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Sonoma - Wineries to Visit

What are you enjoying? (Page 1)

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Author	Topic: What are you enjoying?
yesilovewine Member	posted 04-29-2012 06:55 PM No oops! We all have gotten comfortable with the give-and-take of our conversations as they go from board to board. Its very friendly here- we just want to talk wine. At least now I know why I had never heard of Hill Family! wrong side of the mountain for my experience. IP: 71.65.244.48
ssala Junior Member	posted 04-29-2012 08:27 AM I will have to keep that zin in mind. Thanks. The Hill Family Estates tasting room is in downtown Yountville, near Bistro Jeanty. Lovely little building with several "living room-like" places to taste and lots of interesting photos, posters, and artwork. Sorry, I just realized this is the Sonoma thread...oops. Scott IP: 75.70.79.148
yesilovewine Member	posted 04-29-2012 08:15 AM Hi ssala- thanks for jumping in! We enjoy Williamson wines too, and just consumed our last bottle not too long ago...will be putting them on the visit list for next trip. I'm not familiar with Hill Family- could you elaborate on their location and their wines? A note about Bella....I was reading the newest "Guide to Wine" that is given away at the Total Wine stores and learned that Bella now has a contract with them, so its no longer "allocation only" from Bella. Of course, they may only have access to certain wines but the Big River Ranch Zin is one of them and that is one of our favorites. IP: 71.65.244.48
ssala Junior Member	posted 04-29-2012 07:22 AM Up to this point, we had generally avoided Syrahs. We must have had some overly oaky ones in the past. This last trip proved to be a welcome return to the varietal. Over the past few nights we have enjoyed both the Williamson 2009 Dry Creek Valley Shiraz and Hill Family Estate 2009 Clarke Vineyard Syrah. We also enjoyed each of their tasting rooms as well. IP: 75.70.79.148
yesilovewine Member	posted 04-29-2012 05:26 AM We enjoyed our last bottle of the St. Francis 2006 Wild Oak Syrah last night. It is a full bodied spicy wine with firm tannins that stand up well to grilled meat. This "line" of wines has been discontinued at St. F, so last night was truly the end of an era for us. I forgot to ask why Wild Oak has been discontinued... IP: 71.65.244.48
yesilovewine Member	posted 04-21-2012 02:31 PM High Praise from you, Hawkeye!!! IP: 71.65.244.48
Hawkeye Member	posted 04-21-2012 08:19 AM Last night we had a ribeye steak with all the trimmings. The steak was a little chewy, but had a good flavor. With it, I opened a bottle of 2005 Robert Young estate cab that was as good as any cab I have had from Sonoma County. I would purchase it again. -Hawkeye IP: 67.167.170.10
yesilovewine Member	posted 04-08-2012 08:17 PM Had 2 great wines last night...Paradise Ridge Hoenselaars Vyd "the Posse" blend and Ledson's Belissimo. Lots of fruit flavor with enough tannins to balance the wines nicely. The body of the PR was heavier making it better for bolder flavor pairings, like grilled meat or hearty stews IMO, but the Ledson, though lighter was great as a before dinner wine coupled with cheeses and fruit and still had enough "umph" to hold up with the grilled meat as well...just not as well. IP: 71.65.250.8
yesilovewine Member	posted 03-29-2012 12:16 PM Wanted to tell you all of a really great wine surprise that we opened yesterday. Parkers Estate Tolleson High Corniche Sonoma County 2009 Sauvignon Blanc This is a wonderful wine- and cost less than $10!!! We like the citric, grapefruity style of Sauv. Blanc, and this fits the bill perfectly. Great aroma of citrus fruit with a crisp, light flavor that was perfect for "on the porch enjoyment" .It catches a creaminess around mid-palate that allows the taste to linger and creates a finish that is surprisingly long; this was a wine that I wanted to keep on drinking and drinking. Good think I only got one bottle to try! Not much action on the boards lately- hope everyone is well and enjoying their wine! IP: 71.65.250.8
yesilovewine Member	posted 01-04-2012 05:39 AM Greetings to all- hope you had a wonderful holiday season. We enjoyed a fabulous wine last night that I must share with you. The 2008 Los Chamizal Primitivo from Haywood Estate ranks as one of my all time favorite consumptions....a beautiful wine to observe and incredibly delicious. This wine drinks like a silky swath of bright berries that have been dashed with a hint of spice. It lingers on the palate just long enough to appreciate without being "cloying". It's fruit forward without being "jammy" and brings to mind the essence of old style Zinfandel with that wonderful peppery note at the finish. This wine was "done right" by a master and I hate to think that Peter Haywood may no longer be at the helm to continue producing this gem. I have got to get more..... IP: 71.65.248.214
