El Dorado Hills: Boa Vista Vineyards

After Madroña, we head to our last stop, Boa Vista Vineyards and farmers' market!

Bustling Market late afternoon

This tasting was more like the dessert to finish off a meal of wine for the day!

Fruity wine tasting

They only had the sweet stuff for tasting although on their website, they actually do produce table wines. We had their Estate grown Apple wine, Apple-Blackberry wine, Kandi Apple wine and one last one that I don't remember. It was all decent, simple fruity fruit wines that are not syrupy or overwhelmingly sweet. I could have gotten one for some easy summer drinking but I was really not in the mood for anything sweet. Well priced.

Sweet dessert

What actually impressed me was their yummy BBQ sauces and Olive oils and such products. They had fresh baked fruit pies too!

Local bar with local beer

And what better way to end the day than to pay a visit to the local bar scene and late night snack! Now we are all prepared for some white water rafting!

Late night snack: Spicy hot link with sauerkraut and pickles on toasted bun 

El Dorado Hills: Madroña, Apple Hill

Madroña Vineyards

Peeling tree 

After wine and beer at Jack Russell brewing, we headed to Madroña Vineyards, 3000ft above sea level. Lovely place for tree climbing.

Lineup

They had a cabin-like tasting room that was spacious and cozy. The lady pouring started us off with some reds, which was puzzling. The notes I had at this point were pretty short with several sad faces.

First of all, they were decent except for the fact that all the reds had a little too much tannins.

Madroña Shiraz/Cabernet Hillside 2009
Good notes of spice and fruit although the obvious tannins just took it all away. OOo

Madroña Zinfandel Hillside 2009
This had surprisingly plenty of tannins for a Zinfandel. Kind of overwhelms the juiciness of Zinfandels!   OOo

Pretty tasting room

Madroña Cabernet Sauvignon Signature 2008
This was tannic as well and was not at all complex. It probably needs more time although it was not fruity, lacking the characteristic layers that is typical of a good Cab. OO

Madroña Syrah Signature 2008
This smells like swedish fish! Although overwhelmed with tannins, this was plush and juicy, with plenty of fruit and a hint of spice. I wonder if it is due to the fact that everything else has been pretty tannic or lacking in fruit.  OOo

Doggie!

Then, after all the tannic reds, they served us the whites! I could not taste much and this is when the bold sad face showed up. I mentioned it to the tasting lady who did not seem to care, answering "oh, interesting."

Madroña Chardonnay Signature 2012
This was a tough one after all the tannic reds. There is really not much to notes accept the little oak tasted. Sad day. For all you know, it was good. OOo

Madroña Riesling Hillside 2010
Perhaps because of how Rieslings are, this had more flavor, with dry plum and medium body.  OOO

Spacious and comfy

Madroña New World Port 2008
Sweet and syrupy. Perhaps something that took away the taste of the tannins.  OOo

Madroña Barbera Hillside 2010
This was leathery. Simple with a tad much acidic and no fruit. Although i did just have a strong port.  OO

Some history

Arm wrestling everywhere

Overall, a not too bad tasting. I like the tasting room although i wished the lady was more knowledgeable about the wines she was pouring. This was better of the afternoon tastings but Lava Cap still triumphs.

Onwards to our last stop at the Boa Vista farmers market!

El Dorado Hills: Jack Russell Brewing

Arm wrestling their way in

From Crystal Basin Bistro, we moved on to Jack Russell Brewing, which brews apple cider, wines and beer!

The tasting cave

The cider and wines were separated from the beer. Obviously.

Wine and Cider man

We began with cave tasting of ciders and wines.

Lineup

All the tasters in shot sized plastic cups

As you can see, it was rather difficult to have a proper tasting of the wines when they are not served well. It makes such a difference when served properly! Just ask the beer non-snobs! Thus, no notes taken but plenty of debaucheries!

Happy tasters with apple cider

Many of us were very attracted to their Jack Russell labels though. And their apple ciders were pretty decent! Although Julian hard cider still triumphs.

Beer

Happy Cidering

We got to the beer room, had a couple of their beers, which were not too bad. San Diegans will always be snobs about beers. Oh well.

Happy Campers

Vineyards

Jack Russell Look-alikes

Then these doggies turned up!

Next we head for more wine tasting at Madroña!

El Dorado Hills: Crystal Basin Wines, Apple Hill

Bleu Cheese stuffed Endives

From Lava Cap Winery, we headed to Crystal Basin Bistro for lunch and more wine tasting. We began with lunch where I had a delicious stuffed endive plate. They had curry cheese log for samples with fresh bread and pretzel with a house made spiced BBQ dip. YUM.

Pulled pork sandwich

After lunch, we proceeded to the little designated corner for the wine tasting. Looking at the names of the wines and labels, I could not help but think they don't want to be taken seriously.

