2013 Pinot Noir “Klopp Vineyard”. Dark purple, pretty perfume of floral black licorice, darkly concentrated with bitter cherry on the finish. Tasty.
2012 Pinot Noir “Olivet Lane”. Dark purple, warm black fruit and some coconut on the nose, concentrated and chunky, silky tannin.
Woodenhead Winery: Small, off the radar winery with the tasting room on a hill overlooking the vines.
2014 French Colombard. Unusual to see this varietal bottled on its own, light yellow, barnyard on the nose, medium body with nice acidity and earth notes on the finish.
2012 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley. Unfiltered, light red with red cherry on the nose, medium body with green herb on the tight, moderate to long finish.
2008 Zinfandel “Martinelli Road”. From 130 year old vines, cloudy dark purple, strawberry jam on the fruit, dusty, minty jammy fruit, black licorice on the finish.
Martinelli Winery: Old school winery from a family farming in the valley since the 1880’s.
2012 Pinot Noir “Three Sisters Vineyard”. Light brick with a big red cherry cola nose, spicy nutmeg on the fruit, good acidity.
2013 Pinot Noir “Moonshine Ranch Vineyard”. Light purple, closed nose, bright plummy dirt and red leather on the fruit with firm tannin and acidity on the finish.
2007 Syrah “Lolita Ranch Vineyard”. Inky purple, green asparagus and petroleum on the nose, dense, concentrated, very firm.
2012 Zinfandel “Vellutini Ranch Vineyard. Light purple with green herbs on the nose, jammy and tight. 17.3% alcohol but didn’t feel it on the finish.
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