Life is too short to drink bad wine! Celebrate its sweetness and light with a wonderful port, a honeyed dessert or a delicious late-harvest wine.
In the midst of a cold rain, we decided to go wine-tasting in Sonoma's Russian River and Alexander Valleys. Because of the weather, we focused on sweet wines: dessert and late-harvest wines and ports.
The distinctive tasting room at Field Stone Winery was our first stop. Their 2002 Vintage Petit Syrah Port has a very slight tannic edge, and a distinctive P.Syrah fruitiness. Scharffenberger chocolate bites expose rich chocolate and hazelnut tones in the port.
Hanna Winery recommended their 100% Rued Chardonnay 2003 Jasmine for its delicate flavor. I would not call this a sweet wine, however—it is light, with a floral nose, sharp, crisp peach-and-citrus on the tongue, and absolutely no tannin bite despite its fermentation in 20% new French oak.
The charming tasting room at Johnson's Alexander Valley Wines is the antithesis of the snobby wine experience—we tasted from a wedding glass ("Good Luck Charlie and Beth!"). The beagles who usually greet visitors to this superb picnic spot must have been driven inside by the rain, but we did get a look at the automated pipe organ with its surround of other instruments. Alas! Tom was not there to perform, but we were consoled by an excellent 1997 late-harvest Johannesburg Reisling, not too sweet, but with vivid melon and citrus notes on the palate, and a very slight tannin bite at the finish.
Trentadue Winery charges for tasting a flight of their port wines—but if you like strong ports with lots of tannic edge (and "notes of tobacco" in one case), it is worth the investment. The 2003 Viognier White Port is my favorite from this winery, lightly sweet and fruity, with the apricot-and-vanilla notes of the Viognier grape. Nibble some brie between sips to bring out a pleasant nutmeg undertone.
In Healdsburg, we went first to the Bohemian "Best of the North Bay" tasting room winner, Thumbprint Cellars—the winery also got the nod for Best Cabernet and Best Pinot Noir wines, and an honorable mention for their tasting room as a "best-kept secret." We hoped to taste again the excellent Cabernet Port they offered at the barrel-tasting, but it had been returned to rest in the barrel. Scott assured us that futures will still be available at their "Best Of" celebration, which will coincide with the Passport weekend, April 23-23. Pair the port with the custom-made Cab Port Truffles—port futures and truffles can both be purchased from the Thumbprint web site.
Article comments
1 - Carolyn
Great article...but you missed visiting the best tasting room in Sonoma County by not going to Locals in Geyserville.
www.tastelocalwines.com
2 - Tom
Quite a trip. I prefer the Russian River Valley side to the Alexander Valley side, but still you guys did great.
I was attracted to your post becaue I'm a big fan of sweet wines. Be they port or muscats or whatever, I tend to gravitate to them. Sometimes, being in the business, I get chuckles from my colleagues because I'm supposed to like big cabs better. Screw'em.
Great trip, great post!!
3 - DrPat
Tom, you have to be willing to admit what you enjoy, and go for it - otherwise, you will spend your life drinking "bad wine"! (Hey, if it doesn't trip your tastebuds, there's NO reason to drink it...)
Don't miss the Bella Late Harvest Zin this year - it will be THE Zin to have from this year's bottling. Likewise, be sure to catch the thumbprint Cabernet Port when it is released - or get futures on it, it's going to be a winner!
And every sweet-wine lover should have a bottle of Late Harvest Furmint tucked away. It's a tastier way to celebrate than champagne - and very special...
4 - Helen Weber
Hi DrPat, thanks for the nice mention on our 2002 Field Stone Port. I would just like to mention that the Petite Sirah vineyard at Field Stone was actually planted way back in 1894...it survived Prohibition, and is going strong today, dryfarmed, 111 years later. It's quite charming there.. the old Petite vineyard surrounds the little white farmhouse (our office) where all of the Bartles & James commercials were filmed :-) And, the barn next to that house was a winery back in the 1800's...it's one of the "Ghost wineries of Sonoma County". Would love to invite you back, any time...take care and thanks again for the kind mention~
Helen
5 - Ramsy Gardener
No discussion of Sonoma County wines would be complete without mentioning the Revolution in the Bottle coming from Bruce Patch the Wine Guerrilla. He's straight up redefining the game in Zinfandels. No more mushy, fruity bamboozle, these Zins are sophisticated and man, do they ever go great with BBQ. Can't wait to get into a couple bottles of Old Vine this summer at the game with some ribs on the grill!