Wine Tasting Sunday

We started the day at Mill Creek Winery. We first found Mill Creek thanks to a write up in the Wall Street Journal on Zinfandels. Last time we were here, we tasted all their wines and didn't find one that we didn't like....so we joined their Wine Club. This trip was no different. They are holding 6 bottles to send with your next wine club shipment.

• 2004 Merlot Reserve, Alexander Valley (only 115 cases produced)
• 2006 Zinfandel, Beacham-Downey, Dry Creek (the owners are serving this beauty at their son's wedding TODAY!)
• 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Alexander Valley

We found Sapphire Hill because of a write up in the wine map. It said that if you liked Zinfandel and Pinot Noir that you should check out Sapphire Hill. And the wine map was right! Again, we joined their wine club....what can I say. We found:

• 2006 Chardonnay, Estate Grown - Russian River Valley (Silver Medal - SF Chronicle; Silver Medal - Orange County Wine Competition)
• 2005 Pinot Noir, Sapphire Hill Vineyard - Russian River Valley (Gold Medal - Sonoma County Harvest Fair; Highest Rating SF Chronicle Wine Selections)
• 2004 Pinot Noir, Sapphire Hill Vineyard - Russian River Valley (Double Gold Meda, "Best of Show" Healdsburg Fair; Gold Medal Orange County Wine Competition; Gold Medal Sonoma County Harvest Fair; Silver Medal California State Fair)\
• 2005 Harlot (Syrah / Zinfandel blend), Russian River Valley (Silver Medal Sonoma County Harvest Fair; Silver Medal Orange County Wine Compeition)
• 2006 Late Harvest Zinfandel
• 2004 Bastoney Zinfandel
• 2000 Winberrie Vineyard Zinfandel - Russian River Valley
• 20008 Zinfandel, Porky's Patch, Rosenberg Vineyard, Alexander Valley

Ooops...those are just the ones coming home with us! Joanne at Sapphire Hill suggested that we head over to Hudson Street Wineries. Oh, and she introduced us to the owners of Sapphire Hill who are transplanted mid-westerners.

Hudson Street Wineries is a coop wine tasting room. There are wines from 6 wineries available for tasting. We only tasted from 3 of the wineries...and ended up tasting 11 different wines. Four of those wines (*) will be coming home with us...

• Teira 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek
• Owl Ridge 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County (*)
• Grove Street 2007 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
• 2007 Sadler-Wells Chardonnay, Carneros
• 2006 Shippey Vineyards Rockin Z Zinfandel
• 2006 Bluenose Zinfandel, Sonoma County (*)
• 2005 Bluenose Syrah, Sonoma County
• Owl Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2004 Owl Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Brigden Vineyard, Sonoma County (*)
• 2007 Teira Merlot (*)
• 2007 Burnside Road Merlot, Sonoma County

On our way to find Sapphire Hill, we drove past a winery called "Hauck Cellars." In deference to Cynthia, we went back to find it. And what a gem we found! We tasted 6 wines, loved them all, and joined their wine club. I don't even have the list of what we tasted...but just be warned that they were all fabulous!!

Our last stop of the day was back to Lancaster Estates. (They also produce wine under the name of Roth.) My record keeping has been getting lax. We tasted a Sauvignon Blanc and 3 Cabernet Sauvignons. All wonderful wines...and yes we joined their wine club. We also bought 2 bottles of the Sauvignon Blanc and 3 bottles of their Estate Library Cabernet Sauvignon (2001, 2002, and 2003). The wine club wines will need to be held for 5-10 years...so we needed something to be able to drink now. :)

We are sitting by the pool resting...well John is sleeping and I'm posting. Tonight is dinner at The Dry Creek Kitchen (Charlie Parker restaurant) so we are resting.

Tomorrow we have a reservation for a wine tasting at Verite...then we will head back toward San Jose. We hope to stop by Gloria Ferrar to see if they have any late harvest sparkling wine available. And maybe a stop for a cassoulet in Sonoma CA.