An Evening With Rodney Strong Vineyards

*Samples Received*

Tonight's wines were those from Rodney Strong Vineyards. I enjoy tasting these varietals because of their quality, ease to drink and affordability. Each vintage is an expression of the vineyard and showcases the talented winemakers ability to bring that aspect to each glass.

The 2012 Sonoma County Chardonnay was the first wine tasted. On the nose pear, apple, lemon citrus and ripe pineapple. Hints of all spice, toasted vanilla and almonds round out the nose. The fruit really shines on the nose and sets the taste up nicely. The mouth is full of juicy ripe pear, delicious green apple with hints of fresh lemon and pineapple. Faint hint of spice on the long juicy finish. Love the fruit forward character of this wine. My wife and I enjoyed while sipping on the screen porch and we both equally were impressed with this chardonnay.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County was my next wine of the evening. Coincidentally my friend and his spouse are huge fans of RS Vineyards Cabernet and call it their go to wine. The nose is full of dark fruit with blackberry, black cherry and plum. Hints of chocolate, dried herbs of thyme and rosemary along with a nice touch of currants and oak. The mouth is rich with blackberry, cherry, raspberry and plum. Creamy vanilla with a nice spicy toasty oak finish. Sipping while grilling a nice thick Ribeye, the wine was a great pairing for the evenings meal. I think this wine would be equally nice with a hearty stew dish.

The final wine of the evening was the 2011 Merlot from Sonoma County. A varietal making a comeback in some regions this wine exhibits wild blueberry and plum notes. Earthy with dried herbs and a sweet vanilla aroma that is wonderfully pleasing to my senses. The mouth starts with the bold plum and softens with the rich blueberry finishing with vanilla and toasty oak. What really impressed me and I don't find on many bottles of Merlot was the creaminess of the finish with the soft tannins. Very nice wine.

Tasting these wines you can easily see why they were named in 2013 by Wine Enthusiast "American Winery Of The Year." From Tom Klein to Rick Sayre and the entire wine production team to Robert Larsen, Rachel Voorhees and the entire operations staff it's easy to see why they are so successful year after year. The quality is a result of meticulous vineyard management and understanding the grapes these vineyards produce. Food friendly quality wines that can be enjoyed everyday without breaking the pocket book. Stop by for a visit at 11455 Old Redwood Highway Healdsburg, Ca 10am to 5pm daily. Tell them Dan sent you!


Headed for a visit then check out these great Expedia deals and Hotels.com deals by clicking the safe links. It's what I use when I travel.


*Samples Received*

Cheers
Dan

2013 Cornerstone Corallina Syrah Rose Stepping Stone Cuvee

*Sample Received*

Active Washington Street in Yountville is where you will find Cornerstone Cellars and their incredibly delicious Corallina Syrah Rose'. Known for their exquisite taste and exceptional character, Cornerstone Cellars produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The wines express the vineyard, vintage and varietal. Always a favorite in my house.

On the nose fresh cherry and strawberry with hints of sliced white peach. Cinnamon spice with a touch of vanilla and citrus.Crisp and inviting!

Juicy cherry and strawberry with fresh white peach. Creamy vanilla custard provides a soft gentle character to the wine. The finish is long and juicy. I paired with grilled burgers and savored each sip overlooking the backyard. Delicious, refreshing and versatile. Cheers to Corallina Syrah Rose'.

Looking to add to the cellar then I highly recommend a stop at Cornerstone Cellars and allow the staff to spoil you with a tasting experience to remember. Traveling to the Napa Valley never gets old and each visit is a new adventure. Craig as always you treat my palate to some excellent wine.

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*Sample Received*

Cheers
Dan

2011 LaRochelle Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Russian River Valley

*Sample Received*

A simple mission in every bottle of LaRochelle "To make California's best, most interesting, most collectable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay." It's about ripe fruit, the perfect soil and the ability to showcase the vineyard.

Tasting LaRochelle reminds me to relax and enjoy the simple life yet feeling spoiled with every sip. The Dutton Ranch Chardonnay screams elegant palate pleaser!

The nose at first gave the impression of tropical fruit with a citrus kick. As the wine opened pear, apple, baking spice with hints of fresh orange peel and creme brulee. I love the rich nose on this chardonnay.

The mouth is full of juicy pear from start to finish. Apple with a hint of mandarin orange, vanilla with a nice spicy finish.Little hint of creamy caramel as well. Complex yet balanced. Nicely done Tom Stutz.

Stop by their tasting room 5443 Tesla Road Livermore Valley CA for some sips of LaRochelle goodness.

