Winery exclusive wines at Franciscan

I have a very legitimate reason for neglecting my blog. (Well, a couple reasons if you count holiday fatigue and a cash flow that's more like a trickle.) I've been on vacation!

Hawaii is a funny place where Mai Tai's and fruity cocktails promulgate an authentic "island" experience. It almost seemed inappropriate to order a drink that didn't come with a little umbrella or a pineapple wedge. That being said, at every restaurant we dined, I carefully considered the wine list. I was upset that when I finally found some familiar and favorable wines, we were having brunch at the Mauna Kea and I just wasn't in the mood for (white or red) wine, not even Crocker & Starr Sauvignon Blanc (one of my favorite Napa Valley whites). I had a glass of J Cuvee sparkling wine instead!

So, for a week, I went wine-free. It wasn't too bad (the Mai Tai's were quite tasty, no wonder they are so popular!). But once I returned to the main land, with no job to go back to, I had nothing to do but go wine tasting. I know, rough life (enter sarcastic chuckle here)...

Franciscan Winery has been on my "go to" list for a while. It's on Hwy 29 and I drive by it at least once a day. I remember visiting the Tasting Room with its grandiose water fountain a number of years ago--and I recall liking the wines. I was glad to see that the inside of the Tasting Room hadn't changed much, lovely high ceilings, inviting fire place, built-in shelves for conveniently displaying cookbooks and wine coasters, the four-sided tasting bar.

The winemaking has since changed hands to a female winemaker, which is always nice to hear. I found all of the wines to be approachable and affordably priced. The 2005 Merlot smelled of sweet plums, with a full body of fruit and silky tannins. The 2006 Cab was nice, too, but I was especially impressed with more higher priced bottlings: the 2006 Magnificat ($50), the 2004 Winemaker's Reserve Cab ($100) and the 2005 Stylus ($75).

The Stylus, a winery-only exclusive, is a Bordeaux-inspired blend of Cab, Petite Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. It was incredibly smooth with luscious berry and sweet oak. The lingering blueberry flavors were complimented by the dark chocolate square they gave me on my way out. A very sweet finish, indeed!

Inventory Time with Pride

With all of the winery visits and tasting adventures we had in 2009, Matt and I have accumulated quite a collection. We're in the midst of taking inventory of our wines and organizing them; in doing so, I've discovered that we have quite a few bottles of Pride Mountain wines.

Our visit to Pride Mountain Vineyards over the summer was an exceptional experience, one that prompted Matt to return a few days later and stock up on the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Vintner's Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Pride Merlot and 2007 Viognier.

To get there, you take a very windy road up Spring Mountain almost to Sonoma. I suggest planning a visit on a clear, sunny day and taking a picnic--there is a great vista with a picnic table a few yards from the Tasting Room. Once you've made it all the way up to Pride, you'll want to take your time and stay awhile.

When we arrived for our tasting appointment, Russ was kind enough to take us for a tour of the property. He led us through the library (which with oversize plush leather chairs and dim lighting felt like a very cozy cigar lounge) and through the caves (where we tasted young wines and wines still in barrel). He also took us to the edge of the property which offered brilliant views of the mountain terrain and terraced vineyards.

The wines were all delicious (it was hard to pick a favorite). All Pride wines are estate grown, and the mountain fruit lends an earthy, robust quality to the red wines. The Chardonnay and Viognier are surprisingly fruit-forward with great minerality.

The 2006 Cab delivers rich dark fruit flavors supported on a frame of sturdy tannins and good acidity. Surprisingly, it's ready to drink now, but for those who are patient, this wines will only get better with age.