Ultimate California Wine Blog

Steven Kent winery shares its entrance with Tamás (which will be blogged next). Steven Kent’s facility is in the front and the far more grandiose of the two. On the day of my visit, there was a private wine-club party in the Kent facility, but Tamás was generously pouring Kent’s wine in their tasting room (which made it a tad crowded).

While I was simultaneously tasting Kent wines and Tamás wines, one of the young Kent workers noticed I was taking copious notes and when I indicated I was a wine writer, invited me over to the private event to taste the new releases.

Delighted at the prospect, I was able to take a few interior shots where their wine tasting room normally sits, however due to the crowds, I was unable to get the "Kent story" to relate here and their website is somewhat lacking in any background information.

There was a nice gentlemen pouring some of the select wine, but I was unable to get his name or affiliation with the property. Ultimately, all I can tell you about is the wine that I tasted and that the folks I met were extremely friendly and helpful.

2003 Merrillie Chardonnay, DeMayo Vineyard – 100% malo in 100% French oak. Butterscotch and lemon predominate the nose, balanced entry that shows considerable minerality. A wine-club offering only.

2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore – Intense tones of Bing cherry, dark chocolate, and a whisp of eucalyptus in this dark, ruby red wine. Rich, smooth entry which blossoms to continue the dark fruit and a spicy finish. $45.00

2002 Radius, Home Ranch, Merrillie Vineyards – 60% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Barbera. Sweet aromas of smoky bacon and thick soy sauce. Rich spices including nutmeg, cardamom, and cedar. Rich, well-integrated flavors that sweetens on the end. $32.00 for wine club members.

Steven Kent ~ 5443 Tesla Road ~ Livermore ~ CA ~ 925-456-2380

It was while admiring the superlative port at Bent Creek, that Carole recommended I head to Cedar Mountain Winery, another winery known for their port. They are located on what is generally considered to be the main road in Livermore for wineries for while a few are off on side roads, the main stretch through the rural part of town is peppered with wineries such as this one.

Cedar Mountain Winery was established by Linda and Earl Ault in 1990. While the tasting room and adjacent office space is relatively small, the entrance leads to an area that is surrounded by larger buildings which include a bottling area, press, and barn.

The inside of the tasting room is intimate but functional. Around the room are mountain-climbing devices and numerous pictures of the Aults on expeditions and I overheard one of the pouring staff indicate that Cedar Mountain was named for their love of climbing.

One of the extremely interesting things I saw for the first time were pouring spouts with built-in filters. I’m still questioning this and will investigate it further; should a wine be filtered better before it gets put in the bottle? Or if a wine needs filtering on this scale, should it be decanted? I truly don’t know but was bemused that these filtered spouts seem to be de rigueur for this tasting room.

2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Del Arroyo Vineyard, Livermore – Rich aromas of lemon peel and floral tones. Rich, tangy entry with a finish that shows some integrated lime. $11.95

2001 Estate Chardonnay, Blanches Vineyard, Livermore – At a 100% malo, I was surprised that this chardonnay was 15.5% alcohol. It certainly did not taste nearly as hot as that number would imply. I found it a classic offering of tropical fruit and kiwi on the nose and balanced oak and butter in the mouth feel. Creamy finish is a standard that I’m sure Chardonnay loves would enjoy. $18.00

1999 Zinfandel, Amador County – Fabulously rich nose of blueberry and raspberry showing depth of age with hints of dusty herbs, cinnamon, and cardamom. Easy bright entry continues the herbal quality with a bit more sage coming forward and a dusty floral finish. $18.00

1998 Merlot, One Oak Vineyard & Thatcher Bay Vineyard, Livermore Valley – Flinty, metallic aroma with hints of green bell pepper in the core. Medium bodied with some medium-bodied fruit, mostly unexciting. $21.50

2002 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Blanches Vineyard, Livermore Valley – Green bell pepper and dusty cocoa. Medium body bright entry shows herbs and dried twigs in the mid-palate. Long finish shows hints of floral and even fruit. $22.00

1998 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Blanches Vineyard, Livermore Valley – Dark, bricky red. Dark fruit in the nose with some cinnamon. Dark plum and berry with herbal mid-palate with a chewy finish. $50.00

1999 Duet; 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot, Livermore Valley – Green bell pepper predominates but then displays strong aroma of cedar and slight medicinal qualities. Harsh entry with licorice core and strident finish. $15.40

Stickies
1999 Late Bottled Vintage Port, Amadaor County – Portuguese grape blend that spent four years in the barrel. I am imagining these also came from Tim at St. Amant, but the pouring host was unsure. I was a bit surprised how sweet this wine was, moreso than i normally appreciate. Mostly a concentrated blackberry liqueur with layers of herbs. $25.00

1998 Cabernet Royale, Blanches Vineyard, Livermore Valley – Slightly cloudy with a orange edge. Surprisingly oxidized for a newly-opened bottle, possibly corked. $25.00/500 ml

1998 Port Royale – A blend of the previous two stickies. Bricky orange color with aromas of dusty floral. Sweet core of blackberry. $35.00/500ml

