J Vineyards & Winery

Spending last Saturday afternoon in Sonoma County, I made a wrong turn when looking for another winery and stumbled upon J Vineyards & Winery.  I've been to J before and had thought about visiting that afternoon, but put it off to another time.  I guess fate forced the issue by leading me there anyway.  So since we were already there...

Past visits to J seemed to focus on sparkling wines, particularly my first visit several years ago.  Their sparklings are clean and crisp with beautifully bright flavors.  The last time I was there, we tasted one of their sparklings that tasted remarkably of apple.  We tasted two this time out, their Brut Rose NV ($32, 13,500 cases) and the 2005 Vintage Brut ($48).  Both met high expectations from previous visits.  The Brut Rose earned 90 points from the Wine Enthusiast.

What impressed me this time out was the quality of the varietals J is producing.  I've long enjoyed their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir available at the local grocery store, but they are making some low production wines that are outstanding.  We sampled two Chardonnays on this trip, the 2010 Strata ($45, 500 cases) and the 2010 Jewell Ranch Vineyard ($45, 500 cases).  The Strata is in the Burgundian style, minerally and clean.  Surprisingly, my creamy/buttery loving sweetie was clearly enjoying it.  The Jewell Ranch Vineyard is in the Green Valley, a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley.  While both were wonderful, we took home a bottle of the Strata.

The Pinots were rich and well balanced.  We tasted three on the visit, the 2009 Russian River Valley ($35, 12,000 cases), the 2009 Robert Thomas Vineyard - Block 2 ($65, 400 cases), and the 2009 Barrel 16 ($75, 535 cases).  Each step up the ladder surpassed the previous rung.  The RRV is widely available in local groceries and package stores, but the other two are only found at the tasting room or on-line through their website.  The website says of the Barrel 16, "The 2009 J Vineyards “Barrel 16” Pinot Noir is a luxurious wine with distinct complexity and balanced tannins. The wine opens with subtle floral aromas of violet followed by cherry, plum, and blueberry. There are also delicate hints of licorice and spice. Rich and supple flavors of vanilla cream and strawberry fill the mouth, complementing the noseand providing a long, lingering finish of cinnamon, clove, and anise." And of the Robert Thomas Vineyard it says, "The 2009 J Vineyards “Robert Thomas Vineyard—Block 2” Pinot Noir features rose petal, violet, and subtle vanilla toasty aromas. Earthy, ripe strawberry, cherry, and nuances of cranberry fill your mouth with silkiness balanced by a nice acidity. The fruit is gracefully layered with tannins that carry through to a lengthy, lush finish of caramel and vanilla. This Pinot Noir pairs well with marbled red meat broiled to perfection. Try it with Boeuf Bourguignon or braised lamb shanks that have been basted in this wine." While both were fantastic, we opted for a bottle of the Barrel 16, another wine for a special occassion.

J's tasting room is an elegant affair on the west side of 101 a little south of Healdsburg at 11447 Old Redwood Highway.  We found their staff to be attentive, informative, and friendly.  Their website is http://www.jwine.com/.  J has four varieties of their wine club, ranging from the J Signature with two to four bottles five times a year, to J Luxe, which is limited to 50 members and provides access to their most exclusive wines.

Passalacqua Winery

Passalacqua has a lovely tasting room just off of Dry Creek Road at 3805 Lambert Bridge Road.  They are situated in the middle of a mass of vineyards, from which they produce some wonderful Zinfandels and Cabs, along with other fine wines.

We started our tasting with a nice barrel-fermented 2008 Dry Creek Valley Chardonnay ($30, 225 cases produced).  It was on the lighter side of creamy/buttery, with nice fruit and a long finish.

We moved on to my personal favorite, the 2009 Lavender Hill Primitivo ($37, 226 cases).  Primitivo is in the Zin family, and this one has a wonderfully bright nose.  Previous vintages of this wine have sold out fast, so I'd recommend jumping right in and getting some before it's gone.

Next, we tasted three Zinfandels, the 2009 Dry Creek Valley Estate Vineyard ($36, 298 cases), the 2008 Russian River Valley Viti della Nebbia ($35), and the 2008 Dry Creek Valley Bevill Heirloom ($36, 237 cases).  While all were good, we were particularly taken with the complex Bevill Heirloom and the fruit forward Viti della Nebbia with its tantalizing cherry nose, both of which we took home with us.

We followed the Zins with a smooth 2008 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($45, 316 cases).  The Passalacqua website winemaker notes say, "This enticing blend is composed of fruit from Blocks 2, 4 and 18 & 19 of the TR Passalacqua Vineyard, offering classic Cabernet flavors of blackberry, cassis and black cherry. Vanilla and the spice of black pepper, cardomom and cinnamon complement the rich texture of this Cabernet. Two years of aging in thin-staved Taransaud and Demptos French oak barrels tame the tannins and round out the long, lovely finish of this carefully blended classic."

Finally, we tasted a big, bold Super Tuscan (with 72% Sangiovese and 28% Cab), the Radici della Famiglia Due ($56, 143 cases).  This wine is available only to Private Access members, along with a dozen other wines from their Private Collection.

Passalacqua has four levels of their wine club, ranging from four bottles three times a year (Dapprima), to a case six times a year (Ultimo).  Members receive discounts and free tasting for themselves and guests.  Additionally, Private Access members have a list of Private Collection wines to choose from as well.

The Passalacqua website is at http://www.passalacquawinery.com/.  The winery is another worthwhile stop in Dry Creek Valley.

Papapietro Perry Winery

Across the parking lot from Kokomo, at 4791 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg, is the Papapietro Perry Winery tasting room.  Aside from being a fun name to pronounce ...Papapietro Perry... the winery makes some wonderful wines.  Pinot Noirs mostly, though they do have a tasty Zin on their list and a Chardonnay they typically sell out.

We visited a couple of weekends ago and were treated to some of their best stuff, starting with the 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($46, 1220 cases).  This wine received 92 points from the Pinot Report and 90 points from Wine Spectator.  Their tasting notes describe the wine as, "Medium ruby color; deep, complex, rich aromas of red cherry and cola with some nice earthy notes. Rich, ripe, bright red cherry flavors with earthy, cola notes; silky texture; good structure and balance with a lovely long finish. This is a rich and silky Pinot with bright fruit and nice length, delicious and perfect for grilled chicken. Drink now through 2015." 

While we were impressed with the RRV, what really grabbed us was the 2008 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($46, 780 cases).  The Sonoma Coast received 94 points from the Pinot Report and 91 from the Wine Spectator.  It had an unusual taste, which I couldn't identify, and was very good.  Their website says, "Medium deep ruby color with deep, complex, spicy dark cherry aromas with earthy, forest floor notes; complex, deep, spicy dark cherry flavors with forest floor notes; silky texture; some oak, good structure and balance with a lovely long finish. Deep, complex and delicious Pinot with great structure and balance."  Maybe it was the forest floor notes that I coundn't quite put my finger on.

Next up was the 2008 Elsbree Vineyard Pinot Noir ($54, 730 cases) from the Russian River Valley.  Elsbree received 94 points from the Pinot Report as well. They describe it as, "Medium ruby color; complex red cherry and spice aromas; complex, deep, red cherry flavors with spice and earthy notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Spicy and deep Pinot with great structure and fruit flavors. Benefits from a little time in the glass."

