Santa Ynez, Spring 09

A quick trip up to Santa Ynez to pick up some club shipments...

First stop was a new winery for us, Riverbench. It’s on Foxen Canyon a mile or two north of Rancho Sisquoc.

2008 Riverbench Pinot Noir Rose
2007 Riverbench Chardonnay
2006 Riverbench Chardonnay Estate
2006 Riverbench Chardonnay Reserve
2006 Riverbench Pinot Noir Estate
2007 Riverbench Pinot Noir “Mesa”

Overall I thought the plain Chardonnay was only so-so, it’s a stainless only incarnation which I tend to like, but not this one. The Reserve had the most oak and was actually the most appealing to me, but not enough to buy any. I liked the two Pinots and bought a bottle of the estate. I enjoyed the Mesa one but at it’s price of $48 there’s much better Pinot out there. Speak of better Pinot, up next was Foxen.

2007 Foxen Viognier, Vogelzang Vineyard
2007 Foxen Chardonnay, Tinaquaic Vineyard
2007 Foxen Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
2006 Foxen Pinot Noir, Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard
2006 Foxen Zinfandel, Lockshaw Vineyard
2006 Foxen Syrah, Williamson-Dore Vineyard
2007 Foxen Chenin Blanc, Late Harvest, Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard

Really like the 07 Pinot and the 06 Block 8 ... Bought a bottle of the Block 8 to enjoy in a year or so. The Zinfandel turned me off this time for some reason. The Syrah is inky black and drinking pretty well. Really liked the Late Harvest Chenin Blanc and bought a 375. Yummy. Up next was lunch at Grappolo. Terrible service but great food. Then onto D’Alfonso-Curran to pick up our club shipment and taste of course.

2007 Curran Grenache Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley
2007 Curran Grenache Rose, Santa Ynez Valley
2006 Badge Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills
2005 Badge Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
2006 Di Bruno Merlot, Grassini Vineyard
2005 Curran Syrah, Reeve’s Ranch, Los Alamos and Santa Ynez Valley
2005 Curran Syrah, Reeve’s Ranch Reserve, Santa Ynez Valley
2005 Curran Syrah, Black Oak Reserve, Santa Barbara County
2004 Curran Sangiovese, Santa Ynez Valley

All great wines. Got news that they are going to be release vineyard designate Pinot Noirs for the 06’s in the coming months. Really excited for that. The Merlot apparently was named by the Wall Street Journal recently as the best Merlot in CA. Pretty good remarks, also a pretty good wine. Don’t know if it’s some sort of bias, but I lean towards Bruno’s winemaking style with these wines over Kris’.