2003 Chardonnay del Sol, Chardonnay Port, Blanches Vineyard, Livermore Valley – Made with a base core of alembic there were more alembic aromas than fruit from the core wine. $18.75/375ml

Cedar Mountain Winery ~ 7000 Tesla Road ~ Livermore ~ CA ~ 925-373-6636

At the end of the long road where White Crane is located is another hidden little gem, Bent Creek Winery.  I had barely noticed the sign and was thankful that the folks at White Crane recommended them. After travellilng down the long, straight paved road, Bent Creek is a dirt-road drive through a rural home set amongst surrounding vineyards. I have to admit to being a tad curious about the seemingly odd logo which is seen on the sign. I thought it a bit crude — until I saw the website; it seems the property lies in the middle of an erratic bent creek.  They took the exact alignment of the creek and successfully transcribed it as part of their logo.

Upon arrival, one sees an adobe-style Spanish home next to which is a smaller building from which blares lively Mariachi music. I was surprised at the volume, thinking that because I could hear it so clearly as far away as my car, that it must be deafening inside the tasting room. It was only when I opened the door to enter, that I realized they had speakers in place on the outside of the building, literally inviting guests inside.

The tasting room is intimate and well-aportioned. The folks behind the counter were extremely engaging and informative. Linda (on the left) was pouring for me, but a charming lady joined in the afternoon banter. It was a pleasure to learn that she was actually one of the four proprietors.

Carol Howell (on the right) explained that she and her husband, along with another couple, all work(ed?) for the school district when, as partners, they started planting vineyards on the side. Their first wine was produced in 2000 but the tasting room’s construction was not completed until 2002. Now making almost 2,000 cases, the four work together making and blending the wine and processing the grapes, while some (if not all?) still work in the school district. This is a winery whose product across the board impressed me immensely. There is great potential and I will be watching them closely and drinking more Bent Creek in the future.

2004 Mendocino County Sauvignon Blanc – Crisp green apple bouquet with a hint of grapefruit. Tangy entry expands the green apple and finish with a lovely sharpness. $15.00

2003 Livermore Valley Chardonnay – Very clean and expressive fruit of red apple and a hint of apricot. Distinct entry showing integrated fruit and some cream. $16.00

2001 Amador County Zinfandel – 2% Petite Sirah. Port-like nose showing elegant cinnamon and cardamom spice. Easy medium-bodied mouthfeel showing dark raspberry and boysonberry. Smooth with nary a touch hotness. $15.00

2002 Livermore Valley Syrah – An estate-grown wine that is intensely dark with black cherry and soy sauce aromas. Spicy mouth feel with black plum, that is rich and complex, showing depth and a tease of smoky bacon. Exceptional. $19.00

2002 Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Made from three tons of grapes from two vineyards; White Crane and Thatcher Bay. Lovely black currant bouquet with a hint of eucalyptus. Very smooth, easy entry with velvety tannins that shows a long, cherry finish. $24.00

2003 Livermore Valley Petite Sirah – This was their first harvest of this wine. Inky, port-like aromas of candied plum and dusty cocoa. Very full-bodied with black fruit in the front and a slightly dry finish showing a bit of uneveness, but great potential. I will definitely go back for this (and a Syrah!) after these vines have produced another vintage or two. $25.00

2002 Amador County Vintage Port – Along with the Syrah, this was the surprise of the visit. Carol indicated it was a port made entirely from proper Port grapes;

Touriga, Tinta Cao, Alvarelhao, Souzao, and Tinta Roriz. Feeling a bit of deja vu, where else have I had a California port made with the proper grapes? Of course! St. Amant in Lodi! I told Carol about this astonishing Port producer that I adored who makes this amazing port…  To my joy and surprise, Carol let me know that it was Tim Spencer himself who was supplying Bent Creek their grapes AND teaching them the fine art of Port making. There’s a reason I liked it, showing intense rich aroma in its dark, ruby tone. There are cherries and some sweet herbs. The complexity is even and developed. $23.00

Bent Creek Winery ~ 5455 Greenville Road ~ Livermore ~ CA ~ 94550 ~ 925-455-6320

Garré Winery and Café is apparently a destination of sorts. Located on a main corner of Livermore, considerable traffic was streaming in to both the tasting room and the adjacent café. I am sorry I didn’t take pictures of the entrance. It is a tad misleading as the dirt entryway cuts right between two buildings. Initially, I parked my car under the shady tree, thinking that the building on the right was the tasting room. Nope — I figured out when I saw other folks driving towards the back that the entire action is at the back of the property; tasting room, café, and a bocce ball court.

The tasting room is a single large room with slanted ceilings. An old wall-installed air conditioner just barely keeps the room tepid. Not quite as hot as the 100+ temperature outside, but still a tad too warm to enjoy red wines. Besides the red, they offered a White Zinfandel, which I turned down when I heard another guess exclaim how sweet it was.