The 2008 Leras Family Vineyard Pinot Noir ($54, 1020 cases) was poured after that.  It received 93 points from the Pinot Report and 92 points from the Wine Spectator.  Their website says, "Medium ruby color with complex earthy red cherry aromas; rich, deep and complex red cherry and earthy flavors with hints of tea and cola; some tannin and oak with good structure and balance leading to a long finish. Bright, lush, delicious Pinot that is amazing to drink all by itself. Wow, this is really tasty!" And it is...really tasty, that is.

We were then treated to a taste of the 2009 Russian River Valley Piont Noir ($46).  It received 94 points from the Wine Spectator and impresses with cherry and spice notes.

Last was the 2008 Elsbree Vineyard Zin ($38, 580 cases).  The website calls it, "Medium ruby red color with a wonderful nose of sweet raspberry and blackberry with a hint of spice and smoke . It is elegant and balanced with flavors of dark berry fruit, with a hint of spice and pepper, leading to a long full finish of sweet fruit and oak. Smooth tannins add structure and mouth feel, but don’t overpower."  It's an impressive Zin.

While all the wines were very good, we walked out with the Sonoma Coast Pinot and the Elsbree Zin.  I also came across a bottle of the 2007 Charles Vineyard Pinot from the Anderson Valley in my cabinet.  That particular vintage is sold out and we didn't taste the 2008 vintage ($54) on our last visit, but I remember being particularly impressed with the 2007.  My bet would be that the 2008 was wonderful as well.

Their wine club ships twice a year, and you can select gold (2 cases), silver (1 case), or bronze levels (1/2 a case).  They have other perks for members, including winemaker dinners, reservation of their patio for private parties, and discounts ranging from 10 to 20 percent, depending on the level.  Their website is http://papapietro-perry.com/.  If you are a Pinot fan, this is a winery you should know about.

Kokomo Winery

You don’t expect much when you first step into the Kokomo Winery tasting room.  It’s located at 4791 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg in a group of tasting rooms around a large common parking lot.  Entering the Kokomo tasting room, you find a barrel warehouse, with a couple of counters and some merchandise cabinets at the front, almost as though they said, “Well, we have this space left over in front of our barrel room, what should we do with it?”  The lack of pretension, though, leaves lots of room for some surprising wines. 

The first time I visited I was wowed by two wines in particular, an unusual Grenache Rose and the Winemaker’s Reserve Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir.  My second visit I repeated those purchases, taking the last bottle of the Rose in their stock.  This last visit, though, I found some new wines to be excited about.  And apparently I’m not the only one impressed by their latest showings.  Kokomo did quite well in the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, with two Best of Class awards (the 2009 Peters Vineyard Chardonnay and the 2009 Pauline’s Vineyard Zinfandel), a Double Gold (the 2009 Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir),  a Gold (the 2009 Pauline’s Vineyard Merlot), and a Bronze (the 2009 North Coast Cuvee).

We started our tasting with the 2009 Peters Vineyard Chardonnay ($28, 665 cases), which fit in well with my sweetie's preference for buttery/creamy Chards.  The website's Winemaker Notes for this wine say, "This Chardonnay is done in a Burgundian style.  Sur lees method and secondary fermentation were used to increase the palate complexity.  The cool growing region is the reason for the acidity in this wine.  This Chardonnay has pineapple, creme brulee, & honeysuckle aromas.  The big, juicy mouth feel is followed by apple pie & vanilla with a clean finish.  It should drink well now through the next 5-7 years."

Next up was the 2009 Gopher Hill Block Pinot Noir from Peters Vineyard ($42, 200 cases).  This wine received a 91 from Wine Review.  Winemaker Notes call this wine, “Floral and Delicate, showing the feminine side of the varietal, this wine shows beautiful rose petals with a red apple-skin character.” 

The next wines were the surprises, for me anyway.  Two Zinfandels, one from each side of Dry Creek Valley.  From the west side, the 2009 Mounts Vineyard ($28, 200 cases).  This vineyard gets the morning sun.  The result is a floral nose, less jammy than its compatriot.  My sweetie said it even tasted like flowers.  From the east side, the 2009 Timber Crest Vineyard Winemaker’s Reserve ($32, 190 cases).  This vineyard gets the afternoon sun, producing the jammy flavors that I prefer.  Both wines were wonderful.  We bought both and shared them at a dinner party last weekend.

Our tasting ended with the 2008 Dry Creek Valley Petit Sirah ($27, 174 cases), with was a dark, rich red and earned 90 points from the Wine Review, and a 2008 Malbec from Windsor Oaks Vineyard, which is in very low supply.

Of the wines we tasted, only the Gopher Hill Pinot, the Peters Vineyard Chardonnay, the Petit Sirah, and the Mounts Zin are available online through their website (www.kokomowinery.com).  Along with the two Zins, we also purchased one of the Chards and  a Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir.  I have also seen Kokomo Wines for sale on either WTSO or Lot18, I can’t remember which.  I purchased a three-pack of their Windsor Oaks Pinot from the site for a pretty good price.

If you are visiting Healdsburg, this tasting room is worth a visit…not for the luscious décor or the fantastic view that you will find at some wineries, but for the wonderful wines you will taste.  That, after all, is what it’s all about…right?

Muscardini Cellars

I mentioned previously that Muscardini Cellars shares a tasting room with Ty Caton Vineyards in Kenwood (see link below).  We stopped in last Saturday for a taste of Michael's current releases and were not disappointed.  Muscardini's tasting room, as I mentioned in the review of Ty Caton, is a friendly, active room, with the staff pouring from an extensive list of wines from both wineries.

We started with the 2010 Rosato di Sangiovese ($19, 254 cases produced).  The grape is from the Monte Rosso vineyards.  The wine is a rosy pink and has a clean, crisp mouthfeel.  It would be a wonderful summer refresher.

Next was the 2010 Barbera from the Redwood Valley in Mendicino County ($36, 394 cases).  The wine is a thick, dark red.  The Muscardini website says, "An homage to the Old World. Opens up with aromas of bright red fruit, raspberry, wild herbs & roasted espresso beans. On the palate, lively flavors of ripe plum, raspberry and cherry, vibrant acidity, balanced tannins, silky mouthfeel and a long smooth finish. Overall, young, ripe, and incredibly complex."  This wine won a gold medal at the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

From there we got a taste of the 2009 Monte Rosso Sangiovese ($36, 493 cases), which was awarded a bronze medal at the same competition.  Of this wine, the website says, "Enjoy the aromas of crusted dark ripe fruit with black pepper and smoky meat. Savor the seductive ripe raspberry and blackberry sweetness with soft tannins. A great wine with your favorite pasta or pizza."   

The 2009 Gracie Creek Syrah ($36, 141 cases) was an intense purple.  My sweetie, the creamy/buttery Chardonnay lover, was heard to say "nice" upon tasting this one.  Score another bronze medal from the SF Chronicle.

