I had an opportunity to do a Sonoma tasting at The Wine Bank in San Diego. This wine shop has an extensive collection of wines and spirits on two floors. It was hard for me to walk out of there with just one bottle.
This Sonoma tasting offered 5 wines, and we also got a bonus taste of the 2017 Dashe Rosé.
We started with the 2014 Cherry Tart Chardonnay. This was a very drinkable Chardonnay that had a nice vanilla hit on the palate from the oak, with some minerality and a lasting finish. If you prefer an oaky Chardonnay, I would recommend this wine. I would pair this wine with a brie, perhaps a brie with mushrooms. Jayson Woodbridge is the owner and winemaker of Hundred Acres, Layer Cake, and Cherry Pie Wines. The Cherry Pie wine brands were inspired by Jayson’s grandmother’s baking, and he chose the design of the label from seeing a painting in New York of a fresh, hot out the oven cherry pie!
Our second taste was the 2012 Kesner Gate Pinot Noir. This winery is known for making small production wines and the first vintage of their Chardonnay was chosen to be served at The French Laundry. Jason Kesner (yes, another Jason) has also spent a lot of time in the vineyard, which has influenced his craft.
The 2015 Dashe Dry Creek Zinfandel has 8% Petite Sirah. I found this wine to be earthy, full-bodied and juicy. This wine was rated 91 by Wine Enthusiast. Mike and Anne Dashe combined their love of each other and their love of wine and created their first Zinfandel together in 1996. They are known for traditional and ‘natural’ approach to winemaking.
The 2016 Gundlach Bundschu Mountain Cuvee was my favourite, and what I brought
home with me. I often enjoy red blends, and this one did not disappoint. This wine was a 73% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. I could taste black currant and some cherry. Nice smooth finish.
The 2015 Routestock Cabernet Sauvignon was a nice fruity wine with some acidity and oak tannin – nice long finish. 
Our bonus pour was the 2017 Dashe Rosé – this was a lovely wine, and I will be buying some of this soon. As I’m a big fan of Rosé I loved the fruity intensity, and I could see this as a summer sipper.
Let me know what you enjoy tasting!!
