Teldeschi

There was a thread a few weeks ago about Teldeschi wines, and I was up in DCV today, and they had the "Open" sign up, so I went in.
I was the only car in the parking area.
I went up to the door, and there was a sign saying they were "green", and to open the door, turn on the lights, then open the "Cellar Door" and sing out for Dan.
So I did.
And a voice said, "Hi there, be down in a minute!"
And Dan Teldeschi came down. We had an interesting conversation, and he poured several tastes out of little vials into a small old-fashioned Italian-restauranty wine glass. Like a taster's glass, big enough to get the nose, and small enough to make half an ounce seem like a good pour.
I learned many things.
He farms about 75 acres, about half Zin, about 15 acres of Chardonnay, and some patches of oddball stuff such as Valdigue. (That's right outside the winery door.)
He only makes a couple of hundred cases a year right now. He says he has lots of library wine that needs to be sold.
He sells most of his crop to Ravenswood, and most of the Chardonnay to Gallo. He tells me that Ravenswood sells a Teldeschi designate.
He pours whatever he wants, basically library wines.
Good, old-fashioned winemaking. Not blowsy at all.
I came away with a bottle of 2001 Petite Sirah, fruit bought from a neighbor just a little farther up Dry Creek Road, and a bottle of 2007 estate Zin.
(Teldeschi's winery is right next to Dry Creek Store at the corner of Dry Creek Road and Lambert Bridge Road, and the family residence is a mile or so up the road.)
I haven't opened yet.
In the tasting, the PS was still pretty young and tannic, but drinkable now. Dan says another 7 to 15 years to peak, and I'd agree with him.
The Zin is ready to drink now, standard DCV flavors, blackberry dominates. Tannin seems to be fading, but that's hard to tell without experience of several bottles of a producer and vintage.
The cut is Dan Teldeschi's father.

John,
We have always wondered about Teldeschi when we are in those parts and picking up sandwiches at the General Store. Thanks for the notes. Looks like Dan Teldeschi holds on to his wine before releasing them or was it library wines he was pouring that day?
-Shaji

Looking at the pour list on his counter, I'd say he's mostly just trying to move the old stuff. He was very open that the retail business is a hassle for him.
Nonetheless, I signed up for his email list. (His website is www.teldeschi.com.)
I was generally impressed with the quality of the tastes, if not the ambiance. The Petite Sirah reminds me of early 90s Foppiano, before they ran into various family-related problems.

[Jenise]

You might have seen a recent note from me on a '96 Teldeschi Petite Sirah. Bought it from Dan long ago, after tasting from little vials. I'd forgotten all about that! Nothing's changed, apparently. And that's kind of nice.

Yes, that was it, Jenise. I was too lazy to dig it out, though I do remember someone wondering if they're still in buisness. They are. And Dan was ready to chat on a hot Friday afternoon.

+1 re what Shaji said..umpteen visit to the Dry Creek store, zero to Teldeschi

I drive past the Dry Creek Store once a month or more. I've stopped there once. They do have really good sandwiches - I learned that much!

There was a thread a few weeks ago about Teldeschi wines, and I was up in DCV today, and they had the "Open" sign up, so I went in.
I was the only car in the parking area.

That must have been a toasty day to be in Dry Creek. No relief for DAYS!

It was warm, just over 100. Saturday was a good deal hotter, well over 100 here in Santa Rosa. (It's usually 3 to 5 degrees hotter in Healdsburg than Santa Rosa.)
I spent a few minutes this morning deadheading my roses - the hot weather the last 5 days really blew out all the blooms. More shorts and sandals weather coming this week, too.

It was warm, just over 100. Saturday was a good deal hotter, well over 100 here in Santa Rosa. (It's usually 3 to 5 degrees hotter in Healdsburg than Santa Rosa.)
I spent a few minutes this morning deadheading my roses - the hot weather the last 5 days really blew out all the blooms. More shorts and sandals weather coming this week, too.

What does the weather look like next week? We'll be there.

The predictors are predicting mid to high 90s through Friday the 5th. I have a feeling that it's more likely to be low 90s, not out of the ordinary for this area in July.
The afternoon breeze picked up for a bit today, then died. That ocean breeze is "California air conditioning".
I don't trust predictions beyond a few days; however, it's California summer; it won't be raining! And if you're going to The City, be prepared for cool. It was 61 there when it was high 80s here, this morning. (At least according to the radio.)

We are spending 1 day in San Francisco, and I know to dress for cool weather, but thanks for the reminder. I hope it will be a touch cooler where we are staying on the Russian River than in Healdsburg.

Hey, Healdsburg is on the Russian River!
Guerneville is usually within a few degrees of where I am (just east of the freeway at Steele Lane). The lower river, from Mirabel down to Duncans Mills, is such a hodgepodge of microclimates depending on where you are, that it's hard to say. If you'll be in the trees it will be a bit cooler. It also depends on whether the breeze comes up the river in the afternoon.
My grandfather had a house in Guerneville and my brother and I used to visit Grandma and Grandpa in the late 40s. The house is still there, though it's crowded because the property was split and another house built cheek by jows with it.

We will be in Forestville. Hoping for a breeze.

It was a bit cooler today, mid to high 80s. I walked over to Pacific Market about 3:30 this afternoon to get some milk to make biscuit for strawberry shortcake because when I shook the carton it hardly splished at all, and the breeze had arrived, and especially walking home to the west, it was very pleasant. (It's just short of a mile each way, and I walk through the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery with lots of 19th century and early 20th century headstones and it's a very pleasant walk.)
Forestville (or maybe Mirabel Park on the river) tends to be a bit cooler than the stretch between Rio Nido and Monte Rio. (All these 1920s resorts!)
The breeze is the part that's hard to predict, unless we start to get the overnight fog (called "marine layer" by bureaucrats, but they're just a bunch of kids.)

BTW, the shortcake was good!