That was followed by the 2008 Tesoro ($46, 542 cases), a Super Tuscan made up of 44 percent Sangiovese, 30 percent Cab, and 26 percent Syrah.  This one brought in a silver medal at the SF event.  The website says, "Elegant, floral cassis nose with dark cherries. Vibrant red and black currants, dark chocolate and a hint of herbs. Graceful finish balanced with velvety tannins." 

The 2009 Monte Rosso Zin ($42, 329 cases) was a gold medal winner at the 2011 SF Chronical Wine Competition.  The Muscardini website says, "Aromas of blueberry pie with cloves, black pepper, cardamom and dried herbs. Ripe berries and big, bold, dark fruit, a little chewy with some spice."

The 2009 Unti Vinyards Syrah ($32, 224 cases) took silver in the recent SF competition.  This wine has been a favorite of mine from Muscardini, I found this bottle of the 2007 vintage in my cabinet at home. 

Last, we tasted the 2008 Fortuna ($49, 522 cases), a blend of 55 percent Syrah, 30 percent Cab, 10 percent Merlot, 2.5 percent Cab Franc, and 2.5 percent Petit Verdot.  This won Best of Class at the California State Fair.

Of the wines we tasted, I'd highly recommend the Rosato, the Tesoro, the Unti Vineyards Syrah, the Monte Rosso Sangiovese, and the Gracie Creek Syrah.  All were rich and flavorful, but these were my favorites.

Along with the webiste, Muscardini is available in some local restaurants and he has occasionally put wines up on wine.woot.com (I bought a three pack a year or two ago).  The website is http://www.muscardinicellars.com/.  He has two versions of his wine club, the Divino Club (two bottles, four times a year, 20 percent discount on wines and merchandise) and the La Famiglia Club (four bottles, four times a year, 25 percent discount on wines and merchandise). 

Michael is often serving in the tasting room (we were told we'd just missed him) and is an attentive and gracioius host.  He even signs bottles of his wine with a gold marker.  Go see him.

B.R. Cohn Winery and Olive Oil Company

My sweetie and I went out tasting in Sonoma County this past weekend, so I have fresh information on several wineries to share.  I'll start with one of my long-time favorites, BR Cohn.  Back when my major criterion from picking a wine was my appreciation of the label, Cohn was a favorite.  Their label, to my tastes, is one of the best in the business.  Based on the presence of olive trees in front of what use to be the main house and is now the tasting room, the label is a pop-art rendition of an olive branch and fruit.  Cohn was the first wine club I ever joined and I've always enjoyed their wines, even now that I base my wine selection on things other than the look of the label.

Their tasting room is located at 15000 Sonoma Highway in Glen Ellen (see map link below).  It is located on the winery property, fronted by the olive trees and the Olive Hill Vineyard, is home to Bruce Cohn's collection of restored classic cars, and hosts annual charity concerts featuring the Doobie Brothers, for whom Bruce Cohn is the manager.  The tasting room is one of the more interesting that I've encountered to date, accompanying the usual tasting room stock with Doobie Brothers memorabilia; gold records, photos, guitars, etc. 

Our tasting started with the 2010 Robledo Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay ($35, 400 cases produced).  It met my sweetie's preference for creamy/buttery, with a long pleasant finish.  Their website says, "It is 100% barrel fermented and aged in all new Burgundian French oak barrels. This wine is rich and concentrated with aromas of tropical fruit, pear, apricot, and lemon meringue surrounded by a bouquet of toasty oak, vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut. Luscious mouthfeel and bright flavors of honey, pear, apple, and citrus make this a perfect wine with food, especially seafood or poultry."

Following the Chard, we tasted the 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($40, 1,300 cases produced).  This wine received a gold medal at the 2011 California State Fair.  Their website says, "The 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is produced from the finest vineyards in this appellation. It is a complex, lush wine with aromas of black cherry, raspberry and strawberry intermingled with a bouquet of vanilla, caramel and spice. It is rich and smooth on the palate with a lasting finish." 

From there we tasted the 2009 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel ($28, 1200 cases produced), which received 91 points and a gold medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute and 88 points at the California State Fair, both in 2011.  Again from the website, "This combination yields a blend of berry and cherry aromas mingled with the bouquet of creamy vanilla custard and a hint of peppercorn and clove. The 2009 Zinfandel is full-bodied and warm with a long smooth berry flavored finish."

We were treated to an advance taste of the 2009 Syrcab, 61 percent Syrah and 39 percent Cabernet Sauvignon ($32 when released in mid-February, under 1000 cases produced).  The wine was a dark, rich red, had a fruity nose, and was very smooth.  

We finished up with the 2008 Olive Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($55, 3600 cases produced).  As always, this wine was wonderful.  The website says, "This wine has pronounced aromas and flavors of plum, black currant, and cherry. Luscious berry and cherry flavors fill the palate, and silky tannins follow through to a warm, lasting finish. As always, this exceptional vintage was fermented in small lots to ensure the character of each part of the Olive Hill Estate Vineyard. This vintage was aged for 24 months in only the finest tight grain French oak. A bouquet of fine oak, anise and mint combine with supple tannin and a long finish to produce a well-balanced rich full-bodied Cabernet that will age well for years to come and drink well at your table now."

It was a hard choice, but we purchased the Chard and the Zin.  The Pinot was wonderful and may be my choice next time.  I also like their Syrzin, which we didn't taste this time, but I've bought on previous visits.  The Olive Hill Cab is always a good choice as well.

The Cohn website is at http://www.brcohn.com/ and includes not only the wines, but also a collection of olive oils produced from the trees on the estate.  The wine club has several versions (Special Select, Olive Hill Estate, Gourmet Food Club, Case Club, Case Club II, and the Classic Car Club) starting at two shipments per year with four to six bottles, occasionally large format bottles.  Members receive free tastings, free VIP tours of the winery (well worth the time), and a 20 percent discount on wine purchases. 

If you find yourself driving along the Sonoma Highway looking for someplace to stop and taste, BR Cohn is a must.  Enjoy.

Arrowood Vineyards and Winery

The Arrowood Winery tasting room is located at 14347 Sonoma Highway in Glen Ellen (see map link below), elevated a little above the valley floor.  The building has a long veranda overlooking Glen Ellen and the valley.  The tasting room itself has large windows with the same spectacular view.

I first stopped into Arrowood a few months ago, taking advantage of a two-for-one coupon and 10 percent discount from the Winery Finder iPhone app.  The pourers were friendly and helpful, even offering tastes from the more expensive tasting menu in response to direct questions about their other wines.  We stopped in again last Saturday for a refresher.  Again, we were pleased with the attention we received from the staff and impressed with the wines served.

We opted for the more expensive tasting this time (The Reserve Tasting, $15 according to the website).  It started with the wine we were there for, the 2007 Reserve Chardonnay ($40).  On my first visit, after tasting the Chards on the Signature Tasting ($10), I asked if they had a Chard in the creamy/buttery style that my sweetie prefers.  They said yes, in fact, they did and pulled out the Reserve for me to taste.  In fact, it did fill the bill and I purchased a bottle for my sweetie to taste later that weekend.  She agreed.  This time, we started with the Reserve, which continues to impress.  But the pourer then pulled out a bottle of the 2008 Alary Vineyard Chardonnay ($35) from the Russian River Valley for our consideration. This wine was brighter than the Reserve and my sweetie described it as "flowery".  Staff suggested an orange blossom note.  We wound up with two bottles.  They also shared a 2009 Sonoma County Chardonnay ($30) that is currently available only to wine club members.  It was tasty as well, but less of the creamy/buttery that we look for.

