The Road Less Traveled Wines of Napa. Sonoma. Russian River

Just returned from 10 days in wine country. This year instead of revisiting many of the same ole corporate wineries like Silver Oak, Caymus we went to places we had never done before and it was incredible.

Reverie on Diamond Mountain is a real gem. Incredible red wines.

El Molino is a very small producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Total

1800 cases of incredible wines. They date back to the 1800's and during prohibition operated as a ghost winery. What I found amazing is that their fruit is from Rutherford and that is Cabernet/Merlot country. Wines are very ageable and we tried a 20 year old Chard that was incredible.

Stony Hill on Spring Mountain was another amazing find. They have incredible Chardonnay, Gvertz, white reislings. They are very ageable as well. Had a 30 year old Chard that was amazing. Who says that California whites do not age...Also we bought some older Semillon sweet table wines for dessert or to serve with seared foie gras. This wine is very y'qem like. Prices were amazingly low and I was told it's because the family is not increasing prices just to do the California thing.

Other amazing wines.

Martinelli wines of Russian Valley, Gary Ferrel, and Rochioli were all excellent.

We did other wineries that were of the road less traveled but these stood out the most.

Dick

Reply to
Richard Neidich
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Dick,

Are any of the wines you mentioned in the affordable price range, say under 20 bucks?

Reply to
Joel

Yes. Some of the Stony Hill whites are well under $20.

Also the Martinelli is as well.

Dick

Reply to
Richard Neidich

I love the A.S. Kiken red blend and it's sort of affordable at $30.

I was fortunate enough to attend a party at friend's house last year at which we tasted a number of older Pinot Noirs; while the details escape me, the consensus favorite was an early 90s El Molino, which was good since Reg Oliver (of El Molino) was at the party. It is quite unfortunate that Reg recently passed away but I certainly hope El Mo continues on with the amazing contrarian wines.

Dana

Reply to
Dana H. Myers

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