One Stop Tasting

Just down the road from Schug, there's a complex put together buy the "Carneros Family Wineries". It has a café, some shops, and four tasting rooms representing a large number of very small wineries, mostly from Sonoma and Napa. While you don't get to see the wineries, it's an excellent opportunity to taste wines from many producers at one stop.

Artesa Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Held for 14 months in oak, it has asparagus, vanilla and toast notes, which dominate the flavours, too. It's very smooth, but lacks the tart crispness that I prefer in the varietal.

Artesa Chardonnay 2007
Aged 8 months in oak, it has complex aromas of green apple, pear and minerals. The flavours are of apples and peaches, and the toasty oak is subtle on the finish. LCBO has just started carrying the 2005 vintage.

Artesa Pinot Noir 2006
Also aged 8 months in oak, it has aromas and flavours of sweet cherries, smoke, and a chocolatey finish.

Artesa "Ridgeline" label Merlot 2004
Artesa's Ridgeline wines come from the Alexander Valley. Aromas of plums and raisins and alcohol (14.8%!), the alcohol dominates the flavours, which also include cherries and plums. Soft tannins and a long finish.

Artesa Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Ripe dark fruit and coffee aromas come through on the tongue, with a dark coffee finish.

Larson Family Winery Gewurztraminer 2006
Good floral, peach and pear aromas, but the dry mouthfeel is a bit sour.

Larson Family Winery Pinot Noir Rosé 2005
Here's an unusual wine, Pinot turned rosé by taking it off the skins early. The tasting room rep swore that it was the only one we'd come across - certainly, we didn't see any others.
The aromas oforange, candy and sweet cherries were interesting, and came through in the mouth, too. Light bodied, naturally, it's just semi-dry with 1.5% residual sugar. It would work as a light summer dessert wine, paired with a fruit dish or light pastry.

Larson Family Winery Pinot Noir 2005
Red cherries and smoke, it's oaked with light tannins and a toasty finish.

Larson Family Winery Zinfandel 2005
Lots of dark fruit and leather, and the tannins are soft and well-rounded. It has a short tannic finish.

Larson Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
The Larson product I liked best, it has rich red berries and cigar box on the nose, and tastes of dark fruit, cedar and a chocolate finish.

Carica "Kick Ranch" Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Light asparagus and citrus notes, with some residual sugar in the mouth. Flavours of pineapple, and it still manages a mouthwatering finish.

Harrington "Wild Horse" Pinot Noir 2006
From Napa fruit, this has sweet cherry and leather notes, and tastes of sweet and sour cherries mixed, with medium tannins and leather on the finish.