From there we went on the the 2007 Sonoma County Merlot ($42).  The website says of the Merlot, "The nose is ripe and luscious with hints of raspberry, dried cherries, licorice, cedar and vanilla. The palate is rich and velvety with great intensity and ripe tannins. This is a rich and complex Merlot that is well balanced through its lingering toasty oak finish."  It was a dark, rich red.

Moving on the the Cabs, we started with the 2007 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($35) sourced from several vineyards around Sonoma County.  Our pourer indicated that this was the current staff favorite.  The wine received 92 points from The Wine Enthusiast in May 2011.  The website says, "This Cabernet has very rich aromas of cassis, black cherries, and plums with nuances of toasty oak in the background. On the palate, the wine shows its underlying depth of dark fruit. It is silky in texture with almost a sweet impression that lingers into a plethora of black fruits, cassis, and a nuance of dark chocolate on the finish." 

The 2006 Réserve Spéciale Cabernet Sauvignon ($90) was next.  This wine received 93 points from Robert Parker and The Wine Advocate in February 2010.  The website says, "It is our signature wine composed of our finest barrels and fruit from neighboring vineyards in Sonoma Valley. Lush, layered, and complex, this wine captures the fingerprint of the variety, the character of the terroir, and our finest representation of the vintage."  It was wonderful.

Next on the tasting menu was the 2007 Lasseter Vineyards Cab ($70, 250 cases produced).  This wine has a very fruit-forward nose and palate.  They describe it as, "Rich, enticing and complex from the first swirl, this wine opens with aromatics of black cherry, black berry, toast, and crème de cassis. These notes gracefully introduce the palate with a harmonious blend of plump berry fruits, notes of cedar, and well integrated tannins on the long, lingering finish." 

The final wine of the day was the 2004 Saralee's Vineyard Syrah ($30) from the Russian River Valley.  The wine had a nice flavor and deep reddish/purple color.  "Inky ruby in color, this Syrah has a bouquet of ripe blackberry fruit, smoked meats, Chinese camphor and violets. On the pallet, fleshy blackberry and plump blueberry flavors lead to tar, roasted meat, cracked pepper, and a suave minerality in the lingering finish. This wine should age well for the next 5-7 years."

Depending on what varietals you prefer, any of these wines would be worth purchasing.  We left with three bottles, the two Alary Chards and a Lasseter Cab (my sweetie suggested that we get something special for Valentine's Day coming up).  They have more listed on the website as well, including a couple more whites and late harvest White Rieslings.  Not on the website are some select Cabs, which can be ordered by phone.  These range from $58 to $90, if I remember right, and are single vineyards lots that provided impressive characteristics out of the barrell.  Supplies are limited.

They have a wine club, First in Line, that ships four bottles of mixed or red only four times a year, or the six bottle Plus tier.  Members received free tastings for up to five guests and 20 percent discount on wines (25% for 30 days on reorders of the current shipment).  Plus tier members receive a 25 percent discount on wines (30% on reorders). 

The website is http://www.arrowoodwinery.com/.  It is a scenic and friendly tasting room and well worth the stop.

Discount Online Wine Sources

There are three websites that I routinely watch for bargains on wine.  One I've mentioned before, http://www.wine.woot.com/.  The others are http://www.wtso.com/ and http://www.lot18.com/.  Each has its specialties and they all offer wines at pretty fair discounts off retail.  I have purchased wines from all three without any delivery or service problems.

Wine woot, as I've mentioned before, typically offers one wine, or speciality item, each day.  Occasionally, woot has what they call a "woot off" where all the backlog of items are sold off in a single day (or two days).  It appears to me that the wine woot off sometimes has new stock, items that were not offered before.  It can be a pretty exciting day, watching all the great buys go by.  Shipping on all purchases is $5, whether it's a single bottle of wine or a case...or a 52 inch flat screen TV.  There is a woot app for iPhones (I'd assume for other smart phones as well, but I only know about the iPhone).

WTSO is "wines till sold out".  As the name suggests, WTSO offers one wine at a time until they sell the entire stock of that wine, then they move on to another wine.  They can have several wines each day.  Their prices are typically about 50 percent off retail.  WTSO always offer free shipping with a minimum purchase, usually three or four bottles, depending on the price of the wine.  Sometimes one bottle qualifies for free shipping.  There is also an app for WTSO as well.

Lot 18, the third site, offers a number of wines at any one time.  Prices are lower than retail, but not quite half off retail.  Shipping is free with a minimum purchase much of the time.  Lot 18 has buyers around the world, so their items can vary quite a bit.  There are times when you see a number of wines from the Willmanette Valley or Sonoma, and others when you see imports more.  Lot 18 requires an invitation to join.  You can use this link https://www.lot18.com/i/Douglas157752 as  your invitation, or just go to the site and follow their directions.  They will send you one to your email address.

As with wine clubs, these websites have advantages and disadvantages.  One advantage is the price.  All three have pretty good prices compared to retail.  This is based on my knowledge of some of the wines I've seen go across the sites, including some I've purchased or comparisons I've made to the wineries' websites.  Shipping is usually lower than the wineries' shipping costs, with a minimum purchase.  Also, they often offer wines that you're not likely to have heard of before, small lots from obscure (or not so obscure) wineries, so you have an opportunity to try wines with a reduced risk (money spent) if you buy something you don't like.

The disadvantage primarily lies in not always knowing the wines that you are buying.  Occasionally, a wine will be posted that I know.  For instance, WTSO has recently sold BV's Tapestry and George La Tour.  Both were offered at good prices, with shipping included for free with a minimum order.  Woot occasionally offers Ty Caton's wines and those of Michael Muscardini, his tasting room partner.  But I usually don't know most of the wines that I see on any of the sites.  I have gone out on a limb and purchased some that I don't know and have been pleased, but more often I've been disappointed.  They were a decent buy for the price, but not as good as I had hoped based on their retail price.  So stepping out of your knowledge base can be a crap shoot.

Sometimes, though you run across something good at a good price, and that keeps you coming back for more.  Last night we opened a bottle of Sequoia Grove from a Lot 18 purchase.  I bought three bottles of the 2006 Rutherford Bench Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for $99.  If I remember right, shipping was included in the price.  Checking the winery's website, I found the 2007 currently on sale for $65 a bottle.  So it was a wonderful deal and the wine was fruity and smooth and paired well with the shrimp tacos I had for dinner. 

The thing is, though, I knew Sequoia Grove pretty well already, had other bottles in my cabinet, and felt pretty sure that I was buying a good wine.  There have been other purchases where I haven't been as lucky, always with wines that I did not previously know.  Even basing a purchase on someone else's ratings doesn't always work.  Just as you might not agree with my assessment of a particular wine, my tastes don't always jive with Robert Parker's.  Not that Parker is wrong...just different preferences.  So my advice...bookmark the sites and keep an eye on them.  Buy what you know and what you know to be a good deal, with an occasional splurge into something that really intrigues you.  These sources can be a wine buyers friend, if you use them correctly.

