A Rich Rewarding Day

After sleeping late and dreaming about broken wine glasses, I roused myself and drove out to King Estate Winery do do something I seldom have time to do: just taste the wines.
Josh ( shown here looking a bit fearful) took me through all the whites and reds while helping others on their exploration. The newest offering from King is a restaurant, on premise wine called Acrobat ($12). I was very impressed with its full flavor: lots of pear, green apple, in the nose and tropical fruits on the palate. Full mouth feel and a bit of a tang on the finish. Very enjoyable. I took two home and we had one with lemon, basil paste and it was perfect. My wife was surprised by the flavor as it is very pale in the glass.My favorite among the many whites was the '07 Domaine Pinot Gris: ($25) Lively and fresh with lots of peach and citrus, nice finish with a clean mineral taste.
The reds were all the North by Northwest brand, (yes, that is what NxNW means) and were all really good entry level wines for those whose palettes have not been honed to a sharp point by tasting hundreds of wines...or who just like a good, simple, drinkable wine. My favorite was the Cabernet Sauvignon- Walla Walla ($35). Deep rich red with strong ceder, berry, and earth. Soft finish and drinkable now.

 A very nice family from Taiwan, Katrina, Li-Hsiang, Tsung-min, and Jessie, was there enjoying their first tastes of Oregon wines and seemed very impressed by the wines and the place.I offered some tickets to our concert for them to enjoy while in Eugene so they will get a bit of "South of the Border next weekend.

As I left there were two cars at the bottom of the hill with the people out looking up at one of the trees. As I got closer I saw what was so interesting. He was balancing atop a spruce and his weight was bending it over. As I took the second picture, he sprang up and took flight down through the vineyards. Stunning!

Angela at Silvan Ridge had promised me a bottle so I showed up as she was still opening. As she turned around I realized how long it had been since I had seen her as she is "with child" and due in February! Very happy and radiant!She presented me with a bottle of their wonderful '06 Cabernet ($24). From their tasting notes:
The rich, velvety wine has quickly become a staff favorite! Smooth blackberry and raspberry flavors melt in your mouth upon entry, with well-balanced tannins lingering on a smoky oak finish. Truly an amazing example of Oregon Cabernet.

After I had tasted  through the wines that she had out she opened a bottle of the Cab and let me sample. Smooth, soft, and rich with great finish. Should be very drinkable in about 4-5 years.

Next stop, Sweet Cheeks Winery nestled atop the hill across the road. As I drove in I saw something that I have become so used to seeing that now I don't notice. The very well done murals on the end of the building as you drive in are worth a second look.
 Next time you are out there, take a close look.
I hang the paintings there in the tasting room and wanted to try some new ones out so after a taste of their many great wines I put up two paintings by Barry Geller.
My favorite wine there was the '08 semi-sweet Reisling. Tropical flowers, peach, and a hint of spice make this a perfect sipping wine.

The drive north on Terroirtorial Highway led me to Pfeiffer Vineyards and a visit with one of my favorite winery owners, Robin Pfeiffer. He took me in to the Pinot tasting room, separate from the regular tasting bar and very cave like. He let me taste an very lightly oaked blue line Pinot Noir from '08, then we got busy with a '06 Blue Dot Pinot Noir($60). He donated to the OMP "South of the Border" outreach fund so I get to talk about them from the stage on the 9th and 10th before the concert.

More Great Reviews!

Kelly Fox, who was kind enough to donate one of her fine Pinot Noirs to our auction, got a very nice write up in Portland Monthly Magazine along with Belle Pente and Scott Paul (she is the wine maker there):
Last August, Oregonian wine writer Katherine Cole sang the praises of pinot noir from Burgundy, France. “Wines like these feel like a refreshing slap to the face,” she wrote. “They quiver with an electric energy that shocks the lips, waking up the palate to the possibilities of pinot.” Cole went on to conclude that “our local wineries are capable of observing all of these rules; many just choose not to.” More

Carlton Cellars, Stone Wolf, and R.Stuart

Last night I had the pleasure of driving Amy Burton to the Portland airport for her quick flight to New York after her rehearsal with OMP . She performs Saturday and Sunday at the Hult Center with her husband,  John Musto . Driving back to Eugene at 10:00 did not seem practical so I went as far as Woodburn and stayed at a La Quinta Inn, watched TV, and got ready  for a nice day of driving and asking for wine.
Breakfast was at one of my favorite new places, Farm to Fork. I sat down to a plate of Almond Battered Brioche French Toast: Honey-Orange Poached Quince, Marcona Almonds, and Chantilly Cream and a side of BACON! A little orange juice and a Latte' and I was ready to take on the world, or at least go beg for "One Bottle" from some wineries. The waitress was so sweet and commented on one of the prints that I was signing while waiting for my food. I left her one as a gift. She was VERY happy and it made me feel glad that someone likes my work.
A very nice surprise came my way as I started gathering wines for the auction. Carlton Cellars' Dave Grooters and I talked at length about how people were underestimating the wonderful '07 Pinots and how a few wine writers who think Pinot is only good if you can stand a pencil up in it declare it a bad year and spoil the chances for people to taste a true Oregon Pinot with all the complexity of  a Burgundy! He turned and handed me a Magnum of his Gold Medal winning '07 Roads End Pinot Noir!

