Zinfandel in southern Sonoma/Napa counties
I have one precious day (two nights) in Napa in a couple of weeks, and a gap in my schedule. We're staying and starting in Napa, hitting Mondavi (tasting class) and Cakebread in the morning, then crossing over into Sonoma and stopping at Wellington and Gundlach Bundschu in the afternoon. What we're missing is zinfandel. Healdsburg is just too far, especially considering that I'll be driving (and spitting, but still), so with that in mind, are there any wineries in the Glen Ellen/Sonoma area that anyone can recommend particularly for their zin, and that won't make me gag on oak and alcohol? Or is it just not worth it with the relative quality of pinots in the area?
I'd also happily take advice on a quick, cheap lunch in Glen Ellen, but figure that I can find that on the boards if I look hard enough. Searching for zinfandel just gave me a million hits in RRV and Healdsburg, which doesn't help.
By cjd260
on Aug 11, 2011 07:10 AM
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Hendry Wines is on Redwood Road in Napa. Many good wines, including 2 very good zins. Very interesting tour, usually with George Hendry, owner/winemaker.
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What about Ravenswood? Their single vineyard zins are generally quite good.
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Driving in one day from the Napa valley to the Sonoma wine country, and back, is not my idea of a good time. The roads are either heavy with traffic, or windy and twisty, or both. The road east from Calistoga is an exceptionally scenic route, a lot of fun if you have a good sports car (Petrified Forest Road to Mark West Springs Road). There might be some wineries along the way.
My advice is to stay within Napa. There are some nice tasting rooms within the city of Napa; you can get some sort of "passport" to go to more than one at a discount, and most of the tasting rooms represent more than one winery. All walkable. Bonus is that the weather is (so far this summer) cool enough so that walking is reasonable.
http://www.napadowntown.com/plan-your...
Hendry is a great recommendation -- the tours are usually for those on their "preferred list". We were lucky enough to know some people on the list and got an amazing tour from George Hendry.
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Wellington will have a zinfandel, and from old vines. Just outside of Glen Ellen the Bucklin family has one of the oldest vineyards in the county, dry farmed and organic since they've restored it ; it's really a farm with no tasting room but they will make time to give tours with an appointment and the vines are very unique and beautiful. Are you getting as far up as the Calistoga end of the Napa valley ? That opens up more options for wineries.
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There are enough amazing wineries in Napa valley, so I also don't understand why you are going over to Sonoma when you have so little time....
I like Elyse in Napa for their Howell Mountain zin (they are appointment only, but it is easy to get one); it is not always on their taste list, but they normally pour it if you mention it (they have other good zins as well).
Also, I was underwhelmed by Gundlach Bundschu on my last visit; however, the only wine I really did like there was their zin, so you already have a good zin on your current itinerary (although it will involve a lot of driving and traffic to do it).
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I concur on Elyse for their Howell Mountain zin - as well as Lamborn and Outpost for AMAZING Howell Mountain zins.
Instead of Sonoma, head up to Howell Mountain and hit those; you will taste stunning, mountain-fruit zins that will knock your socks off.
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I'm also not a fan of the high alcohol / heavy oak style, and Wellington is the only place in the Glen Ellen / Kenwood area where I've had drinkable reds in recent years.
The David Noyes Dry Creek zin might be worth a try: 14.5%, 25% new oak. He's at the Family Wineries tasting room in Kenwood: http://www.familywines.com/index2.html
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Family Wineries Kenwood
9380 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, CA 95452
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