Picchetti Winery

My first visit to Picchetti Winery was three years ago on an evening hike through the Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve.  Unfortunately, the winery's tasting room was closed already.  Unfortunately, because I wasted three years before I went back and got a taste of their wonderful wines.  Being in the peninsula's backyard up in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Cupertino (13100 Monte Bello Road), the location was right, but none of my friends ever mentioned Picchetti as a place I had to try.  I have since learned that at least three of my friends are members of the wine club, as am I now.  But prior to this fall, I hadn't taken the winery seriously.

I belong to a social group in the bay area, Bay Area Link-up.  Among other things, there are many members who like to hike.  And many who like wine.  So a friend, Jen, formed a sub-group called Peninsula Hiking Wine Lovers.  Simple enough, just combine the two interests.  Works for me.  So  my first visit to Picchetti was a test hike to the winery in advance of posting it for the Hiking Wine Lovers.  My sweetie and I started from Fremont Older Open Space, hiked through Stevens Creek County Park, and approached Picchetti on the Zinfandel Trail in Picchetti Ranch OSP.  When we reached the tasting room, I wasn't expecting much.  But the wines were superb.

Starting with a creamy/buttery Chardonnay, moving through the Napa County Pinot Noir, and into the heavier reds, including two fine Zinfandels, a Super Tuscan, a Teroldego, a Malbec, a Tempranillo, and a Cabernet Sauvignon, all were acceptably flavorful wines. My sweetie found the 2008 Leslie's Estate Chardonnay ($36.95) to her tastes, prompting a purchase for our picnic after the tasting, plus another one for the cabinet at home.  I also bought a 2008 Estate Zin ($49.95), another wonderful old vine Zin of which I'm so fond.  This vineyard is made up of 120 year old vines.  The wine is rich and dark and fruity.  Plus, I joined the wine club, so I also carried out a Cab and a Pinot Noir (2009 Truchard Vineyard, $39.95).  A little added weight in my pack on the way back, with the four bottles we took home.

We opened the Cab last night, a 2009 Bellicitti Vineyards ($39.95), grown close to the winery in Saratoga, this wine is described on the website as, "A raft of tobacco and leather, with dried red fruit aromas, a hint of black licorice, and a subtle edge of clove and nutmeg."  It was smooth and well balanced.  On a second visit to the winery (or maybe a third) we tasted the 2009 Bellicitti Vineyard Zinfandel ($39.95) which showed very well against the estate old vine Zin.

The winery only sells at the tasting room or online, there is no retail distribution.  I would highly recommend both Zins, the Cab, the Chardonnay, and the Pinot Noir.  Their other wines are also good, but, in my book at least, secondary to the others.  They also have a nice little white dessert wine (Reserve Angelica, a fortified Chardonnay, $36.95) that is bright and sweet.

Their wine club members received shipments quarterly, which average $60-75 plus $9.95 shipping, and get 15 percent off all wine purchases and invitations to winery events.  Members also have priority access to limited production wines.  Picchetti gives additional discounts for case purchases.

The website is http://www.picchetti.com/.  The location is lovely and the wines are worth the visit.

Husch Vineyards

On a trip through the Anderson Valley about this time last year, my sweetie and I stumbled upon what has to be the cutest tasting room in California.  Husch Vineyards displays their wines in a converted pony barn that dates back to the 1800s.  The atmosphere is quaint and understated.  Their wines, however, are sophisticated and bold.

The winery is located at 4400 Highway 128, Philo, CA.  We'd had a wonderful lunch in Mendocino, and then aimed the car down to the Anderson Valley for an afternoon of wine tasting.  I've had wines from the region, but this was my first visit.

The prize of the day was the 2009 La Ribera Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel.  I found the product of the 55 year old vineyard to be just to my liking and consistent with my previously stated penchant for the old vines.  We opened the bottle we purchased last night and found a deep purple, jammy wine that met the description emblazoned on the bottle, "The resulting wine is fruit forward with blackberry, plum and currant flavors with nuances of spice and toasty oak."  It complemented our dinner of pork tenderloin and garlic mashed potatoes.  As with many exceptional low production wines (475 cases), the 2009 version of this wine is sold out, according to the Husch website (www.huschvineyards.com), but since I bought this last year just before the new year, I'd expect to see the 2010 vintage released sometime soon.  Look for it.

We also enjoyed the 2007 Special Reserve Charonnay ($25). Husch's tasting notes on the Special Reserve say, "The 2007 Special Reserve Chardonnay shows aromas of English toffee, nutmeg, and allspice with golden delicious apple, honeysuckle, pear and a healthy dose of toasty oak and subtle yeast notes. On the palate toffee and fresh baked bread flavors mingle with ripe pear and apple followed by jasmine and mineral overtones. Creamy oak enhances the rich mouth feel, helps integrate the fruit and spice and leads to a long finish." Husch produced 364 cases of this wine.  While this wine met my sweetie's preference for the creamy/buttery California style, the 2009 One Vine Chardonnay ($18) provided a nice example of a more traditional style with a blend of oak and stainless, providing a bright, fruity minerality to the wine. 

Priority Release, the Husch wine club, sends six bottles twice a year. The typical shipment is about $110, including shipping and taxes for the closer members, $10-$15 more for shipments to states that are farther away. Members receive a 20 percent discount on purchases and have access to low production and library wines. Members are also invited to Husch's annual picnic.

If you are in the area, Husch is a great place to stop for a tasting.  If you're looking for a nice wine online, take a look at their website.  At this time, their reserve Pinots are sold out, as is the old vine Zin.  But keep looking back, the Zin is worth looking for.

Quivira Vineyards and Winery

Surprises await around every bend in wine country.  My sweetie and I had been on a short tasting tour through Healdsburg and along Dry Creek Road as we approached tasting room closing time.  Figuring that we'd tasted our last of the day, we crossed from Dry Creek Road over Yoakim Bridge Road to West Dry Creek to head back to Hwy. 101 and on to the peninsula.  Before we'd gone far, however, we stumbled upon the Quivira Vineyards and Winery sign, with an open gate.  We turned in.  I assumed we'd park and find the doors locked, but they were open and the room was crowded.  We bellyed up to the bar and were treated to some pretty nice wines.  Having not heard of Quivira before that day, we were surprised.

Right off the bat, we were treated to a stellar 2010 Sauvignon Blanc called Fig Tree ($18), named for a 130-year-old fig tree that graces the vineyard where the grape was grown.  Quivera's website describes it as, "The nose of this vintage is strikingly similar to the wines of the Loire, with a notable, yet mild, grassiness reminiscent of 'fresh hay'. A small percentage of the Musque clone adds lifted floral notes with subtle citrus and tropical fruit tones. On the palate, dried fig and a lovely lemon zest quality emerge, and the assertive acidity is nicely balanced by a textured mid-palate."  It was a delightfully fresh and fruity white and a great start to the tasting. Unfortunately, the 2010 Fig Tree is sold out, but I'd bet it will be worth looking for when the 2011 is released.

