Wine Outlook

Healdsburg update is finally here. (I had written my notes in a random, misplaced notebook and just now found it)

When I asked for suggestions for winery stops, Megan came through with Mauritson. This is a fairly small winery (6,000 cases annually) with a young winemaker. Clay’s family had been growing grapes for years, but when he returned from college, he decided to take his prior winemaking experience and brand it with the Mauritson name. And a good idea it was: I enjoyed everything I tasted. The Sauvignon Blanc, the Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, which was so easy to drink, the mellow Cab. It was especially interesting to try the two Zinfandels from Rockpile Road, as Rosenblum helped to put this new AVA along the upper shore of Lake Sonoma on the map. I found the Zin from Westphall Ridge to be more complex than Jack’s Cabin and therefore had to take a bottle home.

Next, Tim recommended Unti Vineyards, and that was another great choice. Like the first winery, Unti began as just a vineyard (in 1990), but after a few years dove into the production pool. Even though they make about 500 cases more than Mauritson, the tasting room was a much more rustic affair. Just a short counter amidst cases of wine, but the bottles spoke for themselves. All the grapes are grown on the two estate vineyards, with a focus on Mediterranean varieties. My favorites were the Grenache and the Barbera, though I also enjoyed the Zinfandel, 60% of which uses the Primitivo clone. I purchased one Grenache, though I would have loved to get more, and I think my Irish friend walked away with the Petite Sirah, but it’s been so long, I can’t be sure.

The whole reason for my trip to Healdsburg was to meet the new manager at Rosenblum’s tasting room there. I had tasted there last summer and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This time we sampled a few wines while waiting for Celeste and then had a lovely lunch next door at Oakville Grocery. I was getting some info for a newsletter piece about all the fun happenings in Healdsburg over the summer. Tuesday seems to be the best day to go–with a Farmer’s Market and live music in the Plaza–but I love the town any day of the week.

Healdsburg, Mauritson, Unti Vineyards