Don's Gillette's Weekly Wine Blog
Weekly musings from our store's resident wine guru
Don has over thirty years experience in the wine industry. For the last eighteen years his attention has been focused on the growing local industry. Don has a large following of customers who search out his opinions (never in short supply!) on new releases and on what's currently most distinctive on our shelves. Others seek his insights on wineries and trends that are still under the radar. Check back here each week for Don's latest thoughts on various wine-related topics. Read Don's full bio...
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Back in the Saddle Again
I was back in the Russian River Valley again this weekend for more 2006 vintage barrel tasting, with Russian Hill winery the first stop. RH has just released a delicious, age-worthy 2004 Leras Pinot Noir, which will quickly join the impressive '04 RH Tara and Meredith Pinots we already have in stock. A barrel taste of '06 Tara was pure pleasure, a terrific example of how that difficult (on the winemake's psyche, that is) crop is producing some really hot Pinots.
In preparation, I had made a list of seven new producers, but had mixed results contacting them. One, (new owners of a vineyard which has been a keystone for another celebrated RRV Pinot producer) had yet to return my call; another lay too far north to fit into my time schedule; a third turned out to be a "re-named" version of a perennial loser. I found the fourth, but also found it wanting.
Off to the Green Valley section, I visited a Gravenstein Highway (aka Highway 116) locale, where three of my quarry were sharing a tasting room. All three had 2006s of merit. Graton Ridge Cellars had an elegant Pinot Noir, with scents of wild strawberry and raspberry and a lingering finish. The also poured a Chardonnay, blended with 10% Sauvignon Blanc, which had fine aromatics.
Occidental Road Cellars had two appealing Chardonnays, (one in neutral oak) along with a pretty Pinot and a Syrah. The Syrah, from the Helen's Ridge vineyard, was intensely flavorful, well packed with pomegranate, red raspberry, red rose and Schezuan pepper flavors, yet elegant.
Atascadero Creek Winery produces multiple micro-production bottlings, mostly of Pinot, and had debuted earlier, with the 2004 vintage. Their sample of 2006 Railroad vineyard Pinot, (four barrels produced) was bright, floral, racy and attractive, showing flavors of Santa Rosa plums, red raspberries and yellow roses. They also poured a bright, peppery Syrah, with a lingering finish. A barrel of Huan vineyard Zinfandel (from 55 year old vines) was especially impressive; it was a bath of grenadine, raspberry, rose, pepper and Mid-eastern spices. Their recently bottled 2005 Railroad Pinot is also tasty, and is heading for our shelves.