Ultimate California Wine Blog

Rodney Strong Vineyards‘ facilities shares a sweeping roundabout driveway with J Vineyards. I wasn’t exactly sure if they shared corporate ownership or not, but the folks in both facilities assure me that they are separate companies and all they share is a grandiose driveway.  I’m sorry that my photographs of the interior were so dark and fuzzy. It is a very impressive complex with the tasting room centered around a walk-way of historical and wine-making information.

It is a facilities that sees a lot of guests and the layout is conducive to a high-traffic pattern. The walls that surround the tasting room not includes history of the Rodney Strong empire (extensive), but also information about the various appellations, and direct view of the expansive two-story high barrels. A worthy visit for one of the larger wineries in Sonoma County.

2004 Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County – Lighter and more crisp than most with clean white melon aromas. Tight entry of grass and herbs with a lemony finish that is slightly acidic. $14.00

2003 Russian River Pinot Noir, Jane’s Vineyard, Russian River Valley – Medium-bodied berry aromas effusive with freshness and a tease orange rind. Deeper mouth entry than the aromas portend with a few hints of chocolate. $19.00

2002 Reserve Pinot Noir, Jane’s Vineyard, Russian River Valley – Decidedly earthier and more substantial than its predecessor. Rich dark berries and integrated earth aromas with a soft, supple mouth entry. Heightened mineral tones in the mid-palate and luscious, dark fruit finish. $35.00

2000 Symmetry Red Meritage, Alexander Valley – 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merot, 11% Cabernet Franc. Dark, black brambleberry with a layer of green bell pepper and dusty leafy twig aromas. Tight mouth feel, with some oak and plum, but needing more time. $55.00

Rodney Strong Vineyards ~ 11455 Old Redwood Highway ~ Healdsburg ~ CA ~ 95448 ~ 800-678-4763

Château St. Jean ranks among the highest for quality Chardonnay. Just ask anyone who likes Chardonnay… Okay, I’m not a huge Chardonnay fan but I found many things to like at Château St. Jean. Perhaps it was the atmosphere or the congeniality. Perhaps it was because there is a sense of history or because I was weak and actually bought something from the gift shop. Whatever it was, I have a fine memory of my time at Château St. Jean.

Wine aside, the estate property is absolutely stunning. There are gardens that you have to walk through to get to the visitor’s center which offer many exceptional vantage points for photography or for simply relaxing by one of the several ponds. The “Château” itself was built by the Goff family in the 1920s and has been lovingly restored and is where some of the offices exist as well as the Reserve Room tasting area.

Apparently if you are part of the Reserve Club, you can have access to a private terraced seating area for individual, table-side service. This picture was taken through a window of the Château, as though I was a Peeping Tom, peering at two lucky recipients of a private tasting. I’ll be they also got to taste the wines I would have preferred to taste; Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Malbec, Viogner, and other Reserves…

The actual public tasting room is tremendously large and amply filled with a variety of products, much of the usual from clothing to wine-related gadgets. But I have to admit a confession. In my hundred-and-fifty-odd winery visits, this was the first time I actually bought something in a gift shop. In a corner, away from most of the expensive bounty, was a line of tin-and-enamelware kitchen gadgets. I purchased what looked like a pots de crème set, complete with rack (I say it looked like a pots de crème set, except that it wasn’t porcelain). It was $10.50 for the set and while not politically correct for real pots de crème, it will suit me just fine. Oh yeah, and I enjoyed the wine too.

2002 Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay – Classic lemon and buttery aromas. Oily mouthfeel upon entry showing dark papaya and mango. Rich, with a hint of lemon peel on the finish. $35.00

2003 Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir – Dusty, exotic aromas of incense – akin to sandalwood with a core of red fruit. Red fruit dominates the mouth entry and brightens with acidity on the mid-palate. Smoky finish. $19.00

2002 California Merlot – Black plum and brambleberry display in the initial whiff but subside to demonstrate eucalyptus on the end. Chewy, tight mouth entry that is full bodied and thick. Tad harsh on finish.  $15.00

Château St. Jean ~ 8555 Sonoma Highway (Highway 12) ~ Kenwood ~ 95452 ~ 707-833-4134

Ridge is one of those names in the wine business that immediately evoke a response – usually one of awe. I have been fortunately to taste some very old Ridge wines and my regard is long-standing based on those older offerings of Cabernet and Zinfandel. Ridge single-handedly convinced me that quality-made Zinfandels can age, and age well, as I have tasted 20-year old Ridge Zinfandels that continue to show depth and structure.

