After coming down from the Mayacamas, I recalled that there is a small, quiky winery near Glen Ellen called Loxton...on Dunbar Road right off Highway 12 ** Excellent decision!
Operated by a middle aged Aussie, Loxton produces a full range of wines from various sources, as well as estate grapes. No detailed notes, but highlights included:
A slightly oxidized, two years in barrel Reserve Chardonnay with a lovely nutty character and blazing acidity. Note that this is not Rombauer style wine in any way...it almost sorta reminded me of Savagnin, of all things, from the Jura. Very unique. Even if oxidation is a "flaw'" can it, like Brett, also be interesting?
The Zinfandel was light, elegant, earthy, peppery, with fine berry fruit. It reminded me a little bit of Nalle or other Napa Valley "claret style" zins.
The Syrah was from Parmalee Hill Vineyard! He actually uses the rows that Steve Edmunds used to get. Again, elegant, balanced, earthy, quite slurpable. Yum!
Finally, a Syrah/Blend that I really enjoyed, with some fine tannins, elegant herbal notes, plenty of fruit but not particularly extracted.
A very fine winery visit on a back road...I will be back with a car!
___________________________________________
The next day I did a Howell Mountain/Pope Valley ride, leaving from St. Helena and exploring all the side roads in Conn Valley on the way up the hill into Angwin. The descent down into Pope valley (the OTHER Napa Valley) is just beautiful, with a decent road and a pretty mixed forest. Anyway, Pope Valley is lush right now due to the late rains, so I rode north past Hubcap Ranch to the top of the first Butts Canyon ride. Not wanting to add 30 more miles or to share Highway 29 over Mount St. Helena with trucks and motorhomes, I returned back towards my favorite Howell Mountain climb...Ink Grade. At Ink Grade is a small winery called Pope Valley Vineyards, which did not impress me when I tasted before. But...they do have a nicely quaffable Chenin Blanc. However, they were also pouring a reserve cabernet that was actually very nice, with more of an emphasis on the red fruit side of things, nice acidity, good tannic structure, some herbal notes that complement the fruit. Very fine in a few years...the oak is a bit evident right at the moment (2006 vintage) but not particularly obnoxious. reminds me a little bit of the St Supery Dollarhide Cab from the same side of the mountains...but with better fruit and a more complex flavor profile. I guess this was the property owner's son's first reserve cab bottling. Impressive...and very low key and down home winery that was fun to just visit and shoot the breeze with. About as far away in attitude from the Napa Valley commercial tourist palace as anything. Plus...they had water and crackers and salami before the 5 mile climb back up to the top of Howell Mountain!
Just a very pleasant afternoon hour or so chatting with the lady running the tasting room (Dutch via Germany) and a local neighbor._________________________________________________________________
* Napa and Sonoma...from downtown Napa up Mount Veeder past Hess Collection, then up to the top of Mount Veeder via Mt. Veeder Road and Lokoya Road, then over the ridgeline again via Dry Creek/Trinity Roads.
** Sonoma County and CALTRANS need to get their act together. There is no excuse for Highway 12 not having shoulders the entire length...if not a full bicycle lane as on Silverado Trail. Sonoma County is a perfect illustration of vast private wealth and a somewhat impoverished public realm.
Wine calories are only good calories, so they don't count! 