The real gold, at least for me, was struck when we tasted the 2009 Katz Vineyard Zinfandel ($45).  It seems that I have a really pronounced preference for old vine Zins.  I find the concentration of fruit and the typical smooth finish of a well-made old vine Zin to be irresistible.  The Katz Zin was no exception.  The Quivira website says of Katz Vineyard, "In the far reaches of Dry Creek Valley, it is the ancient Zinfandel vine that is revered. Worn and gnarled, with a century of knowledge and depth, no young planting or modern trellising technique can trump its experience. With root systems that reach deep into the soil, the Katz Vineyard vines literally drink the terroir. Like previous generations who have tended these vines, we take a hands-off approach – letting the beautifully balanced fruit tell its tale. This elder statesman of our portfolio commands respect."  The wine is rich and luscious.  If you love Zins, and old vine Zins in particular, this is a wine you'll want to buy.  Hurry, though, Quivira only produced 172 cases of this wonderful wine.

The winery also produces a few other wines, inlcuding other Zins, a Grenache, a Petite Sirah, a Port, a Mourvedre, and a red blend called Elusive. You can check out all the wines online at http://www.quivirawine.com/.   

The tasting room is located at 4900 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg.  They are open from 11 am to 5 pm daily.  Quivira has two versions of it's wine club, Queue.  Queue Six and Queue Twelve.  As the name suggests, Queue Six includes six bottles, twice a year.  Three wines come in each shipment.  Queue Twelve ships twelve bottles with three to four wines, twice a year.  Six members receive a 15 percent discount on wine purchases and Twelve members receive a 20 percent discount.  Members and up to five guests receive free tastings and tours.  Members also receive discounts on merchandise (5%) and events. Twelve members are eligible for a free, two-night stay in the Quivira guest cottage after a year as a member.  Twelve members are also given the opportunity to customize their shipment from the available wines.

This winery is worth a visit, and take a credit card...you'll want to buy some wine.

La Crema

I've mentioned that I have a preference for Pinot Noirs.  There are many good Pinots out there and some really good producers, but by my experience to date, I'd have to say that La Crema is Pinot Mecca.  I've been a member of their wine club for a couple of years now, visit their Healdsburg tasting room regularly, and have yet to be disappointed. 

I've talked with friends about our favorite Pinots and occasionally one will react to my listing La Crema as my favorite with praise for their Sonoma Coast Pinot ($24) that one can find at most retailers.  Truly, it is a wonderful wine, as is the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($22) that is widely available.  When I ask if they've been to the Healdsburg tasting room and sampled their other wines, they always say "no", not unexpectedly.  If they'd tasted the other Pinots available through the tasting room, the Sonoma Coast Pinot would not have been the first wine they talked about.

In addition to the Sonoma Coast pair, La Crema produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay pairs from the Los Carneros and Russian River regions.  They also have a pair labeled "9 Barrels" from the Russian River region made from the best nine barrels from a given year that most closely represent the characteristics of that year and growing region.  9 Barrels is La Crema's top-of-the-line, and a lofty one it is.

Since this site makes recommendations about wines that I like at a particular winery, let's start by saying that I like everything that I've tasted at La Crema.  All of the Pinots are wonderful, as are all of the Chardonnays.  Their Chardonnays, however, have some slightly different characteristics, which make some wine drinkers prefer one over another.  I like them all, personally, but my sweetie, the buttery/creamy lover, prefers the Los Carneros (2008 retails for $30).  She did like the 9 Barrels from the last vintage, too (which is sold out now...the 2009 vintage will be released in February 2012).  The appellation series Chardonnays are a larger production wine (2000 cases of the Los Carneros, 5000 cases of the Russian River, compared to 225 cases of the 9 Barrels) and can occasionally be found at local retail outlets (San Francisco area).

Melissa Stackhouse, La Crema's winemaker, says of the Los Carneros Chardonnay, “The aromas and flavors of this release convey a pure expression of the Los Carneros terroir. Look for bright lemon zest and subtle clove, layered with caramel and nougat tones. Fresh flavors of melon and apricot are enveloped by a juicy mid-palate, with an intriguing interplay of oak spice and minerality on the finish. The texture is very concentrated, yet supple and balanced.”  Winemaker notes on the other wines can be found on La Crema's website at http://www.lacrema.com/. 

Of the Pinots, again the 2008 Los Carneros ($40) is a great choice, but the 2010 Russian River ($40) is as well, and La Crema has an 2009 Anderson Valley Pinot ($50) that is the equal of the other two, if not better.  Again, production levels are relatively high (1900 cases of the Los Carneros, 5800 cases of the Russian River, and 2700 cases of the Anderson Valley), and they can occassionally be found at local retail outlets.  La Crema also has a limited production Pinot called Shell Ridge ($50).  They produced 372 cases of the 2009 Shell Ridge, which is available only through the tasting room store.  The 9 Barrel Pinot is wonderful, but at $90 a bottle I typically have to settle for the Los Carneros or Russian River, if that can be considered settling.

The La Crema website also has other varietals available, a Viognier, a Pinot Rose (the 2010 is sold out...keep an eye out for the 2011), a Riesling, a Pinot Gris, and a Syrah, each of which are worth buying if you have a preference for one of those varietals.

The La Crema tasting room is located at 235 Healdsburg Ave,
Healdsburg, CA just a couple of door down from the Healdsburg Bar and Grill and very close to the square.  It is worth a visit just to taste the wines, but a stroll through the town is also enjoyable. 

You have a choice with the La Crema wine club, mixed, reds only, or whites only.  They ship three bottles, four times a year.  Average cost per shipment is between $70 and $110.  Members get a 20 percent discount on wine purchases (except 9 Barrels where a 15 percent discount applies) and 25 percent discount of purchases of a case or more.  Tasting are free to members and their guests.

Cinnabar Winery

I don't know why it took me over a year of hanging around Saratoga before I finally visited the Cinnabar tasting room.  I'm sure I didn't expect what I found there.  The tasting room is located at 14612 Big Basin Way in downtown Saratoga (see the map link at the bottom of the post).  I've driven by there on the way up to the Santa Cruz Mountains at least twice a month for the past year.  I've never heard much about their wines from my friends, though, so I must have figured the stop wasn't going to be worth the effort.  Boy was I wrong.

I stopped in one free Friday afternoon on a whim, killing time until the evening.  The latest wine club shipment had recently been announced, so the tasting room was moderately busy.  The tasting started with their Mercury Rising Blanc, moved to the Santa Cruz Chardonnay, then through the reds and their late harvest wines.  Not only was there nothing in the tasting that I didn't like, most of it was very good.  So good, in fact, that I joined their wine club, the Alchemist Wine Society, on the spot.

Cinnabar is the ore from which mercury is derived.  Back in the "days of yore", the alchemists were attempting to create gold and silver by fiddling aorund with mercury.  That or finding the secret of eternal life (see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), in either case, neither succeeded.  The effort did provide a font of cool names of which Cinnabar Winery is taking advantage.  Case in point, the flagship of the latest shipment is a Dry Creek Zinfandel blend called Sorcerer's Stone.  Or maybe the Petit Verdot was the flagship, I can't decide, since both were fabulous.  Both wines are limited production wines and looking at their website now, I can't find either available for purchase online.