From what I could gather, the Molinaris are the proprietors and own the Pleasanton Transfer Station but have only been in the wine business for eight years. They have ten acres of vineyards from which they produce 2,500 cases. I have to add that I asked about prices while there and was told conflicting information. I was told the Cabernet Franc was $23.00 but their website indicates it is $18.00. With that discrepancy in mind, I’m leaving all the prices out of this report.

2002 Cabernet Franc – Seared bacon aromas present themselves immediately, but give way to produce light fruit. Even entry with a tangy, acidic mid-palate. The soft finish shows cocoa and muted, integrated spice.

2001 Cabernet Franc – Rich and jammy with dark blackberry, brambleberry, and strawberry. The jamminess subsides and hints of eucalyptus remains. Even mouth entry with smooth finish that pales a bit but still displays a tease of spice.

2000 Merlot – Spice is what comes out first, then dark plum and cherry tones. The entry is a bit dry with a taste of dried twigs and warm spice.

1997 Merlot – Dusty floral pairs with hints of blueberry in the nose. The entry is sweeter than anticipated. Very easy and well-balanced, but a tad more perfumey than I’d prefer.

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon – This was odd. I could have sworn the bottle from which I was poured was corked. I indicated as such to the lady behind the counter who didn’t seem to know what corked meant. Perhaps it was a description that she did not realize was bad. So I tried to explain that it was a bad bottle and she asked if I would like the next vintage. "No," I explained, "I’d like to try a new bottle." There was a young man behind the counter who seemed to understand and opened another one. It was similar, so either I tasted two corked wines in a row, or they are just mediocre. The color was pale red, almost Pinot-like with hints of green bell pepper behind the wet cardboard.

2001 Cabernet Sauvignon – A medium-body wine with a bit more color than its predecessor. Herby tones with layers of mint. Thin mouthfeel and unexciting.

Garré Winery & Café ~ 7986 Tesla Road ~ Livermore ~ CA ~ 94550 ~ 925-371-8200

White Crane Winery could be considered far off the beat-n-track, as far as Livermore is concerned. It is located at the very end of a long, straight street, through an agricultural area peppered with horses, grape vineyards, and a golf course. Nestled up against the edge of some small hills at the end of the road, there is a slight incline where the buildings are place, giving the winery an elegant view of the surrounding valley. White Crane has begun creating a second label entitled "Winery 21" to denote the fact that they were the 21st winery in the Livermore valley.

As you enter the dirt road driveway, you witness a small white house. Compared to the behemoths of the Napa valley, this is decidedly quaint and charming as you approach the building up through the winery’s grapevines.

The charm continues as you enter the tasting room, which I gather to be historic due to its low, sloped ceilings and aged wood interior. White twinkling Christmas lights and a large provide the illumination. Eager and convivial staff man the tasting bar; or bars — as they are actually nothing more than wine barrels which have been converted into tables. The prices given are estimates as the staff did not have a price list and only seemed to know a total if physically rung into a cash register. Quaint and charming seem to be the words which describe both the experience and the wines:

Winery 21 NV California Sparkling – Made from 100% Chardonnay, this estate-grown fizzy shows a bit of sweet wine stone fruit in the nose and a delightful semi-sweet entry. Clean and easy, I could throw one of these back with no problem on a sweltering afternoon. $17.00

2002 Chardonnay, Folkendt Estate – Clear, bright aromas of pear, apple, and butterscotch. Depth in the mid-palate and a long, creamy finish. $35.00

2003 Merlot, Perpendicular – Dark, purple core color with black plum and black brambleberry fruit showing in the nose. Very elegant and spicy mouth entry displays continual dark fruit and a spicy, engaging finish. $26-ish

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Folkendt Estate West Ridge – A touch of green bell pepper in the nose. Hot, mineral entry with an herbal finish. Surprising hotness, considering it is only 13.8% alcohol. $41.37.

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Folkendt Estate East Ridge – Slightly medicinal nose that subsides to show dark fruit. Even, smooth entry blossoms with a medium-bodied berry complexion. Smooth finish with a hint of cocoa. $49.66.

2003 Zinfandel – Dark magenta color with a jammy aroma. Port-like blackberry mouth entry with a sweet spice on the back end. Curious if there is any residual sugar in this wine and it is not necessarily a bad thing; I tend to like my Zins a tad on the sweet side with the spicy integration. Not syrupy, but medium-bodied that makes it easy to drink.  No price.

2003 Zinfandel Port – Apparently the fortifying agent in this wine is a zinfandel brandy. I got to sniff a bit from a bottle they had behind the counter. The port is inky dark and goes where the previous Zin began; liqueur and spice and everything nice. No price.

2004 Chardonnay Port – Odd to have finished the tasting with a white sticky and I was a tad sorry that it was served at room temperature. The girls behind the counter were nice enough to pull out a platter of Stilton which improves the wine. A tad hot, I could detect some elegant white peach and honey, but would like to try it again slightly chilled. No price.

White Crane Winery ~ 5405 Greenville Road ~ Livermore ~ CA ~ 94550 ~ 925-455-8085