Tag Archives: Sonoma

Joel Peterson and his Ravenswood vineyard designate wines

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Recently I had the chance to sit down with Ravenswood’s winemaker Joel Peterson to discuss his latest line, his single vineyard designate line. I must say I was looking forward to seeing how many Zins just one can produce, and how much of a difference they were. I was in for a shock.
Joel is a well-spoken, experienced and extremely knowledgeable winemaker. He’s held the winemaker position for 30+ years, a feat most wineries only dream about. And he still has a remarkable passion to the land and to the grape. Over dinner and 8 bottles of wine (for the record, we didn’t even come close to finishing them), Joel recounted of the days when he first met Robert Parker Jr., going on to explain that he had just driven from Tahoe that morning and arrived to the winery wearing his ski parka and corresponding attire (you would think you would want a good first impression to a man who can literally change your wine’s future in a matter of 2 to 3 digits).
He recounted the wine that got him started, the day Costco wanted his wines, the day his friend offered him to try a 1929 bottle of Bordeaux that had been underneath a New Jersey beach house for nearly half of a century. And all of this lead to the 8 vineyard designate wines which I was happy to sample.
The wines can be summed up with a phrase from fellow winemaker Greg LaFoiette of Tandem— Vint with honor. And that is what Joel has done. Having more information in his head than what is probably in the library at UC Davis, Joel has crafted 8 wines from 8 distinctive locations in Napa and Sonoma County. The most interesting part of the tasting was that most were not 100% ZIn. I assumed that having come from the same vineyard that they were, to which I was incorrect.
Taste of the location
If you want to taste precisely what wine from specific regions, AVA’s even, taste like, then these wines are for you. Dry Creek, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley are all represented. Closing my eyes, I could see exactly where these wines came from (having sampled a fair bit of wines in the past from the regions mentioned above). Greg accompanied each wine with a personal story, explaining everything about the vineyard from the former owner to how he found the vineyard. I’m still torn whether I treasured the stories, the wine, or the charm of the winemaker more. I guess, in the end, it was all-of-the-above.
The next time you’re in Sonoma, stop in to Ravenswood and sample these exquisite wines. The prices are fair and, given the current economic times, they are an affordable luxury. They range from the mid $30s to $75 for the Icon (one beautiful almost-Bordeaux blend from one vineyard). A new look at a legendary winery.
Cheers,
Haydn

ravenswoodRecently I had the chance to sit down with Ravenswood’s winemaker Joel Peterson to discuss his latest line, his single vineyard designate collection. I must say I was looking forward to seeing how many Zins just one can produce, and how much of a difference they were. I was in for a shock.

Joel is a well-spoken, experienced and extremely knowledgeable winemaker. He’s held the winemaker position for 30+ years, a feat most wineries only dream about. And he still has a remarkable passion to the land and to the grape. Over dinner and 8 bottles of wine (for the record, we didn’t even come close to finishing them), Joel recounted of the days when he first met Robert Parker Jr., going on to explain that he had just driven from Tahoe that morning and arrived to the winery wearing his ski parka and corresponding attire (you would think you would want a good first impression to a man who can literally change your wine’s future in a matter of 2 to 3 digits).

He recounted the wine that got him started, the day Costco wanted his wines, the day his friend offered him to try a 1929 bottle of Bordeaux that had been underneath a New Jersey beach house for nearly half of a century. And all of this lead to the 8 vineyard designate wines which I was happy to sample.

The wines can be summed up with a phrase from fellow winemaker Greg Follette of Tandem— Vint with honor. And that is what Joel has done. Having more information in his head than what is probably in the library at UC Davis, Joel has crafted 8 wines from 8 distinctive locations in Napa and Sonoma County. The most interesting part of the tasting was that most were not 100% ZIn. I assumed that having come from the same vineyard that they were, to which I was incorrect.

Taste of the location

If you want to taste precisely what wine from specific regions, AVA’s even, taste like, then these wines are for you. Dry Creek, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley are all represented. Closing my eyes, I could see exactly where these wines came from (having sampled a fair bit of wines in the past from the regions mentioned above). Greg accompanied each wine with a personal story, explaining everything about the vineyard from the former owner to how he found the vineyard. I’m still torn whether I treasured the stories, the wine, or the charm of the winemaker more. I guess, in the end, it was all-of-the-above.

