Wine Tributaries
by Tim Hayes & John Koetzner

     We contacted some of our local wineries to get a special preview of  wines that will be poured as part of the barrel tasting weekend, and below we have noted how they are beginning to show from the samples we received. You will notice that these are all family winery operations with smaller case productions, so they often sell out their wines in a very short period of time. As a result, it is a great time to get out to meet them, taste some wines, and start planning on stocking your cellar for the future before these wines are only a memory.

     Dave Rafanelli has two wines, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, and he only opens his doors without appointments on two weekends a year, the barrel tasting being one of them. With a 10,000 total case production, Rafanelli notes, "When I released my wines last year, I sold out in six days. I had some people who tried to order wine from back East, but their orders arrived too late."

     Rafanelli’s 1997 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, which will be bottled in April, has classic berry intensity in the nose with hints of sweet oak. It’s a big, full-bodied wine with spicy clove and blackberry flavors dominating this fabulous Zinfandel.

     His 1997 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will be bottled in summer and it has a spicy, cedar cigar box nose and rich layers of blackberry fruit that fills the palate. It is a big wine that will age well, if one is not tempted to drink it too soon. This is a real treat for Cabernet lovers.

     Armida Chardonnay was a gold medal winner at last year’s Harvest Fair and the winery took five medals for five wines at the recent Citrus Fair. Bruce Cousins is excited about the current state of Armida’s wines and we received three samples that will be tasted at the barrel tasting.

     The 1998 Armida Chardonnay has tropical fruit overtones in the nose and has tropical fruit and pear flavors with a crisp finish, making it a classically structured Chardonnay. Look for a repeat at the Harvest Fair.

     Armida’s 1998 Pinot Noir has a jammy and woody nose with soft berry and cherry fruit, nice tannins, and a rounded, lush mouth-feel. This soft wine is a pleasing example of what can be done with Pinot Noir.

     A soft, earthy and black currant nose is just the first sign that the Armida 1997 Merlot will satisfy the palate. It has rounded fruit and a rich, new oak vanilla, that leads into terrific finish. This is a great example of Merlot and should not be missed.

     Another winery from the Dry Creek Valley appellation that has produced great wines for years, Pedroncelli Winery continues its tradition of making some great red wines with its two barrel samples.

     The 1998 Pinot Noir has a sweet, toasty oak and berry nose with nice cherry fruit and oak balance. This wine is still young, but it is showing promise to mature into a terrific Pinot Noir.

     Zinfandel fans will want to check out the 1998 Mother Clone Zinfandel. It has blackberry and brambly overtones in the nose, spicy mix of wood, fruit and tannins, showing good structure that leads into a lingering finish.

      They even have T-shirts celebrating their mother clone wines, but we would rather collect their Zinfandels.

     Last summer we tasted some Sausal Century Vine Zinfandel and their Private Reserve Zinfandel that came from older vines and we were impressed. We also recalled their Sogni d’Oro, a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Malbec. Each wine had incredible structure and made an impression on our olfactory memories.

     Dave Demostene has one barrel sample that should make all  Zinfandel lovers head out to the Alexander Valley, the Sausal 1997 Private Reserve Zinfandel. It has an intriguingly complex spicy, minty and briary nose with rich currant and plum layers along with oak complexity. It is a classic example of a great old vine Zinfandel. Don’t miss it. Plus, Sausal and its neighboring Alexander Valley wineries will be open on Friday night, March 5, from 5:00 PM until 8:00PM letting people preview the barrel tasting weekend.

     Always a great place to taste wine and to have a picnic during the spring and summer, Sommer Vineyards & Winery has three great reasons to stop during the barrel tasting. The first is its 1997 Alexander Valley Merlot. All estate grown, it has a cedary, berry and cassis nose, opulent berry fruit with medium tannins and a lingering finish. This wine shows well and will age well. It is an excellent example of Merlot.

     Likewise, the 1997 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is showing well. It has a raisiny, jammy and sweet vanilla nose with layers of ripe blackberry fruit and soft tannins that lead into an excellent finish.

     Yet, the biggest surprise is their 1998 Late Harvest Semillon. This wine has an incredibly delicate honey and apricot nose with melon, apricot and honey overtones in the flavor, and an excellent balance between sugar and acid. This is a delightful dessert that should not be missed.

     Since Sommer Vineyards will also be open on Friday evening, March 5, for the barrel tasting, it is another of the Alexander Valley wineries to visit along the way.

Whatever your wine preferences are, you are certain to find wines that will please your palates during the barrel tasting weekend. It is a chance to feel like you are part of a wine family affair as you get invited to take part in that yearly tradition of tasting wines from the barrel.     

© 1999 by Tim Hayes & John Koetzner. All Rights Reserved. Wine Tributaries is hosted by Wines on the Internet.