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.

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.