yesilovewine Member	posted 01-01-2012 10:47 AM Hawkeye, we had our Tina's Block last night and I do understand your assessment- it is not as lingering as the Maple Zin. But I have to say that the abundance of flavor and the "roundness" of this wine still make me rate it highly. Hoping all had a lovely holiday with families and friends! Happy New Year to everyone!! IP: 71.65.248.214
yesilovewine Member	posted 12-27-2011 05:25 PM Well, Hi Damambo! Happy Holidays! So glad the hubs is better. IP: 71.65.248.214
damombo Member	posted 12-27-2011 05:17 PM Well what a co-winkydink - we had lasagna with a 2009 Luna Reserve Sangiovese last night!! Pretty tasty - good combo. The lasagna was made by the newly walking without a walker hubby and the wine by whoever the winemaker is at Luna It was earthy on the nose at first, and then cherries and plums came through. Quite lovely and got deeper and smoother as it opened up. Happy New Year, y'all! IP: 96.8.187.200
Hawkeye Member	posted 12-27-2011 07:00 AM Hi Yes, I wanted to shout, "ANYONE OUT THERE?" Last night we opened another Armida Maple Vineyard Zinfandel, the 2008 from Tina's Block. I did this opn purpose so we could compare the two. We found that we didn't like it as much as the one I wrote about below. It was a little too soft on the palate with not much distinguishing finish. However, I do believe I will put Armida on my March agenda looking for places for the October group. _Hawkeye [This message has been edited by Hawkeye (edited 12-27-2011).] IP: 68.169.184.155
yesilovewine Member	posted 12-26-2011 09:47 PM Hi Hawkeye. Jeepers, I was starting to think that the world stopped and everyone but me got off! Glad you are still out there. Hope you had a lovely holiday, too. I do love the Maple zins that Armida produces. Make sure to try the Tina's Block when you go. THAT is a Zin to write home about. We enjoyed a Ledson Sangiovese tonight; 2007 Knight's Valley. It is still a little rough for my palate, but the kids and Left Brain enjoyed it. I would dispute the label's description of a "velvety finish", but it is full of fruity goodness which went nicely with lasagne. IP: 71.65.248.214
Hawkeye Member	posted 12-26-2011 06:27 AM Hi Yes, Some of us are still drinking Sonoma wines. Yesterday we were joined by some friends for Christmas dinner at the Back In Cafe in the Bluffs View Art District. We did not have any wine there, but one of our friends followed us home and we opened a bottle of '08 Armida DCV, Maple Vineyard Zinfandel. When we first purchased this wine it was not one of my favorite, but now that it has been laying down for about a year, it has improved greatly. This Zin was very fruit forward (jammy as Damombo would say) with a very nice peppery finish. I have one more bottle and will let it lay down for another year to see what happens. A very nice wine! -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
yesilovewine Member	posted 12-19-2011 05:52 AM Isn't anybody out there drinking Sonoma wines these days????? IP: 71.65.248.214
yesilovewine Member	posted 12-19-2011 05:51 AM We had a delicious Rodney Strong Syrah the other night. This is not a wine that you're likely to find in the store- this was from the Reserve line....2006 Alexander Valley Reserve, to be more precise. A really good, robust wine with a hint of spiciness that we appreciated with an Italian dinner. RS is known for the gold and black label wines- Merlot, mostly- that you see in the grocery, but this is from the reserve line that is an upper tier from that offering. Only a few places outside the winery have the reserves, or at least that was the tale when we bought it. IP: 71.65.248.214
yesilovewine Member	posted 12-11-2011 07:43 AM We enjoyed a bottle of Hook and Ladder Station Ten from 2006 last night. I really like this wine as it has that rich, delicious aroma that makes you want to jump in for a swim and nice rounded flavors of berries and a hint of mocha with some spiciness. It was great with pork roast and sweet potato fries... IP: 71.65.248.214
damombo Member	posted 12-04-2011 10:34 AM OK, my head is in a worse fog than usual, because I have caught a nasty cold - but I think we enjoyed a few zinfandels (Lesdon Red River Valley and a Biale Black Chicken) and we also were wowed by a Seghesio Petite Sirah. We don't recall being big Petite Sirah appreciators, but this on was (as Hawkeye would say) a cab drinker's Petite Sirah. Very full bodied and rich with a luscious finish. It came in our club shipment and we liked it so much that we called them and ordered a case! If y'all are going to be in Texas anytime soon, let me know and we'll share a bottle IP: 96.8.187.200
