Revisiting an Old Friend-and a new one!

My friends and I were on a tasting expedition, and after finishing a nice vertical at Conn Creek, we hit up WILLIAM HARRISON just down the road on Silverado Trail. Despite the rather...TRUMPIAN note on the sign (100% American-Owned!)* these were very nice wines. Definitely on the savory, earthy side of the Bordeaux family, with balanced fruit, cassis, and earth. Only 2200 cases. They have been around for quite a while, and I enjoyed their wines a decade ago just as I was getting "into" wine. Frankly, I like their style more than Conn Creek, which tends to the extracted side of things.

* Far, far predates the Orange Menace, I might note.

The tasting room manager also knew the family involved in a second winery I discovered this weekend. Desperate to escape the smoke, I took a mini-vacation to Paso and San Luis Obispo. While bicycling east of Paso Robles, I randomly stopped at Bella Luna Winery. Wow. definitely an Italian take on wine, with lithe, balanced fruit, plenty of acidity, earthy tones. Their Bordeaux blend was a great take on blending, and clocked in at 12.9% alcohol!!!!! They also had a fine Arneis and a very nice and earthy Sangiovese. Quite lovely place, too.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks Brian - will have to look at Bella Luna.

... (100% American-Owned!).

Rather silly to note this, as most wineries are American-owned, with notable exceptions. Is Ridge still owned by the Japanese pharmaceutical company? Forge Cellars is 2/3rd owned by foreigners. Tablas Creek is French. I'm sure there are quite a few others, but overall probably 85-90% are 'American'. (And, of course, the grapes are 100% American grown on American soil!)

[David M. Bueker]

Mark - you fail to understand the silliness of our times. I have no doubt that sign turns away nobody, and attracts more than a few who would just pass by.