*Sample Received*

Cheers
Dan

2011 Steven Kent Winery Ghielmetti Vineyard Cabernet Franc Livermore Valley

*Tonight's wine was a sample received*

Tasted through a few dozen bottles of the Steven Kent Winery portfolio and really find them very pleasing. Nice balance of fruit and spice pairing perfectly with your favorite food creations. Today's wine is courtesy of the Ghielmetti Vineyard located on 64 acres in the upper Livermore Valley. Home to 10 grape varietals, each block is planted to take advantage of the various soil types and climate changes (wind and sun) which occur in the vineyard.

On the nose fresh blueberry, cherry, and raspberry notes with a faint hint of plum. Green pepper, white pepper, dried herbs with nice oak and cedar notes to round out my sniffs. Wonderful aromatics.

A lot going on in the mouth both from a fruit and spice perspective. Cherry, blueberry with hints of vanilla cream. Slight hints of plum, boysenberry and raspberry round out the fruit. The finish has a spicy kick with the cedar, white pepper and thyme. Small lot single vineyard beauty from winemaker Steven Mirassou.

Stop by the tasting room at 5443 Tesla Road Livermore Ca and enjoy some great wine in a beautiful setting. Sip and shop a perfect afternoon adventure.

*Tonight's wine was a sample received*

Cheers
Dan

Meet The winemaker Byron Dooley Of Seven Of Hearts Wine At First Avenue Wine House

Last Thursday I got to hang with the cool kids Byron and Dana Dooley of Seven Of Hearts Wine at my equally cool friend Traci's wine store 1st Avenue Wine House It was another meet and greet the winemaker and since I purchased a bottle a few weeks ago a big fan of Byron's wines and was really looking forward to meeting him. The weather was rainy so all the tastings were inside. I felt like we chatted for hours about his wine philosophy, vineyards and you could tell the passion he has for producing delicious wine.

We started with the 2011 Seven Of Hearts Gran Moraine Chardonnay. Really nice with apple, pear, melon, baking spice and creamy butterscotch. Well done! I loved this one so much it was a purchase and I had Byron sign the bottle.

The 2012 Seven of Hearts Viognier/Rousanne was an equally refreshing and delicious white wine this evening. Pineapple, pear, lime zest with hints of wildflower, honey and ginger. Crisp and clean with a little kick. I was immediately craving a spicy Asian dish to go with this wine.

The 2012 Seven Of Hearts Pinot Noir was the 3rd wine of the evening and a wine I have tasted the prior vintage. This wine is produced from all 5 of the Willamette Valley Vineyards and is classic Pinot Noir in my opinion. Ripe cherry and strawberry with an earthy character. Nice cinnamon, clove, cola notes with a hint of floral. Even a small hint of dark plum. Very nice flow to this wine and yes another purchase of the evening. Talking with Byron I was surprised you could lay this down for another 12 yrs. Byron while I believe you there is no way this tasty morsel will make it 12 years in my house without this wino pulling the cork :)

Up next the 2012 Estate Grown Luminous Hills Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir. Deep rich dark cherry flavor with a subtle hint of black licorice. Raspberry, cranberry and strawberry followed by cloves and earth. Dried herbs were present as well. Little more spice and richness to this pinot which I love. We talked about pairing this with my grilled pork loin with a pomegranate/cherry reduction sauce and suddenly I was extremely hungry.

The 5th wine of the evening and forgive me for not writing down the vintage was the Seven Of Hearts GSM a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. While a big wine I thought it showed some elegance. I would pair this with a nice beef dish. Blackberry, raspberry, some pomegranate and cherry with a wild violet note. Cloves, sweet vanilla, leather and smokey oak on this dark inky wine. Wonderful flow and I really enjoyed the layers of fruit and spice.

The last wine or what I thought was the last was the Seven Of Hearts Tradition Blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cab Franc. Another rich wine with loads of dark fruit. Plum, blueberry, blackberry with smokey oak and spice. Another wine where the layers of fruit and spice compliment very well.

Finally Byron whips out this Pinot Noir Port which he does not make every year. All I will say is I need to buy some and talk about a blast of pinot in your mouth. Something about the warmth of port with the rush of of lush cherry. Oh how I want this to sip after dinner or sitting by my fireplace this winter.

Byron and Dana what a pleasure it was to meet you and chat about the wines of Seven Of Hearts. I could have spent the whole night listening. Thanks for signing the bottles Byron. They will become part of the "bottle shrine" in the near future.Traci you always put on a great event. Sorry the weather was rainy and dreary but the flow through the shop with the light snacks was tasty.

Cheers
Dan