yesilovewine Member	posted 12-03-2011 06:20 AM Enjoyed a lovely Sauv. Blanc from Rodney Strong last night at an italian restaurant. I didn't recall they make a Sauv. Blanc, but I'd drink it again in a heartbeat...crisp, med. bodied and dry. No grassy notes. What did y'all have for Thanksgiving? [This message has been edited by yesilovewine (edited 12-03-2011).] IP: 71.65.250.120
yesilovewine Member	posted 11-23-2011 08:15 PM We enjoyed a 2007 Passalaqua Primotivo tonight. It started great with bold flavor and rich aromas, and that lovely spiciness that makes it such a great pair with zesty Italian food, but as it sat in the glass it diminished considerably- became thin in flavor and took on an earthiness that I found unpleasant. I'm not sure if we let it set too long or if it didn't recover from the long trip before we tried it. either way, it started with great promise but finished badly. If you have any- drink it soon. Tomorrow we will have GlenLyon's Blush O' the Boar ( syrah rose') with our festivities, and Saturday we are celebrating having the kids here with a 2007 Frank Family Cab. If the house in OR actually does sell on Tuesday, we'll celbrate with either a Veuve Cliquot or a Rinaldo Rose' Prosecco. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you and yours have a glorious holiday season. IP: 71.65.250.120
yesilovewine Member	posted 11-23-2011 05:47 AM We will be serving GlenLyon's "Blush O' the Boar", a rose of Syrah, with our Turkey this year. IP: 71.65.250.120
damombo Member	posted 11-21-2011 03:23 PM That sounds lovely! Not to mention romantic!! No wonder Mrs. Hawkeye and you have celebrated 50+ years of wedded bliss IP: 166.147.76.12
Hawkeye Member	posted 11-21-2011 07:44 AM Once in a while we will have a dinner consisting of cheese, crackers, cold meats and fruit. We turn on the satellite radio to some nice music and dine to candlelight. Last night was one of those nights. We paired the tasteful morsels with a 2007 Provenance Rutherford Cab. Then we watched a Hallmark Movie, "A Dog Named Christmas". Nice evening! IP: 68.169.184.155
damombo Member	posted 11-20-2011 06:26 AM Last night we had a 2005 Dry Creek Valley Zin from Ledson and it was deelightful! Full bodied and fruit forward with a luscious lingering finish. Too bad we only had the one... What's everyone drinking with their Thanksgiving feast?? IP: 96.8.187.200
yesilovewine Member	posted 11-14-2011 05:47 AM 2 notes today.... First was a St. Francis -2005 Rockpile Red Wine which we enjoyed with grilled pork chops. This is a blend of Cab, Merlot and Petit Verdot all sourced from the Rockpile area; specifically from Rod and Cathy Parks' vineyard. This is a major source of Rockpile App. grapes for St. Francis. This wine still has the lush, rich flavor that I remembered and the tannins have softened to make a nice silky finish. The 2nd is the Rose of Petite Sirah that we bought at Fieldstone this spring. I had forgotten how much I like this wine! Its tart with a garnet color and flavors of Bing cherry and plum. I think it needs food to really shine- it can handle something light from the grill, maybe even a barbecue, and would probably do well with a hearty vegetarian dish as well. We had it with ham and it was great with that. Its a "different" wine that would be nice to have around. IP: 71.65.250.120
yesilovewine Member	posted 10-23-2011 05:34 AM We opened a bottle of 2005 San Lorenzo/Alexander Valley Zinfandel by Seghesio last night that was thoroughly enjoyable, though beginning to fade a bit ( of course it may still be getting over the long move, but I don't think so). The rich, deep aromas of dark berries was still strong and the flavor was still good, but not as rich as I remembered. The main thing I noted was that the finish is fading. IP: 71.65.198.80
yesilovewine Member	posted 10-01-2011 06:58 PM Thoroughly enjoyed a Blackstone wine this eventing that is new to us. 2009 Winemakes's Select "Red Blend"..a very plesant and inexpensive wine that we picked up to fill in while we wait to unpack our wine "collection". We have not had any store bought Blackstone wines in about 4 years just because they were so ...predictable! But we needed to have a wine that would serve as a generally appropriate "table wine" for weeknights and just drinking and this fit the bill nicely. Tannic enough to cut the fat on a pork shop, but with a silky finish that makes this good with chocolate as well. For under $20 this is a wine worth trying. IP: 71.65.198.80
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-24-2011 03:05 PM Hawkeye, Did I tell you that if we ever get back to Sonoma "Left Brain" has determined that we should do a chase of the Rockpile zins similar to what we did with the Maple Zin last trip? You will probably get there first...wanna take part of the list? I've got the laptop until Tuesday but no more wine to tell about . IP: 98.232.221.183
