VinoCellar.com Sonoma Wine-a-bration! February, 2007

This is just a partial list of wineries that I think we would enjoy visiting. I do not include Kosta Browne on the list because I assume that it would be in the top four by almost everyone. I have put an asterisk* on some of the lesser-known wineries that I am familiar with and think should be considered.

Vote for your top four choices. If there is somewhere not on the list that you would enjoy visiting don't hesitate to list it in your post.

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I wish I could edit this thing after posting.

I forgot one winery that I am a new fan of.
Moshin Vineyards
Add that one to the mix.

Did you want to subtract out those not made in Sonoma? Or is this "I'll go anywhere for a good Pinot"?

David,

We hit Lynmar today, and they were excellent. They have a nice private tasting area they said they could set aside for us. We liked the wine so much we joined their club....just the second time we've done that. They produce Chard and Pinot primarily, but we also bought some Rose and Syrah today. The Rose was REALLY good! Their Chards were both excellent but very different from each other. I think it would make a great stop, and it's really close to the Freeman caves.

I think doing the Freeman/August West visit is a must, as I'm sure Ed would be willing to do tastings and barrel samples for us.

Hartford Court would also make a lovely visit for most people, and you didn't list them.

We hit Dutton-Goldfield today, and it was just ok. Not sure if you've been there lately, but they changed their location and are now located at Battelo Winery. The Battelo wines were subpar with the exception of the Vin Gris, which was really quite nice.

If we end up doing the Hilton (still working on that) then it's almost silly not to do Siduri. They are literally one mile from the Hilton. BTW, we sampled their soon to be bottled Syrah's from the stainless tanks.....holy crap are these going to be killer wines!

Chris

I am in as my mistress love Pinot Noir.

They all look good to me.... but consider I've only driven THROUGH sonoma... never stopped anywhere.

Still allowed two cases per person on the planes?

Darn it - nobody is bringing their python yet.

I was thinking of that big new place up on the hill near Domaine Carneros. I guess it is in Napa but it is not that far away really. We could do Thomas' and Jamie's wines.

I'm thinking we go south (Sebastapol/Sonoma) one day and north (Healdsburg) the next.

Audelssa is worth considering. If you call Erich Bradley (winemaker) you may also get to taste his Sojourn Pinot Noir too.

FWIW, would love to have everyone come by. I am doing some traveling in February (such a beautiful time in so much of the country I just can't res ist) - but even if I am not around I would be delighted to make certain some extra special things are pulled out for everyone to taste.

Adam Lee
Siduri Wines

I thought about visiting Martinelli. (I would like to experience the crappy treatment first hand). Does anyone know if you are able to buy some of their nicer pinots such as the Blue Slide Ridge by just going to the tasting room? Or do you have to be a member of the mailing list?

You can always ask. They usually have extras of their top shelf stuff after the mailing list allocations are done but February is the wrong time of the year for those.

One might be able to buy some Rochioli Pinots from the tasting room in February.

I'm very very interested but don't know my February schedule yet. The people I've met in my very short time on this board have been uniformly wonderful. I'm aware I'll be shut out of a room if I dither.