Ridge is also unusual for another reason – for while there are many wineries that utilize multiple vineyards, very few build winery tasting rooms in separate counties; the two counties from which their grapes are gleaned. My visit to Ridge occurred at their Santa Cruz location and if you can at all handle twisty, windy roads, I highly recommend the jaunt.

The tasting room is austere and elegant with natural wood that reflects the beauty of the surroundings. The staff are knowledgeable and extremely friendly. They know their product and are readily able to answer the most arcane of questions.

2003 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz – Utilizing both American and French oak, no malo was utilized. Mineral tones produce a crisp entry which blossoms into apricot flavors. $30.00

2002 Geyserville – 84% Zinfandel, 12% Carignane, and 4% Petite Syrah. At 14.6% alcohol, port-like cherry fruit pervades with a bright, engaging entry. Teases at elegance with balanced oak and fruit. Punctuated dark fruit finishes. $30.00

2001 Lytton Estate Syrah/Grenache –  50/50 blend. Young and rather green with medicinal qualities on the nose and a touch of tar. Fruitier on the nose than in the mouth with a dry mid-palate. $28.00

2002 Santa Cruz Mountains – 50% Cabernet, 48% Merlot, and 2% Petite Verdot. Lovely, complex bouquet of cocoa, cherry, and spice. Same spicy entry that heightens with red fruit in the mid-palate and cedar on the back-palate. A slightly mineral finish. $33.00

1998 Pagani Ranch, Northern Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County – 88% Zinfandel, 9% Alicante Bouschet, and 3% Petite Sirah. Hedonistic, showing up front fruit of blackberry, boysenberry, and dark raspberry. Some hints of brett. Amazingly deep and textured with a bright entry that darkens and expands, falling off a bit on the end. $33.00

2002 Buchignani Carignane – Opulent black raspberry and strawberry aromas layered with complex cinnamon and clove spices. Deceiving mineral entry explodes to light, enticing fruit. Great, great fun. $24.00

2000 Lytton Springs Zinfandel – A bit spritzy upon pouring. Mostly mineral tones with some raspberry that blossoms on the finish. $33.00

Ridge ~ Monte Bello ~ 17100 Monte Bello Road ~ Cupertino ~ CA ~ 95014 ~ 408-867-3233
Ridge ~ Lytton Springs ~ 650 Lytton Springs Road ~ Healdsburg ~ CA ~ 95448 ~ 707-433-7721

Hall Vineyards has been receiving a lot of press lately. Katheryn and Craig Hall only acquired the historical facilities in 2003 and, wanting to erect a new building, caused quite a controversy in town with the announcement that noted architect Frank Gehry was to be the designer. Seems the local gentry were concerned that a Gehry building would bring too much traffic to an already-congested area. I personally hope they prevail, as I have been a huge fan of Gehry’s work for some time.

I hope that even if a new edifice is erected that the current visitor’s center which greets new guests remains. Grey and looking ever so frazzled from wear and history, accents of red punctuate the building; an awning, the name, and a sculpture which sits out front contrast with the dull, worn wood of the building. It makes it all so elegant. Also scattered throughout the grounds are pieces from an astonishing art collection which I thought was worth the visit even before tasting their wines.

I have categorized this winery as both in the St. Helena appellation, where their buildings lie, as well as the Sonoma, Alexander Valley appellation, where a number of their vineyards which produce much of their wine exist. I think if I were to get very technical, the Halls have five different vineyard holdings including the Hall Estate vineyards in St. Helena, the Sacrashe Vineyards above Rutherford, the T Bar T Vineyards in Alexander Valley, the Napa River Ranch Vineyards just off the Silverado Trail still considered the Napa Valley Appellation, and the Hardester Ranch Vineyards in Pope Valley.

