Forchini 2010 "Proprietor's Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon. Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg. A little bottle age has made this wine sing. Cassis fruit-that lovely licorice note. Not "green" in any way, but definitely on the fresher side of cabernet, reflecting a cooler vintage. Went very well with red meat.
Cunat Family (Materra Winery) Chardonnay. This was a lovely and refreshing version of Chardonnay. No cloying vanilla or slick mouth feel. Instead, fresh, pure fruit. This family's new winery is producing some very nice wines. The reds are made with involvement from Mike Trujillo of Sequoia Grove-the cabs need a little time but I think will be quite lovely. The Merlot transcended the standard red juice character, with some acid and tannic structure that suggest laying down!
Jamieson Ranch Winery. A fun place to visit. Very friendly staff. Very professional Elegant "Westernish" winery building set on a hillside overlooking the entrance to Napa Valley. Contrary to the western ranch architecture is this amazing graffiti art wall that extends along the entire eastern wall of the winery. Fantastic and fun. And, they have miniature (as in four feet tall) "therapy horses" one can pet! A lot of fun, and a recommendation for out of town guests.
Sadly, though, the wines were not very good.
Just basic California juice that did not stand out in any way. I WANTED to like them, because the experience side of things is so positive.. The Chardonnay in steel was decent, but given that I had tasted the Materra (above) today not all that interesting.. The blended Pinot tastes like standard California fruity pinot (with an actual burning note (acid or alcohol????). The 2014 Cabernet had a touch of balsamic to the wine-way too young to be pouring in the tasting room (and especially at full bore Napa pricing). Ah well. Fun stop on my way home.