So let's talk about some of their wines that are available online and worth the effort to have sent your way.  The 2009 Santa Cruz Chardonnay ($30) is not quite the creamy/buttery Chard that my sweetie prefers, but she did find it to her tastes.  Here's what Cinnabar's website says, "This excellent Santa Cruz Mountains expression of classic chardonnay offers ripe pear and apple, combined with hints of citrus zest and sweet toasty oak, fill the nose of this wine. The palate begins with a touch of pineapple before moving into green apple and a creamy lemon curd with flashes of white pepper. During the finish, the lemon curd slowly drops away to let the green apple and vanilla peek through." 

The 2010 Mercury Rising Blanc ($20), a Sauvignon Blanc-based blend, is bright and fruity.  The website says, "Small lots were fermented in 50/50 stainless steel and oak barrels to accentuate the fresh-fruit qualities. Aromas of lime and gooseberry with flavors of lively melon and grapefruit make it a great choice for special occasions as well as every day enjoyment."

The 2008 Mercury Rising ($21) is a bordeaux blend which received 90 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine and was an Editor's Choice.  The website says, "Aromas of ripe black cherry, tobacco, black licorice and vanilla ready the palate for flavors of black fruit with nuances of smoky toasted oak. Creamy texture, medium-to-full bodied, fine grained tannins, finishing long with fruit, mocha and sweet oak."

My favorite, aside from the two in the wine club shipment, was the 2008 Santa Lucia Highland Pinot Noir ($42).  The Santa Lucia Highlands is quickly becoming my favorite growing region.  I've had a number of wonderful Pinots from the area and this one ranks right up there with the best.  Their description is, "Staying true to its noble ancestry, this pinot unfolds with fragrances of black cherry, raspberry, leather, lavender and smoke. It shows ripe dark fruit up front, grilled meat and sweet vanilla on the mid-palate, and a long finish of berries, minerals and toasted oak. All are supported by a structure of balanced acidity and rounded tannins."  When I go back, if the Sorcerer's Stone and Petit Verdot are sold out, this is the one I'll buy (again).

Subsequant purchases of their wine club releases are available to wine club members at 30 percent off.  Just for the record, when I go back, which will be soon, if the Sorcerer's Stone is still available, I will be buying more.  I've visited twice since I joined and bought an additional bottle both times, along with other purchases.

The Alchemist Wine Society ships two, four, six, or twelve bottles (your choice) in the odd numbered months (January, March, etc.).  Members receive a 20, 25, or 30 percent discount on wine purchases, depending on the level of your commitment, and a 20 percent discount on non-wine items.  Their website is http://cinnabarwine.com/ and tasting room hours are 11 am to 5 pm daily.  They also have a wine bar (The MUDD ROOM) that is open Fridays and Saturdays 5 pm to 8 pm with wine available by the bottle or glass and live entertainment Fridays 5:30 to 7:00.

The tasting room is easy to get to and well worth the stop if you are in the area.  Don't let a whole year go by before you drop in.

Ty Caton Vineyards

My first experience with Ty Caton Vineyards came through http://www.woot.com/.  Woot is a website that sells one item each day.  A couple of years ago they added a wine site; http://wine.woot.com/.  I watched the site for a while, then one day they listed Ty Caton's TYtanium; two bottles for $75.  I quickly checked out the website, saw the list price for one bottle was $75, so I went back to woot and bought a pair.  As it happened, I was going up to Sonoma that day anyway, so I dropped into their tasting room (8910 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, CA, the Kenwood Village Plaza shopping center) and tasted their wines for the first time.  I was not only glad that I'd ordered the TYtanium from woot, I also bought a couple more wines that day.

Caton shares a tasting room with Michael Muscardini in Kenwood.  The tasting room is located in a shopping center on the Sonoma Highway.  On any given day, Ty or Michael are likely to be there helping serve their wines.

Everything I've tasted from Ty Caton has been wonderful.  I don't think one could go wrong ordering their particular varietal favorite from the website.  Looking at the website today, you can see how popular some of his wines have become.  The 2009 Petite Sirah is sold out, as is the Petite Verdot and all the Cabernet Collection.  The Petite Sirah is the thickest wine I've ever seen.  On a visit to the tasting room a few months ago, our pourer splashed some into a wine glass then layed the glass on the bar and rolled it.  The wine coated the glass in a rich purple blanket that hung on even after the glass was righted.  And the taste was superb, velvety and elegant. 

The 2009 TYtanium ($80) is a red blend of 31 percent Cabernet, 30 percent Syrah, 18 percent Petit Sirah, 12 percent Merlot, and nine percent Malbec.  Caton produced 827 cases of this wine.  It, also, is a wonderful wine, if your pocketbook can bear the weight.

Ty's Red is a hearty wine that puts less weight on the pocketbook at $32.  Ty's Red is a blend of 62 percent Syrah, 26 percent Merlot, six percent Cab, and six percent Petite Sirah.

A red wine specialist, Ty introduced a Riesling last year so that white wine lovers would have something to taste at his tasting room.  My sweetie, who loves her big, buttery Chardonnays, was impressed enough with the Riesling to buy a bottle.  Ty produced 350 cases of the Riesling, which sells for $28.

Last night I opened a bottle of Ty's Caton Cabernet Collection Big Hill Vineyard.  The Caton Cabernet Collection is a group of single vineyard Cabs, each limited to 45 cases.  They sell for $50.  The Big Hill was a rich, supple cab with a long finish.  My sweetie, who doesn't often identify any particular flavor in a wine, insists she tasted butterscotch on the finish.  The entire 2009 collection is sold out, but I'm betting the 2010 collection will be just as fabulous as the 2009.  I went to a barrel tasting of the Cab Collection a couple of years ago and found them all to be wonderful.  Big Hill was simply my favorite of seven.  The others in the collection are; Arroyo, Barracks, Knoll, Little Hill, Terraces, and Upper Bench.  If I remember right, Barracks was my second favorite and my purchase from the previous vintage.

Ty has several options for wine clubs.  The Silver Club ships two bottles four times a year and members get a 20 percent discount on wines and merchandise.  The PlaTYnum Club shipe four bottles four times a year and members receive a 25 percent discount.  The Caton Cabernet Collection Club ships twelve bottles per year as the member chooses.  Members received a 25 percent discount on Cab Collection purchases.

Caton has developed quite a following on woot.  I've read some very good feedback about Caton wines on the woot website from happy customers.  I notice his wines on sale there about once a quarter now, so you might keep an eye on it in the future for some good deals.  His Racchus Red shows up there occasionally and is a very high quality, less expensive wine ($19 on Caton's own website, less on woot).  The Caton website is http://tycaton.com/. 

Caton's tasting room hours are 11 am to 6 pm, seven days a week.  If you can get to the tasting room sometime it's a stop that I'd highly recommend.  The wines are wonderful and Ty and Michael are great hosts (if they happen to be there when you stop in).  I'll write about Muscardini wines in a future post.

Landmark Vineyards

Landmark Vineyards has a wonderfully situated tasting room in Kenwood at the turn-off from Hwy. 12 to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (101 Adobe Canyon Road).  There are two wonderful hikes down Adobe Canyon Road, Sugarloaf Ridge and Gunsight Rock/Hood Mountain.  Either one is a delightful way to begin the day before winetasting. 