The next time you’re in Sonoma, stop in to Ravenswood and sample these exquisite wines. The prices are fair and, given the current economic times, they are an affordable luxury. They range from the mid $30s to $75 for the Icon (one beautiful almost-Bordeaux blend from one vineyard). A new look at a legendary winery.

Cheers,
Haydn

Review of the 2007 Moon Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma County

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moon-mountain2007 Moon Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma County
Appellation: Sonoma
ALC: 13.9%
Haydn gives this wine: 89pts

I will admit that I preach what I teach when it comes to wine in the saying, “Drink what you like”. And such is  the case for the 2007 Moon Mountain Chardonnay. It’s a very well made wine, has a bit of structure to it, and comes in right around $10.

The common features of a Chardonnay are nowhere present here. You won’t find mouthfuls of butter and oak. What you will find is a more creamy texture to it. There is a bit of acidity, but more cream, like a dessert style cream, then anything near the butter realm.

I feel this wine’s success comes from the 1/3 stainless steel fermentation, instead of entirely oak aged. Yes, it did touch oak (even I was surprised upon reading that) as you really can’t tell that the wine even hit a hint of oak. But such is the case.

The creaminess lies in the 1/3 malolactic fermentation which the winemaker did to soften the sharp acidity. For a wine priced well below $20, this bottle is a true gem and a real find. For a different take on a common grape, the Chardonnay, check out Moon Mountain’s 2007 Chardonnay.

Cheers,
Haydn

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com

The beautiful winery that is Matanzas Creek

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matanzas-creek-wineryThe beautiful winery that is Matanzas Creek.
by Haydn Adams | Beyond Napa Valley Blog

Deep inside the heart of Sonoma lies the town of Glen Elen. Comprised of more stop signs than stop lights, it’s a town that a tourist would probably just brush off as a mere inconvenience in order to get to some of the larger wineries. But one winery does call Glen Elen home. While it is not within the immediate city limits, it is still one of the only wineries that 1) picks grapes out of that area and 2) is located as close to the main stop sign as possible. The winery I’m referring to is Matanzas Creek.

There are two plants which Matanzas Creek is known for—wine and lavender. No, they don’t mix the two together (hmmm, wonder what that would taste like?). But they do boast a considerably large square footage of lavender. During the late spring and summer, a sea of purple overwhelms all other colors along the drive up. The smell surrounds the senses and feels you with a great sense of joy. It’s as if the winery literally “springs” to life during the two seasons.

Mantazas Creek’s winery feels almost like a rustic house that has been re-modled upon first glance. A balcony that wraps around two sides allows for beautiful vistas of the surrounding vineyards. The best part about looking out on the balcony is that all you hear is very light car noise and the sound of a fountain off to the side. Large trees act as a canopy over your head, providing a good deal of shade. The ambiance outside is tranquil. The plants are well-manicured and the sculptures along the steps up to the winery feels a bit out of place, but still in the same sentence feels right at home in a way.

Inside, you’re hit with a traditional winery tasting room. The house is much bigger inside than you would assume judging by just the front. I haven’t explored all of the square feet, but I’d venture a guess that back rooms are reserved for private events and offices.

Ira, the person pouring, was extremely friendly and courteous. He kindly bragged about various wines and explained not just about their makeup, but also the reason why he was serving wines at different temperatures.

One way he showcased was a Chardonnay, but he had brought it out very close to a red-wine temperature (red wines should be served at wine-cave-temperature, not “room-temperature” which are entirely two different things). The wine did show different characteristics, with a bit of acidity and a light about about of oak. The Chardonnay has to be one of a handful of that varietal that I actually enjoyed the quantity of oak on the wine. Kudos to the winemaker for adding the correct amount.

The merlot also showed very nicely, with a few deeper berries coming out on it. It was fruit forward, as you would expect a Merlot to be, but more boysenberry and blackberry. Other wines to give thumbs up to were the Syrah, Rosé (dry, not sweet) and the Meritage (rhymes with heritage).

Overall, the winery’s location help seal the deal. The extra 10-minute route you have to take to get here is very fulfilling when you set foot onto the property. The casual atmosphere of Matanzas creek make it a must for future tourists that want to dive a little deeper into the heart of Sonoma.

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Haydn is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems of the region. He also writes for vinvillage.com. When he is not teaching, or working in his office, you can find Haydn somewhere in Sonoma spitting out wines (that’s a good thing for the record).