I’ve been going to AV since 2013, and decided to to some bike riding, some wine tasting, and a tiny bit of eating whilst up in Sonoma and Philo! If anyone on here like to ride road bikes I can give you a bunch of great mountain routes!
Van is really doing it at Witching Stick. The Fashauer Vineyard Pinot Noir (along with Zin and now a Carignan) is a real beauty. Elegant, high toned fruit that is super pure. The Cerise Pinot stole the show this time. The 2011 was really singing with purity, concentration and complexity. This had a lot of earthy, even iron and meaty aromas with bright fruit and black tea flavors which really opened on the second night. Also a very intriguing dessert Zin!
Phillips Hill continues to produce fine pinots with great restraint. Pure and bright red fruits all around and especially austere in the Roma vineyard bottling. The Cerise, open from the day before, was beginning to blossom and had some notes similar to the witching Stick, although more youthful (2015).
Navarro aromatic whites hit all notes perfectly, but the dry muscat Blanc was especially interesting. Of the pinots, the ancient method 2015 was really rounded and delicious.
Roederer’s L’ermitage 2011 has rounded out since last summer and is really drinking beautifully now. Rich but racy, yeasty but super fresh.
Domaine Anderson — tasted through but the real standout was Dach Chardonnay. Great concentration, depth and a lean mineral finish that lingered.
New for me was Long Meadow Ranch. Nice and fat Pinot Gris with good balance. Appellation Chardonnay and pinots both as expected. Single vineyard Pinot has all the richness and balance one could hope for. Really danced along the line, good tension. A curiosity was a late harvest Chardonnay that tatsted like it had some botrytis, a really unctuous tropical fruit and honey aspect. Fun!
Drew was pouring three wines, and the Perli Syrah was ripe and round, moreso than the Valenti that I prefer. The fogeater Pinot and Valenti Pinot were both beautiful with rich red fruit, spice, and earth along with good acid and high intrigue. Left with the new Valenti Chardonnay and will report back…