Goosecross Cellars
Sergey, my brother in law's friend, is really into cabs. So, we tried the Goosecross Howell Mountain Library Tasting. The 2001 Syrah might be on its downward slope. The 2001 Howell Mountain Cabernet was very nice, if a little green. (I don't mind green) The 2003, however, was absolutely wonderful, with great structure, juicy acidity, lovely black fruit, cassis. One of my favorite cabs in the valley! Even the young 2005 vintage was already showing lovely, lovely character, with good tannic structure and juicy fruit.
Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Estate.
We did the cave tasting, which was fun in a tourist way. I loved his Gruner Veltliner...layers of flavor and spice and earth and bright acidity. Wonderful wine, of pricey. All of the reds were standounts as well...I know "minerality" is a cliche, but the combination of volcanic soil and chalk in many of the vineyards Rudi uses really expresses itself in the wines. They are so small in production that they taste the wines very very young, but Sergey was so enamored that he joined their wine club (which meant we got the tour and tastings for free!
Rochioli Russian River Valley.
I thought the Sauvignon Blanc was nice. The Pniot is showing better than it was in February but it still did not excite me very much.
Joseph Swan
The owner is a great host. I enjoyed the dry Gewurtraminer a lot...amazing spicyness and earthnyess and structure. The Pinots were light ruby colored and very balanced...frankly I liked them more than the Rochioli. The 2006 Tannat was grapey and high acid and very interesting. What really stood out, though, was the 2005 Great Oak Vineyard Syrah. What a stunning Syrah. A blast of white and black pepper, meaty notes, black anise fruit, savory notes, great bright acid. Ranks up there with some Northern Rhones I have tried recently! Awesome wine!
At Bounty Hunter, thanks to Sergey's generosity we drank the 1999 and 2000 Godspeed Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder. Both were stellar old school cabernets....with bright fruit, some herbal notes, some greeness in the 1999. Anise, tobacco, leather. The 2000 was darker and richer and probably has another few years before peaking.
How can this be so good when the Hess was so bad? This winery is tiny...no funds for fancy wine making or anything like that. What's worse...these cabs were 375s, not 750s. Ttotally blew away the bigger winery up the hill!
Great wine weekend!