Lineup

Tasting room in the restaurant

Well, the wines were not great. In fact, I did not take notes because they were pale in comparison with both Grace Patriot and Lava Cap, although they were not the worst wines I have tasted. The man who was pouring also served a bubbler first, which made it rather difficult to taste the rest of the wines. All in all, not a great experience although lunch was wonderful!

Crystal Basin Lineup

Interesting labels

Next up, we head to Jack Russell Brewing!

El Dorado Hills: Lava Cap, Apple Hill

Front of the barn

After some nice wine and history at Grace Patriot, we headed to Lava Cap Winery. The tasting room and outside patio was very busy such that we had to squeeze our way through and some just had to stay away from the bar.

Busy tasting room

Lava Cap Sauvignon Blanc Estate bottled 2010
This was sweet for a Sauvignon blanc with plenty of residual sugar. Easy, simple and smooth with a sweet citrus nose, this had good acidity with notes of tropical fruit longan and citrus grapefruit. $16 OOO

Lava Cap Battonage Chardonnay 2010
Not the overly oaky Californian style Chardonnay, this was well-balanced and smooth with notes of green apple and pear. $18 OOOo

Lava Cap Viognier Vinehill 2009
This is a refreshing Viognier with a nice floral nose. Well balanced with good acidity, great notes of peach and honeysuckle. Standard well-made Viognier athough I do not know about paying $30 for a bottle. OOO

Decorated with ribbons

Lava Cap American River Red Celebrated Cuvee 2009
With a nose of berry jam, this simple wine has notes of rich berry fruit and is easy with a little spicy kick. Smokey finish that was rather enjoyable. $18 OOOo

Lava Cap Syrah Estate bottled 2009
I do not understand what is going on but the rubber smell is back yet again! This was decently balanced with juicy notes of good spice and berries. OOOo

Lava Cap Cabernet Sauvignon Estate bottled 2009
Nose of caramel and blackberries, this was well balanced and not the big, bold Napa Cab. Relatively easier to drink than a typical Cab with notes of plum and berries, this had a lighter mouthfeel than usual.    Perhaps it is the lack of tannins that makes it different although it could have been aged well in this three years. It is hard to tell. But for $22, a ready to drink Cab is not too shabby. OOO

Lava Cap Barbera Estate bottled 2009
Fruit forward with notes of cherry and plum, there was a touch of residual sugar which made it pretty juicy. I enjoyed the soft tannins and the note of spiciness. $25 OOOo

Grand display of ribbons

Lava Cap Zinfandel Reserve Estate bottled 2008
This had sharp, obvious tannins although there was a good note of berries. Easy typical Zin with more tannins than usual. $20 OOO

Lava Cap Petite Sirah Estate bottled 2009
Fruit forward, unlike any Petit Sirah i have had. Plush and juicy with notes of berries, plums and good herby spice. I liked it so much that I invested the $30. OOOO

Lava Cap Muscat Canelli 2009
Notes of tropical fruit, Guava! Smooth but was a little difficult to taste properly due to time constraints and tannins overload from the last few wines. $16 OOOo

Grown on volcanic rocks

Great tasting! I enjoyed everything and there was nothing bad about any of the wines tasted. Definitely very impressed by Lava Cap, especially by their great prices!

Next we head to Crystal Basin Bistro for lunch and wine tasting under the one roof!

El Dorado Hills: Grace Patriot Wines, Apple Hill

Front

Tasting List

History

Pretty entrance

We set up camp last night next to the river, shared beer with new campfire friends and woke up to a good breakfast! Now, we are all ready for a day of wine tasting!


First stop, everyone is excited, we arrived at Lewis Grace's Grace Patriot Wines in Apple Hill. This place as name suggest is full of history, the family has ancestry in the revolutionary war. Modern tasting room facing the vineyards and nice patio sitting outside.

Barrels in the back room

Viognier 2009
This tasted like a standard Viognier, although it did not have much nose, which is disappointing because it is something to look forward to when tasting a Viognier as they are known to be floral and wonderful scenting. It was overall decent tasting but not smooth. $22 OO

Hip Hip Rose
Made from a blend of Pinot Gris and Syrah, this had an interesting rubber scent and nose of strawberries. Plenty of residual sugar with notes of refreshing watermelon and strawberries. $18 OOO

Pinot Noir 2009
Standard Pinot with cabbage, vegetal smell, this was simple with good acidity, a little on the tannic side. The fruit was slightly overwhelmed by the tannins. $24 OOo

Syrah 2006
Smokey nose with hints of dark cherries and spice, this was very fruity with notes of berries, oak, smoke and obvious tannins. Flat bland finish. $25 OOO

Patriotic Wines

5pm 2006
A blend of Tempranillo, Syrah and what they call "secret sauce". Toasty nose, this fruit forward wine had obvious tannins with notes of dark fruits, toasty nuts and spice. :) OOOo

Tempranillo 2006
The rubbery nose is back! This was very tannic overwhelming the fruit. Hints of leather. OO

What we tasted!

Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
This was a surprise. For some reason, we did not think Cabernet would not do well here but we were proven wrong with this one! Good Cabernet with an interesting strong nose, which I am not sure about. Well balanced wine with good layered tannins with notes of berries and oak, very enjoyable complex wine that could age to soften the tannins. Nice lingering finish. OOOO

Vitis Vinifera

Decent wines, much better than I expected! Steve Grace, the great grand child of Lewis Grace (who served in the revolutionary war in Virginia), was pouring and talked about the history of the vineyard and his family. He showed me the back room where they had the oak barrels and talked through old pictures on the wall. Very friendly people, fascinating history and good wines! Will definitely visit again!

Next stop, Lava Cap Winery!

Healthy Cabernet Sauvignon

The group

Hungarian Irsai Oliver in Davis

Szoke

After the Russian River trip, we heading out for our white water rafting trip out East at American river. On the way, we stopped for dinner at Seasons, supposedly best restaurant in Davis, all dressed casually (which was great because everyone there was old and appropriately dressed). 

The menu featured plenty of locally sourced food and everything sounded unique, from pork cheeks tacos to baked peaches. 

They had a wine menu that had mainly local wines with some notables. This one caught my eye.

Irsai Oliver, Szőke Mátyás, Mátra Hungary 2011
A Hungarian white grape Irzai Oliver. Another for the Quest List! This had an amazing floral nose with notes of minerals and reminds me of a sweet plum wine. The smell kept me at it for awhile. Smooth and well balanced, it was refreshingly fruity and floral with notes of lychee (kind of like a Gerwürztraminer), and juicy peaches. Slightly bitter mineral end with a floral touch. The food definitely brought out the acidity of the wine. OOOO

Little Davis calf

Russian River: DeLoach

With just enough time for one last tasting, we headed to DeLoach, which I found out about from the Hook and Ladder Winemaker dinner. I was disappointed to find out that the DeLoach family did not own this place anymore but the name carried on. 

De Loach

When we arrived at the tasting room, it was fairly busy and we waited a little before getting some space at the tasting bar. 


DeLoach Chardonnay Hawk Hill Vineyard 2009
This oaky Californian style Chardonnay was too much for me, although it was clean refined with good acidity. If I were more objective, I would have like this, but nope, I like my not-overly-oaky-more-European-style Chardonnays. I just wish it had more to it than oak. If anything, the oak overpowers everything when excessive, which is pretty sad because I am sure there is more to it! OOo




DeLoach Russian River Pinot Noir 2010
Decent nose with the typical cabbage vegetal smell as usual for a Pinot. Simple, fruity and lightly spiced, I like that it had a certain nut roastiness to it like roasted hazelnuts! OOO




DeLoach Pennachio Pinot Noir 2008
Standard Pinot but more fruit forward than the last, this had notes of leather and toasty butterscotch. It reminds me of a cherry pie with nice crisp browned crust. OOO

DeLoach Maboroshi Pinot Noir 2008
Cabbage notes, this was lush with high alcohol content and taste like it will go easy with food. Fruit forward with hints of plums, this was well balanced. OOOo

DeLoach Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
Again, typical Pinot with the vegetal smell, this had interesting hints of game in the nose. Fruity with a good balance, it had notes of smokiness, game and spicy especially in comparison with the last few Pinots. OOOo

DeLoach Zinfandel Forgotten Vines 2008
Fruit forward with notes of plums, this was an easy Zinfandel but I don't know when I have ever had any Zins that are not easy to drink. This was well balanced with a good tannin structure with a little spice. OOOo

DeLoach Late Harvest Gerwurztraminer Russian River 2008
I haven't had a Late Harvest Gerwürztraminer (Noble Rot!) so this was interesting considering that the grape itself is already very floral and flavorful. This had a great nose like other Gerwürzt I have tasted, full of lychee notes and sweet honey suckle. This was definitely sweeter than a regular harvest but not that much. It had good minerality and had more body than other Gerwürzt with more residual sugar. OOOo

De Loach tasting room

Grape looking good

That was the last stop for wine for the day, marking the end of the Russian River trip! Overall, DeLoach had standard wines that were well made but did not blow me away. It was great to taste the Pinots back to back though. I have a difficult time benchmarking Pinots and it makes the OOOOs I give inconsistent sometimes. More on that later!

I was sad that we did not get to visit Hook and Ladder but maybe next time. The wines that really stood out today was the Chardonnays from J Wines. But there were also plenty of Pinots which I have trouble with.

All in all, great tasting trip!

Now onwards to Russian River brewing in Santa Rosa for dinner!

Russian River

Beer tasting board