I visited Cana's Feast and Carlton Winemaker's Studio just for a taste and to visit friends, then off to Stone Wolf Winery , who I missed last year,where Jessica handed me a bottle of the Lindsay '02 Pinot Noir. Just amazing! I also got my cat fix from Frank, who adopted the winery and now rides the fork lifts and is the constant companion of one of the winemakers.

I stopped in to drop off a request at R.Stuart & Co. Wine Bar in downtown McMinniville and was greeted with a glass of the '07 Dry Riesling. Tremendously good. Bright clean taste with a hint of sugar and citrus in the nose and a smooth, soft mouth feel with a great range of classic Riesling notes.  Nicole presented a bottle of the '07 Autograph Pinot Noir, the top of their line!
I stopped at a couple of wineries on the way back to Eugene and left requests for One Bottle and will be back to hopefully collect in the next week.
A wonderful trip and great results!

Salem,Carlton, Dundee, Gaston, McMinnville, Lafayette for Wine

A long long day started with gathering up my paperwork and loading up on coffee. I arrived in Salem just as Honeywood Winery opened its doors. I had been there once many years ago when the just made fruit wines. I found a very good reason to return when I read that they had received a 90 in Wine Spectator for the 2006 Pinot Noir from their Eola vineyard. I tasted it while it was still tight and again after a few minutes and found it to easily deserve the 90 points. Very tasty and not as fruity as some. They gave me a bottle of 2006 Pinot Noir for the auction!
In Dundee I found Crumbled Rock Winery and saw the progress they are making on the barrel room, tasting room and crush pad/balcony. Very cool site. They bought the vineyard in '87 and she just retired so they are at it full time.They plan to open and be tasting by next year. Julia gave me a 2007 Pinot Noir. Very generous considering how few cases they made.
My usual stop for lunch was excellent as usual. The Bistro served up a hearty pork and bean soup( no, not THAT kind) with a rich flavor that paired well with the Ponzi Pinot Gris. I finished with some Tam cheese and a slice of smoked bacon and apple.
Sustained, I headed out for Carlton and a special treat: Barrel tasting with Patrick Taylor, the winemaker at Canas Feast. We tasted through his line in the tasting room, all delightful, and then went in and found the 2008 Sangiovasi. Wow! I also met with Patrick Taylor, the GM. I can't wait to attend one of the food pairings they do. After an hour of sip and spit I drove to the Abby where my friend Rebecca works. WShe arranged for me to have some of the wineries they store and ship to donate wine from there. She cased it up and saved me much time and raised my count by 18 bottles!Elkhorn Ridge-2007 Le Terre Foss Pinot Noir, Shea Wine Cellars-2007 Estate Pinot Noir, Daedalus Cellars-2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Trium- 2007 Pheasent Hill Pinot Gris, Cristom Vineyards-2006 Sommer Reserve Pinot Noir, Barbara Thomas Wines- 2005 Vigna Giovanni Yamhill Pinot Noir, Brittan Vineyards- 2006 Basalt Block Pinot Noir, Ardiri Estate Grown- 2006 Carmeros Pinot Noir, Winter's Hill Vineyard- 2004 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Anam Cara Cellars- 2006 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir ,CarabellaVineyard-2007 Pinot Noir, Seventeen Eighty-nine Wines-2007 Pinot Noir and Johan Vineyards-2006 Pinot Noir.
Be sure to click on the winery AND the wine.
Rebecca took me to see Steve Lutz, the winemaker and owner of Lenne Estate. What a view! We interrupted him in the middle of work but he was gracious enough to taste us through his wines and present a 2007 Pinot Noir.
On to Willakenzi Estate were I picked up a case of Pinot Noir and a case of Pinot Gris for the auction tables...you have to give them wine to drink or they just sit there!
I toured the winery and got to see the bottling machine, then went up for a little taste. I bade farewell to Thibaud and Rebeca and went in search of Plum Hill where I was greeted by Ghost Dog, who was very excited to see me, as you can see here, and a bottle of 2006 Pinot Gris presented by Juanita, the owner and with her husband, the operator.
My last stop of the day was at Youngberg Hill Vineyard and Inn. I want to take Linda there for a weekend. It is so beautiful and the view is fantastic! Wayne, the owner, gave a bottle of 2006 Jordan Block Pinot Noir.
Now I am back home and sorting the wines one last time. The Register Guard is doing an article on the wine collection and the auction in Thursday's paper .

