Sonoma tastings

Went to Sonoma last week. Stayed in the Applewood Inn in Guerneville. As before a great place to stay with marvelous breakfasts and one outstanding dinner. Two dinners at two different Willie's wine bars. One in Santa Rosa and one in Healdsburg. Enjoyed both of them especially the wine flights. Couldn't believe after tasting all day could still do more. Favorites on this trip. Rafanelli had to top it all especially the

2005 Zindfandel and the 2004 Cabernet. Nice folks but it is frustrating as you basically can't buy their wines until next spring and getting on their list....2 years. The Zindfandel was great and more subtle than most zinds. Great nose of pepper and blackberry, very juicy taste and great mouth feel with lots of black fruit and a hint of sweet tannins and the aftertaste lasted for 20-30 minutes. Also tried Merry Edwards for the first time. What a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc. Fruity with a good amount of acid to hold it up. Some grassiness and even a tad of Malborough cat pee but really citrus flavors of grapefruit and lime as well. Like the Rafanelli a long lingering aftertaste. Not a great buy at $27 but they sell 1/2 bottles that may be a better buy for us. Also tried Unti that had a list of very good wines though nothing stood out, Ferrari Carano in the downstairs higher end room with some outstanding cabernets from their single vineyard bottlings that is new for them; Teldeschi with some really tasty zinds and a really nice 2002 Cabernet. Ridge, wasn't impressed with what they were offering at the Lytton Springs room but the main Ridge tasting room not in Sonoma was another matter. Gary Ferrell was pouring some less than memorable Pinot Noirs, way too tannic and powerful for Pinot Noir. Did a private tasting at Ramey.. wow some really big Chardonnays tasted 6 of their bottlings one better than the other Hyde and Hudson were our favorites; the Claret and the 2 cabernets we tasted were all great but the cabs are way over-priced in the $80-100 range so I won't be buying. Davis Bynum, not so good for any of their wines; Bella tasted a slew of wines but other than the interesting cave setting and a really cool wine dog not memorable wines.