What are your favorite Sonoma County AVAs?

WINE TALK
1

What are your favorite Sonoma County AVAs? (You may select 3)

  • Alexander Valley
  • Russian River
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Rockpile
  • Green Valley
  • Sonoma Valley
  • Chalk Hill
  • Knights Valley
  • Carneros
  • Dry Creek
  • Bennett Valley
  • Sonoma Mountain
  • Northern Sonoma

0 voters

You may select up to 3.

2

I voted Sonoma Coast for Pinot Noir.
I voted Rockpile. Although it is known for Zinfandel, any red flourishes there and is my favorite spot for Bordeaux varietals (Alexander Valley 2nd, Sonoma Valley 3rd for BDXs)
I voted Dry Creek. Although I am not a huge Zinfandel guy, if there was one appellation in Sonoma suited to one variety, it is Dry Creek and Zinfandel. I don’t think there is a place on Earth where Zinfandel is this good.

3

Can’t argue with that.

4

I chose RRV, Sonoma Coast, and while I easily could have voted for Dry Creek the Syrah from Bennett Valley kicks some serious ass.

5

+1 [thumbs-up.gif]

6

HA! We picked the same three. Tie breaker…you win, better avatar (but only by an eyelash as some of my glasses don’t have wine in them).

7

Sonoma Coast
Rockpile
Bennett Valley

8

Sonoma Coast is the easy winner for me. RRV with a few exceptions leaves me wanting. Bennet Valley has some interesting wines coming from it.

9

A couple of those seriously suffer from a proliferation of winemaking that is off-the-charts wrong for my palate. RRV is the best region with the worst batting average, for me. Sonoma Coast isn’t far behind.

I voted Dry Creek Vly, Alexander Vly, and Bennett Vly. Bennett Vly is not just great for Syrah, the '08 Grey Stack S.B. is knock-your-socks-off good.

10

Varies upon varietal. [tease.gif]

11

Who makes wine from BDX varietals from Rockpile?

I have only had Zin, syrah, and Petit Sirah. Love the appelation, but didn’t know they made BDXs? Cool!

12

I do! [dance-clap.gif] Malbec.

I buy some fruit from the Mauritson family. They grow all 5 varieties, and he makes a Cab, Malbec, and Cab blend.

Paradise Ridge also makes a Cab with Rockpile fruit.

But, as far as I know, we are the only 3. I would guess a couple of other producers make a BDX though.

13

mauritson family is distributed in md. i have heard of them and i saw that they make a rockpile zin. but wasnt aware of their bdx varietals. do these come from jack florence’s vineyard? or…how mayny vineyards/acres are there in rockpile?

sorry for the thread drift!

14

The Mauritson family has lived in Healdsburg for several generations, and they have some acreage in Rockpile. In the late 90’s, Clay planted all the Bordeaux varieties and even dedicated about an acre to all the Portuguese Port varieties. He sells me a few tons each of Malbec and Petite Sirah, but won’t let me near his Zinfandel! He keeps that all to himself and he has gotten quite the reputation for his Rockpile Zins.
Most of the fruit is from his own vineyard, but I believe he sources some from the Gloeckner family. I am not sure about Jack Florence.
There are about 180 acres of vineyards planted in Rockpile, very small.