Sarah and I spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Healdsburg celebrating several family events...the main event being the 60th wedding anniversary of her paternal grandparents. On Monday, we decided to do some wine tasting (go figure! ) and took Sarah's brother and sister-in-law with us. After 4 stops, we took Sarah's brother and sister-in-law back to the house and traded them for Sarah's parents. Below is a list of wineries and wines tasted.

Bella Vineyards
2002 Bella Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Hillside Zinfandel (94% Zinfandel and 6% Petite Sirah) - 87
2002 Bella Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Belle Canyon Zinfandel (100% Zinfandel) - 88
2002 Bella Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel (96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah) - 90
2002 Bella Vineyards Alexander Valley Big River Ranch Zinfandel (84% Zin and 16% Petite Sirah) - 94

All of these Zins were outstanding! My favorite was the Big River Ranch. All had between 14.7% and 15.9% alcohol, but none of them tasted hot. A definite find for all you Zin fans out there! The bottom three are all RP rated wines. We left with some Big River Ranch.

Unti Vineyards
2003 Segromigno (82% Sangiovese, 9% Barbera, 9% Dolcetto) - 86
2003 Barbera (100% Barbera) - 92
2003 Grenache (82% Grenache, 11% Syrah and 7% Mourvedre) - 88
2001 Syrah (100% Syrah) - 88
2002 Syrah (95% Syrah, 5% Grenache Noir - alcohol 14.8%) - 90
2002 Zinfandel (86% Zinfandel, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Barbera) - 91

The Barbera was the darkest Barbera I have ever seen. It could have passed for a Petite Sirah, it was that dark. I loved it! The Zin and the Syrahs were very good. Sarah's brother picked up some Zin.

Nalle Winery
2003 Pinot Noir Hopkins Ranch - 87
2001 Zinfandel - 87
2002 Zinfandel - 88
2003 Zinfandel - 88

My least favorite stop of the trip.

Martinelli Winery
We tried the usual suspects at Martinelli (G-miner, Pinot, Pinot, Pinot and G&L Zin). The 2003 G&L is why we went. Got our 6 bottle limit and left.

A Rafanelli Vineyard and Winery
2003 Zinfandel - 92
2002 Merlot - 92
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - 93

IMHO you simply cannot beat the consistency of the quality of the Rafanelli line up. We tasted with Rachel (the daughter, now the primary winemaker I believe) who was wonderful to us. The new release letter is due to go out this week for all you mailing list folks waiting to get your offer letter. We buy off the mailer every year, but Sarah's mom and dad got two bottles of each.

F. Teldeschi Winery
1998 Terranova (Carignane, valdiguie zinfandel, and petite sirah) - 85
1996 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, Lot 1 - 88
1997 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley - 92
1999 Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley - 89
2002 Zinfandel Port

This place was a surprise. I have never been here nor tried any of their wines. The 1997 Zin she poured for us is one of the best Zins I have ever had. We came home with a couple bottles of it. My in-laws bought some Terranova and Petite Sirah. We had the Petite Sirah with our grilled filet mignon that evening with dinner.

Ridge Winery Lytton Springs
1991 Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains - 88
2001 Mazzoni Home Ranch - 88
2001 Zinfandel Jimsomare - 88
2001 Zinfandel Paso Robles - 88
2002 Zinfandel Lytton Springs - 90
2003 Zinfandel Lytton Springs - 94
2003 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch - 87
2003 Carignane Buchignani Ranch - 85
2000 Cabernet/Merlot Santa Cruz Mountains - 88
2004 Monte Bello Barrel Sample - 95
2002 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch Late Picked - 90

We started with the 1991 (that's right 1991) Chardonnay which was quite good. It had aged very well. Losing some of it's fruit and showing mostly oak, but still nice. The side by side of the 02 and 03 Lytton Springs was great - the 03 won by a mile tho'. And we did purchase some 2004 Monte Bello futures based off of our barrel sample. We were actually voted "Most Fun Group of the Day" by our tasting room hostess.

Optima Wine Cellars
2003 Russian River Valley Chardonnay - 87
2003 Alexander Valley Rose of Cabernet - 89
2002 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel - 90
2000 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - 90

Disclaimer: I am in a play right now with the brother-in-law of the wife of the winemaker (as funny as this sounds, it is 100% true.) He suggested we stop in to see them. I enjoyed the wines here very much. The Rose was made by the winemaker's 15 year old son as a means to purchase his dream car - a 1968 Mustang Fastback. The label is called FASTBACK PROJECT complete with a picture of the car. A friend donated 4 tons of Cabernet grapes to the son to get the project rolling. He was in charge of the entire process with very little intervention from Dad except when needed. He sold enough wine to buy the car and then some.

Del Dotto Vineyards
We stopped in to see our friend ttepper on our way out of Dodge and shared a glass of their recent RP 94 scored 2002 David. It was delicious!

Pictures of our trip will be posted when I have the time to upload them.