I write this review a couple of days after sharing a bottle ot their Grand Detour Pinot Noir with my sweetie at the Los Altos Grill, a great place for a meal, not the least of which is because of their no corkage policy.  The food and atmosphere are both top notch.  We bought the bottle of Grand Detour back in November after exhausting ourselves on Sugarloaf Ridge. Along with the Grand Detour, we also tasted their other offerings, some of which boast gaudy ratings by Robert Parker and the Pinot Report.

Both of their Pinots are wonderful, but the Grand Detour is a bit more affordable at $40.00 compared to Kanzler's $65.  Pinot Report gave Grand Detour a rating of 94 points.  Kanzler garnered 95 points from the same publication.  Of the Pinots, Landmark's website says: 

Grand Detour - "The wine exhibits a deep garnet color and aromas of gingerbread spice and blood orange are underpinned by forest floor and earthy cherry. On the palate hints of mushroom and plum unfold. Supple ripe tannins and balancing acidity give the wine a long lasting finish."

Kanzler - "Rich plum and red raspberry with hints of rose petal and spice on the nose. A silky entry with crushed herbs and forest floor lead to good acidity, structure and palate weight ending with fine-grained tannins and a long finish."

Either wine would be a wonderful online purchase.

Of their Chardonnays, we opted for a bottle of the Damaris Reserve ($40), which earned 92 points from Robert Parker.  It matched the buttery/creamy style my sweetie prefers.  Their website says,"Tangerine and apricot combine with marzipan, honey and vanilla spice on the nose. Seamless and round on the palate, the aromas are amplified adding toasty oak, and a pleasing minerality on the finish."

The tasting room is open 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM seven days a week.  This winery is well worth a visit and their wines would be a nice addition to any cellar.  IPhone users, look for an app called "Wine Finder".  Landmark has a 2 for 1 tasting coupon.  But since they refund tasting fees with purchase, it probably won't matter...it's hard to leave without at least a couple of bottles.

Their website is   http://www.landmarkwine.com/.  The Heritage Wine Society, their wine club, offers four, six, or 12 bottle shipments quarterly.

Valley of the Moon

The Valley of the Moon tasting room in located at 777 Madrone Rd. in Glen Ellen, close to the Sonoma Highway (Hwy. 12). Follow this link to view a map View Map. 

During my first visits to the winery a few years ago, I was impressed by the consistently high quality of their wines.  Everything I tasted I liked.  Favorites include the Cuvee de la Luna, which is 80 percent Cab, with 15 percent Merlot and five percent Malbec and retails at the winery for $30, the Rosato de Sangiovese that sells for $16, and the unoaked Chardonnay which sells for $17.  Those who prefer a buttery Chardonnay might like the Sonoma Coast Chard that sells for $17, too.  The Pinot Noir is a decent wine for the price ($19).

My favorite wine, though, is the Old Vine Zin.  The vineyard where they grow the fruit is over 70 years old.  The wine is very nice for the price ($25).  The winery occasionally has sales on their wines and I recently bought a case of this wine for $15 a bottle.  I did the same last year.  Every time I a share a bottle with my sweetie she has the same reaction..."Um, this is good. What is it?"  Every time.

Here is what the winery's website has to say about the Old Vine Zin:

"Classic Zinfandel aromas of ripe and briary blackberries and black plums are enhanced with notes of bay leaf and red pepper flakes. Concentrated and rich flavors of berry, plum and cherry/vanilla, with cinnamon and cayenne spice notes, are supported by balanced acidity and soft dusty tannins. 

Winemaker Notes

In the shadow of Sonoma's Mayacamas Mountains, and at the foot of Sonoma Mountain, lies the Valley of the Moon Estate Old Vine Zinfandel vineyard.  These vines were planted in the 1940's in the traditional head trained method without trellising. Flavors are naturally concentrated with distinctive character due to these large vines producing lower yields with age.  This blend is assembled from hand selected barrels of the wine made exclusively from this 70 year old vineyard. The 2009 vintage includes 4% Petite Sirah from the estate vineyard for added fruit depth and structure."

This is a wine that I can unconditionally recommend to Zin and red wine lovers.

Valley of the Moon's website can be found at http://www.valleyofthemoonwinery.com/.  The wine club, "Club Luna", ships two bottles four-times a year.  They sponsor regular pick-up parties, offer 25 percent off all wine and merchandise purchases, and allow members and their guests free tastings.  Benefits are also offered at other Heck Estates family wineries, including Kenwood and Lake Sonoma (Lake Sonoma is available in the Valley of the Moon tasting room). 

Wine Clubs

So let's talk about wine clubs first.  I currently belong to six clubs.  They range from David Bruce's club that has no scheduled shipments to J. Lohr's that has two bottles a month if you pick up the shipments at their tasting room or six bottles quarterly if they ship it to you.  Wine clubs have some advantages and some disadvantages.  The primary advantage is the cost of wine.  Club members typically get a 20 percent discount off the regular price of the wine.  If you have your wine shipped to you, it's probably a wash; the discount covers the cost of shipping.  If you pick up your wine yourself, the discount is more noticeable. 

The second advantage is that you sometimes have access to wines that won't be available to anyone else.  Some very small production wines are put into club distribution, and if any bottles are left over, they're sold in the tasting room.  This is a nice way to collect a fairly eclectic variety of wines. 

The downside, usually you have to take what they are allocating for that shipment.  So if you don't care for Cabs and this shipment is a pair of Cabs, most likely you're stuck with something that you won't like.  A couple of wineries that I've been to will let you swap out wines for something you want, but most won't.

Some wineries specialize in one or two varietals.  Sonoma-Cutrer, for instance, produces only Pinots and Chardonnays.  Others have a wide variety of wines that they produce.  I was a member of the Blackstone wine club for a while and they covered just about all the bases.  That translates to the potential of getting some good wines that you might not normally have considered, but then again, you might not have considered then because you prefer to concentrate your purchases on just a couple of varietals.  If that's the case, consider joining only those wine clubs that focus on the varietals you prefer.

Another advantage of wine clubs is free tastings, tours, and special events.  This is particularly beneficial if you live in relative proximity to the winery.  It is of little value if you live further away and don't make regular trips to the wine regions.  If you live nearby, though, it's nice to drop by and have a taste when you need to buy a new bottle of a favorite.  I live fairly close to the wine club that I most recently joined, Cinnabar in Saratoga.  It's quite easy for me to drop in.  I've been twice in the past couple of weeks to introduce the wines to first my SO (significant other) and then to my son, in town on a visit from Illinois.  It didn't cost anything for the tastings (as opposed to their usual $10) and my wine purchases were discounted by 30 percent (usually 20%, but Cinnabar offers their shipments wines at 30% off for additional purchases).  The bonus with Cinnabar is the quality of their wines and varietals that I typically like.  More about Cinnabar in another post.

So, for locals, wine clubs can be a great way to reduce your wine buying bill while getting some otherwise unavailable wines.  If you live far from the wineries, however, the advantages aren't as persuasive.  It might be better for some to monitor the websites of wineries you like and look for deals on wines you know, or take advantage of free shipping offers when made available.  You can also "friend" wineries on Facebook and keep tabs on their special offers that way.  Or continue monitoring this blog for recommendations on wines to order from what might be, for you, previously unknown wineries.  There's a lot of good wine out there and I intend to help you find it.