Matanzas Creek – 92
Wednesday, June 8th, 2005
Matanzas Creek has quite a reputation, but their reputation is for much more than their wine. Over 25 years ago, when founder Sandra MacIver was building her estate, she recalled the love of her grandmother’s gardens. Years later, when building their tasting room, Sandra and husband, Bill, met a landscape architect who planted six different gardens with over 4,500 lavender plants.
As the lavender is harvested in late June or early July, that is the most beautiful time of year to partake in the vast purpleness of Matanzas Creek. When you enter the estate, you not only drive past the vast acreage of lavender bushes, but alongside an amazing fountain which looks as though a single standing stone is balancing a precariously-placed stone lintel.
The tasting room is nestled and barely visible among some large, overgrown trees. There are benches available outside and as this is one of the few wineries on a long stretch through Bennett Valley, makes for a great bicycle stop and rest area.
The tasting room is appropriately bedecked with lavender items for sale, but also the entire aesthetic is in an Arts & Crafts sensibility to surroundings. The only downside of the surroundings in wine tasting, is that the bouquet of lavender permeates the area and makes for smelling wine a tad difficult.
2002 Sauvignon Blanc – Some soft touches of lemon tease at first but crisp, overt citrus presents itself in a full, blossomy mouthfeel. Ever so slightly creamy finish suggests this wine saw a bit of oak $20.00
2002 Chardonnay – Lemon peel and grapefruit with a luxury of cream surprise the nose. Clear pear and melon show in the mid-palate and a touch of fig on the finish exhilarates. $30.00
2002 Merlot – Red garnet in color, dried floral and dried twigs show immediately and then are tempered with a bit of dark plum. Berry and cocoa dance in the mouth with a dusty finish. $30.00
2001 Bennett Valley Merlot – Fruit-concentrated aromas show immediate dark cherry and blackberry with hints of spice. The flavors continue the dark fruit but balances with smoke and a finish of twigs and dried flowers. $60.00
2002 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – Dried flowers and rich plum blossom in the nose. Dark, complex berry tones provide a concentrated mouthfeel with a hint of dusty, dried floral on the finish. $35.00
2002 Sonoma Valley Syrah – Extremely vibrant offering. Inky in color with hints of purple on the edge, dark barbecue meat and jammy fruit shows immediately in the nose. Soy sauce, orange peel, and blackberry liqueur variably displays in the flavors, and an accomplished, menthol finish does not disappoint. $25.00
Matanzas Creek ~ 6097 Bennett Valley Road ~ Santa Rosa ~ CA ~ 95404 ~ 800-590-6464