Moonstone Crossing (something new)

Trinidad California is a little (300 people) fishing village about 300 miles north of San Francisco on the Humboldt County coast. As of today it is home to the tasting room of the small Moonstone Crossing winery. The winery had a grand opening of the tasting room today and lots of people showed up to try the wines and view the lovely artwork decorating the room.
My experiences with wines produced in this far northern county have not been stellar in the past, and so while I wasn't expecting much, I was very surprised by the quality of the wines which were very well made in general. The winery produces primarily red wines and red blends. Notes on the wines I enjoyed follow:
2007 Chardonnay, Amador county, John Bree vineyard, had lovely and distinctive apple and pear scents, and nice pear flavors in a barrel aged chard aged in French and American oak for twelve months. $16. A good buy.

2004 Nebbiolo, Amador county, Sutter Creek Vineyard, had a lighter bright reddish hue, rosepetal and slight tar on the nose. I enjoyed the nose quite a bit. The wine was recognizably nebbiolo, still had some drying tannins on the finish. I'd give it a year or two to smooth out. Aged 30 months in french and american oak. $30. 112 cases made and available only at the winery. I really liked this and bought some.

2005 Wish Upon A Star (Super Tuscan Style Red Wine), Amador County, John Bree Vineyard. 57% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Aglianico. Aged 40 months in French and American Oak. $21, 200 cases made. A lovely wine with cherry like nose, and complex flavors. A good buy.

2004 Serenity (Rhone style blend), 45% Amador county syrah, 13% Mendocino county petite syrah, 42% Mendocino county carignane, aged 32 months in french and american oak. 176 cases made, $21. This is an excellent value with deep black cherry flavors and a nice sense of depth.

The winery also produces varietals like syrah, petite syrah, and a souzao port, as well as a Barbera which is not quite ready for release.

Winery owners Donald Bremm and Sharon Hanks were there pouring, and were enjoyable folks. They do have a website (moonstonecrossing.com). I don't have any connection with them, but would suggest that with the quality of the wines they are worth a search. Jim (who is glad to have a tasting room nearby!)

Noticed that most of the grapes are from Amador, which is a well established viticultural area - and a lot warmer too, no?
Can one sucessfully grow grapes in Humboldt (I know they have another famous agricultural product)? Does Moonstone have any vineyards of their own?

Can one sucessfully grow grapes in Humboldt (I know they have another famous agricultural product)? Does Moonstone have any vineyards of their own?

Grapes are grown in Humboldt County especially in the southern and eastern portions (Briceland, Orleans) and there are over 30 wineries in the county now. Some of them make wines from grapes grown here, but I also noted that Moonstone Crossing did not, at least among the wines I tasted. By the way, Humboldt has been supplanted in that other ag crop, now ranking only 10th on the list of California counties in quantities seized. I personally prefer the wine culture myself, and am glad to see the industry here producing better and better wines. In fact, the wines I mentioned were excellent to my tastes, made me want to keep up with new Moonstone Crossing offerings, and opened my eyes to Amador county (beyond the zins of course.) Jim

Noticed that most of the grapes are from Amador, which is a well established viticultural area - and a lot warmer too, no?
Can one sucessfully grow grapes in Humboldt (I know they have another famous agricultural product)? Does Moonstone have any vineyards of their own?

Absolutely HumboltCnty has some wineries who grow their own grapes. I've followed CabotVnyds from the very start and their Syrahs are absolutely
first rate...very interesting.
Not heard of much Chard being grown in AmadorCnty, but suppose you could if you went to a high enough altitude. But it wouldn't do
very well in the ShenandoahVlly or points below.
The Nebbiolo sounds very interesting. I think SutterCreek was the one who had to change their name from SutterCreek (the town where they're located)
under threat of lawsuit by SutterHomeWnry because people maight confuse the labels. Yeah...sure. I understand that SutterHomeWnry is now going to
force the town of SutterCreek to change their name because tourists who take one look at this little hick town and think bad thoughts about SutterHome wines.
Thanks for sharing your notes, Jim.
Tom

Not heard of much Chard being grown in AmadorCnty, but suppose you could if you went to a high enough altitude. But it wouldn't do
very well in the ShenandoahVlly or points below.
Tom

Your knowledge amazes me Tom. I spent a little time researching the John Bree Vineyard and the winery website at Sutter Creek states "The vineyard is located in the Sutter Foothills of California at an elevation of 2,000 ft." It is always a good sign for vineyards to be on "Ridge Road" I think! All the best, Jim

Your knowledge amazes me Tom.

Jeez, Jim...you haven't figured it out yet?? I'm a LosAlamos guy...we just make stuff up!!! You want 40 kiloTons out of this device...you got it!!!!
Tom