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-24-2011 02:58 PM Hey Stacy...we are club members there and I am just about to burst awaiting the sparkling zin. I am hoping that as club members we will get some in a shipment . Moreover, I'm hoping there will be some left to place an additional order! Are you familiar with the wines from Trecini? IP: 98.232.221.183
damombo Member	posted 07-24-2011 02:48 PM I miss wine. Sounds delicious Hawkeye! IP: 96.8.187.200
Hawkeye Member	posted 07-24-2011 11:21 AM Last night friends joined us at a local Italian Restorante for dinner. I took along two Zins, a 2006 Biale Monte Rosso Vineyard Zin and a 2008 Mauritson Rockpile Cemetary Ridge Zin. I first need to say that I am a BIG fan of the Rockpile Zins. We began the evening with the Rockpile Zin which was tasting very well with fruit and a nice lingering finish. Then we opened the Biale Zin and it blew us all away. It was fruit bold (if that is a term) and an even better finish. Wow, I wish I had many more bottles of that one instead of just one more. Maybe we should let the Rockpile lay down a little while longer. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
StacysWineStop Junior Member	posted 07-24-2011 09:23 AM "I have to say- but we did have a Harvest Moon "Randy Zin" the other night that was just great. I love the peppery note that rings through this wine, its spicy and rich." The interesting thing about Harvest Moon and owner/winemaker Randy Pitts, is when the wine starts tasting really good it is sold out. Also in August randy is releasing his sparkling Zin. If it is anything like his sparkling white it will be sold out ASAP. Frothing at the mouth waiting to taste this one. IP: 71.198.155.193
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-22-2011 01:24 PM As we count down to departure we are trying to drink the wine that we can't take with us...its a tough job but somebody's got to do it! We have been consuming mostly Washington wines of late- a place worth investigateing if you get the chance, I have to say- but we did have a Harvest Moon "Randy Zin" the other night that was just great. I love the peppery note that rings through this wine, its spicy and rich. We have also enjoyed several bottles of the St. Francis "Red", a bargain wine that is a blend of whatever is leftover from a particular year's harvest. It can vary significantly from year to year, too. We are enjoying the 2006 vintage ( I bought all I could find) over the 2007. IP: 98.232.221.183
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-06-2011 04:32 PM I had read that you weren't visiting the Sonoma side on the upcoming trip; hope you will put them back on the itinerary at some future visit. You may be able to find the sparkling zin in Napa somewhere- maybe the Wine Garage. I'm on a borrowed laptop and have a couple weeks with it. If I like it, I may campaign for one to replace the PC! Not being a very computer-savy person, its still "up in the air". The worst of things will be Aug/Sept, so maybe by October I'll be able to check in on occassion...in the meantime, I'm keeping tabs on the board. We have more wine than we can move, so we're opening something nearly every night and I'm attempting to post comments on the things that warrant it. So, I'll be around for a while, anyway. Hope all's well with you and yours.... IP: 98.232.221.183
Hawkeye Member	posted 07-06-2011 02:25 PM Will not make any part of Sonoma during the October trip. 6 days in Napa . . . How many more days do you have with us? -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-06-2011 12:13 PM WOW! that would be a good clue...! As an FYI...Harvest Moon is scheduled to release a sparkling Zinfandel soon; it may have actually come out by now as a matter of fact. If you can get some on your next trip I would love to hear your opinion. IP: 98.232.221.183
Hawkeye Member	posted 07-06-2011 12:01 PM Yesilovewine, My only excuse is that I am getting old, very old! My sight is going, my brain doesn't function, and my body is failing. Other than that, I am doing pretty good. We opened a bottle of 2004 Girard Prichard Hill Cab a couple nights ago that had completely turned so had to dump it out. My first clue was when I pulled the cork, it exploded out. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
yesilovewine Member	posted 07-06-2011 07:52 AM Um, Hawkeye.....previous post wasn't damombo.....it was me. And you and I did have a couple of conversations about Deux Ami a while ago as we had visited them in the old location which was attached to Wilson's storage area. This is situation was kinda interesting because we bought the wine specifically for its containing a eucalyptus flavor and smell which was so unusual. Those characteristics are gone now, and I wonder if the bitterness I now taste is somehow related to that aspect. Anyone know if that is possible? IP: 98.232.221.183

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