Posted from CellarTracker
A very good winery very much under the radar.
Yup. We were in the tasting room last Friday and got to spend some time w part owner mark mcwilliams. Terrific wines and great people. And texans to boot. I didn’t take notes but the pinots were all great and mark made a cab franc under a different label that was really good
It was Tony’s fault we even went there in the first place ![[thankyou.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/d/df165fe9c1593d19166ae7e1ffe5e272089cc07b.gif "thankyou"){kind=small}
We took advantage of their private tastings and also ordered a lunch. Weather was unbelievable. Sat out back in an area that would be perfect for a Berserkerfest.
Just tonight at dinner my wife said she wanted to go back…for the bread sticks!
Not being a tasting pro, I worried that the wines might not be as good at home as they were at the winery. So far so good.
I had this at a restaurant in Jenner a few months ago. Wasn’t familiar with the producer but they had it by the glass. Enjoyed it very much and strongly preferred it to the Merry Edwards P/N we had next to it.
Yeah, Arista hit a new plateau with the 2007s. Excellent wines.
The Cab Franc is under the Mark David label. Really tasty stuff, particularly the 2006, I believe it was …
I agree, some very nice wines from a producer that doesn’t get talked about that much. I visited with their winemaker, Leslie Sisneros, earlier this year and they’ve got some good '08 Pinots coming up judging from some barrel sample I tasted (plus a very good Gewürz):
’08 Gewürztraminer, Russian River Valley: Tasted at Saralee’s Vineyard on 2/26/09 (three days after bottling). From 100% Saralee’s Vineyard fruit, 87% stainless steel, 13% barrel-fermented, totally dry. Very light color, with intense lychee, stone fruit, and spice aromas, smooth mouthfeel with crisp acidity, slight bitter note in the finish that’s common to Gewürz. A very enjoyable wine, even tasted so soon after bottling – spot-on varietal character.
’08 Pinot Noir, Keller Vineyard, Sonoma Coast (barrel sample): Clones 115 and 828, new Siguin Moreau barrel. Medium-dark color, ripe raspberry and darker fruit, coffee, and earth, great acidity, some mild tannins.
’08 Pinot Noir, Mononi Vineyard, Russian River Valley (barrel sample): Clone 115, new Remond Allier barrel. Medium-dark color, intense ripe cherry and cola, some vanilla and spice.
’08 Pinot Noir, Mononi Vineyard, Russian River Valley (barrel sample): Clone 113, one-year-old Mercurey barrel. Medium color, very floral aromas, bright strawberry and pomegranate, great acidity and lively mouthfeel, flavorful finish. This could easily be bottled this on its own.
’08 Pinot Noir, Toboni Vineyard, Russian River Valley (barrel sample): Clone 777, new Marcel Cadet barrel. Medium-dark color, dark brambly fruit, more earthy along with some wood notes, bigger mouthfeel and more tannins.
’08 Pinot Noir, Bacigalupi Vineyard, Russian River Valley (barrel sample): Pommard clone, older Remond barrel. Medium color, intense raspberry and spice, silky texture with a long, tasty finish.
’08 Pinot Noir, Bacigalupi Vineyard, Russian River Valley (barrel sample): Wente clone, new Marcel Cadet barrel. Medium color, plum and darker fruits with dried herbs and some sweet oak notes, richer mouthfeel.
’08 Pinot Noir, Martinelli Vineyard, Russian River Valley (barrel sample): Clones 115 and 777, new Mercurey barrel. Ripe cherry, vanilla/oak, very smooth and lush mouthfeel, some noticeable tannins.
’08 Pinot Noir, Martinelli Seven Mules Vineyard, Russian River Valley (barrel sample): 85% Clone 114, 15% Clone 113, new François Freres Vosges barrel. Medium-dark color, bright cherry aromas with a savory component and some coffee notes, very rich mouthfeel, some tannins on the finish.
(more info on my visit with Leslie here: Russian River Valley - May '09)
I always thought their Gewurz would go great with sushi at Go Fish in St. Helena.