Madonna Estate 2007 Pinot Noir

This Madonna Estate pinot noir from the Carneros region is organically grown. The pour looked a bit watery in its appearance; we did a big glass so the dark cherry color would show well.

On the nose, it’s fruity with light spring grasses and a touch of oak.

The flavor includes red fruits: raspberry jam, cherry, strawberry… it would probably do well aging further or decanting longer. We picked up strong acids and few tannins. Uncomplicated but drinkable; we didn't get the long finish promised in the tasting notes. It went well with a simple cheese plate of softened Boursin on thin crispy crackers. 

The tasting room is housed in an attractive Spanish style building at the intersection of routes 12 and 121, so the Estate is a convenient stop for those traveling between the Napa and Sonoma valleys.

2007 Armida Sryah

This lovely syrah comes from the Flora Ranch, Chalk Hill, in Sonoma County. We always stop at Armida because they do these divine wine-filled chocolates. The chocolates make a great gift.

Service at the Armida tasting room has been hit or miss (if it isn't crowded, service tends to be nice, but they seem disorganized and overwhelmed by crowds). That said, it is a great spot to open a bottle of wine (or a box of chocolates) and enjoy the valley view from their large deck.

But back to the syrah... It has a pretty dark cherry, slightly brick color. We got a ton of crystals on the cork. The scent includes blueberries, plum, clay and floral notes, as well as a woodsy scent. The syrah isn't overly fruity, but rather sweet, almost like dessert, though not at all syrupy. The tannins start to grab your tongue and then they back down. A really pleasant surprise.

Also worth noting, if you have a Halloween party to attend, or biker friends, or a pirate lover on your shopping list, their Poizin is tasty and has a skull and crossbones on the label ~ kinda fun. Clearly, they don't take themselves too seriously, and really, life is too short if you're not going to enjoy it.

Muscardini Zinfandel - 2009

This zin from the Monte Rosso vineyard in Sonoma valley is tasty! Did I spoil the ending?

The Muscardini Zinfandel has a rich, plum color. The scent is dark berries (blueberry pie according to the winemaker's notes), grass and herbal scents, some bright hillside notes, and warm oak. There's a high alcohol content in this Italian style wine.

On the palate, it's fruit-forward with plum and other dark fruits (berries), then a warm building of tannins with medium mouth feel. The zin has a nice peppery, long finish.

We're not giving away any secrets here, the Sonoma Sommelier rated it a 91! And it just took the Gold Medal at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

“Does the world need another winery? Perhaps not, but the world does need to taste my wine.” -Michael Muscardini

I couldn't agree more!