2003 Sauvignon Blanc, T Bar T Vineyard, Alexander Valley – As this wine sees a bit of oak, there is not the usual astringency of a hundred-percent stainless-produced SauvBlanc. This produced an immediate warm, creamy sensation on the nose which didn’t anticipate the citrus, grass entry into the mouth. This bright initial taste fills out to a tropical mid-palate and is highlighted at the end with a hint of orange peel on the finish. $22.00

2002 Hall Merlot, Napa Valley – Very rich, heady, jammy bouquet which is punctuated with spice at the end. The jammy fruit enters the mouth and slowly reveals a spicy, slightly green finish with an underlying dark fruit underneath. $28.00

2002 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 6% Merlot in a wine that has seen 22 months of French oak. Initial aroma of green bell pepper and jalapeno anticipates the pepper entry which quickly gives way to dark, blackberry fruit. Rich entry with a dry mid-palate produces a decent finish. $35.00

2002 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, T Bar T Vineyard, Alexander Valley – 20% Merlot. Surprising candied berry nose just barely hides a hint of mint underneath. Plum, cherry, and brambleberry couple with a little smoke and tantalizes with a candy-like finish. Mild and balanced on initial taste produces a lovely spiked spicy finish. $38.00

2002 Katheryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, Sacrashe Vineyards, Rutherford – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intensely fruit-forward, spicy cassis, blackberry do not disappoint a full, blossomy mouthfeel which expands voluptuously. Eucalyptus finish demonstrates great acidity. $65.00

Hall ~ 401 St. Helena Highway South ~ St. Helena ~ CA ~ 94574 ~ 866-667-HALL (4255)

Silver Oak has had a well-established reputation for phenomenal Cabernet. Several years ago, I was fortunate to taste the 1974 Silver Oak Mountain Coast (I’ll go ahead and add those tasting notes at the bottom, just because I can). With that reputation, I was greatly looking forward to my visit to Silver Oak, but which one to go to? As you can see, I have categorized this listing under both Napa, Oakville (where one tasting room and location lies) and Sonoma, Alexander Valley, where a separate set of buildings exist. It was to the Oakville establishment that I arrived for my sojourn. The distinction is important as they produce Cabernets from both appellations.

Known for their logo Water Tower, a building which one will see scattered all over the valley, I was not too surprised to see the actual model sitting close by the working structures of the winery. The entrance of the tasting room is impressive and elegant. I especially like the stained glass window which lies above the large doorways. I didn’t get a full tour of the production facilities and can only attest to that which I witnessed from the outside.

Also, immediately to the left of the building is a great bronze sculpture of a man pushing a wheelbarrow. Contained within the wheelbarrow is a planting of fresh flowers and I imagine the foliage changes with the seasons. This is a relatively low-production winery, like Quintessa, where Cabernet is king and there is not much reason to bother with multiple varietals. So on to my tasting:

From 1974 Silver Oak Mountain Coast – Light ruby with bridge-red edges. Nose of hazelnuts, cherries, chocolate, and dill. Good body, long finish with return of red fruit character. A truly splendid wine.

And from today; 2000 Silver Oak Napa Cabernet – Surprisingly, from a blend of twelve different vineyards, 79% Cabernet, 11% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. While I got a little cassis and vanilla on the nose, the wine paled a bit in my mouth in an almost Pinot-like concentration. Slightly thin.

2000 Silver Oak Alexander Valley – I perceived quite a bit of brett on the nose. It was very oaky and a second whiff produced considerable minerals in the aroma. Again, much more pale in the mouth than I had expected this wine to be. I think it might actually ripen in the bottle and I wouldn’t mind trying one in eight or ten years.

There was also a Meyer NV Port. It was a tad cloudy and a bit overly sweet and syrupy for my tastes.

Silver Oak ~ 915 Oakville Crossroad ~ Oakville, CA 94562 ~ 800-273-8809