Wine
1.06.01
We headed up to Sonoma to visit some wineries before going to a 12th
Night party just south of Santa Rosa.
We took the scenic route up the East Bay Hwy. 80 to Vallejo, (Well,
mainly because I wanted to pick up some lapel leather for a suit I'm making)
Hwy. 29 to Napa, and then Hwy. 12 across the top towards Santa Rosa. It
was a nice day, if a bit chilly. Rolling green hills (God I love winter
in California) and pastoral vineyards and farms.
The first winery we visited was Ledson just out of Santa Rosa.
 This is
a gorgeous winery. Faux Victorian (which is really the best/warmest kind),
marquetry floors, fire places in most of the rooms. They have a tasting
room, gift shop, and deli. Don't mock the power of the deli. This is very
useful after you've been wine tasting.
The desert wine was good.
1999 Orange Muscat
What Orange Blossoms should taste like, but rarely do. With a touch
of brown sugar.
$16.00
Although as anyone who knows me would understand, the part I really
enjoyed was the cheese tasting in the deli. Mmmm...triple cream brie, pepper
salami, and foccacia bread. Sigh.
Ahem, anyway...
From Santa Rosa we headed to the Dry Creek area west of Healdsburg.
We only had time to visit a couple of wineries.
First we visited Mazzocco not far off from the 101 freeway.
The facility was pretty low key and we had a couple really tasty wines.
1998 Winemaker's Select Chardonnay
Dry, tart, citrus, oak, little butter, dry front end of the tongue.
Green apples.
$20.00
1996 Somers Vineyard Zinfandel
Yummy, jamy, cherry tarts. Spread it on bread, it's so yum.
From there we meandered a bit. The Dry Creek valley is postcard pretty.
I had been to Ferrari-Carano some years earlier, so we decided to wrap
up there.
The winery is modeled on a Tuscan Villa. They have fountains out back,
which for some reason you can't sit next to, but hey it was freezing. Whatever.
We had some incredible wines here.
1999 Fume Blanc ~ Sonoma County
This is a tasty wine and a good value. Touch of smoke, a wisp of vanilla.
Yet, crisp, tart, a bit of granny smith apple.
$14
1999 Reserve Fume Blanc ~ Sonoma County
Light, crisp, with a touch of vanilla and cream. Green apples at the
finish.
$17.50
1998 Chardonnay ~ Alexander Valley
We planned a meal around this one.
Smooth with a wave of cream. Complex and tart on the sides. Toast, a touch
of caramel. Warm. Rich and full, but not round. Rolls on the tongue.
$24.00
1998 Siena ~ Sonoma County
Smooth light front, then pepper with a full smoky fig finish.
$27.00
1999 Villa Fiore Fior di Moscato ~ Alexander Valley
Lovely, light, orange peel, a bit flowery on the tip of the tongue,
sweet, but not cloying. Fresh.
$14.00
Afterwards we took a break in their lovely garden.
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