Adventures in Southern Oregon

Never pick up hitch hikers! Unless they are a young married couple touring the western states working in vineyards and on organic farms. I stopped on the way through Cottage Grove and gave them a lift all the way to Medford with a stop at Del Rio and a "thank you" for thier donation and a taste of the outstanding Pinot Gris!
Then, on a whim, I ask if they had ever heard of "The Oregon Vortex"?
Away we went. A short drive up a winding road to the weirdest and kitchiest place I have been since I was there last time. 1950's here we come. I have been going there since I was a little boy and have gone back at least 15 times. Always confused and it makes the rational part of my brain, small though it is, hurt. I do like watching the eyes of new
people when they start seeing the weird stuff that goes on.
There are places where you shrink and grow... Like here-
and all sorts of optical oddities. If you have not been, go. Just for the fun of feeling like you just got off a ride at the carnival. (I am 6 foot, Jack is about 5'5")

Off to Medford where I dropped them off at a mall to wait for their couch surfing connection.
I wandered around Medford looking for a friend's restaurant on Central, the main south street through the downtown area. I took me a while to find it because it had a big, obvious sign...
I stopped and ask directions at a wine shop, Corks Wine Bar
where Fred gave me tips on what wineries to visit and sampled up a few great Southern Oregon wines.
When I finally found "38 Central" next door, I drove over two blocks to my idea of camping, Red Lion, checked in, and walked back to the restaurant.
I had met David Graham on facebook through one of the wine groups, Must love wine, and was impressed by his motivation and knowledge so I had to try out his food.
There are few things better than finding a great meal, a good friend, and an excellent wine! I sat at the bar and ordered a salad - A True Chop Salad full of Seasonal Vegetables and Lettuce with Things a Rancher Would Add: Rogue Creamery Bleu Cheese, Hard Boiled Egg and Crumbled Bacon. OMG!
As I ate this wonderful dish, a busy David recognized me and with a big smile welcomed me. We chatted about food, wine, the economy, and his plans for the place. We also arranged fop me to bring paintings by Allen Cox to hang.
I ordered the ribs and as I sat there sipping a wonderful gris, David presented me with what has to be the best Mac and Cheese on the planet! I took one taste and could not stop...so much for the ribs though I did manage to get all the meat taken care of. I met Chriss Dennett, the proprietor of Elements Tapas Bar nearby and promised a visit next trip down. This is not the scary, John Birch, right wing crazy Medford I remember from my childhood. There is an air of sophistication and richness of food that Eugene unfortunately lacks downtown, except for a few places like Marche' , Adam's, and Perugino. Must be the climate.
David was nice enough to email some of the wineries and let them know I was on my way to beg for wine. Out early and on the road to Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden
where Bill Steck told me the story of the land and why grapes do so well there. Bottom river soil with lots of rock, not good for much except alfalfa and you can't make wine out of that so grapes it was. I was presented with a 2006 Sarah from Estate grown grapes. I can't wait to go back with Linda during our Ashland visits this year.
I missed Cricket Hill as no one was around but I will visit them on the return trip.
Next came a double header: Fiasco winery and Jacksonville Vineyards, both owned by Dave and Pamela Palmer. I stopped in at Fiasco and sampled the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, that years ago wine "experts" said would not grow well in Southern Oregon due to the volcanic soil. So much for that. The wine had a mellow, big mouth feel and lots of dark fruit, vanilla and hints of raw chocolate. Plum aftertaste. Very good! I left with a bottle of that and with a bottle of Jacksonville Vineyards 2005 Claret, a blend of 50%cab sauv, 36%Merlot, 10% cab franc, and 4% Malbec.
On down the road to Longsword. I always enjoyed stopping there for a taste and a few bottles of incredible Chardonnay (no oak) when they had the little stand at the front gate and a couple of tables. Now they have a real tasting room but I hope you can still sit out by the road and sip. Melinda gave me a bottle of the 2007 Chardonnay for the auction. Thank you Matt, for your nice gift!
John Michael Champagne was the next stop and I left with a bottle of the Sparkling Red 2002. I have had his wine before and it is REALLY good. A nice surprise on a hot summer day.
And yes, I know you can't call it champagne...
A real treat, if you have some time and want to learn all about wines, grapes, bottling, et al, you have to visit The Academy of Wine of Oregon and talk to Bernard. I was in a rush this time but plan on some long tasting later in the year. He gave me, after much hesitation about what to hand over, a 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a bottle worth bidding on by its self!
I visited Valley View and tasted some of the wonderful wines they make. The donated a 2005 Merlot last month at the Newport Wine Fest. I stopped and had lunch and met with Bruno Pedro of CMG, Lda.
He had flown in to SF and driven up to visit wineries and show them his corks. The next time I am in Portugal I am promised a tour of the wineries!
Rossella's was next for a bottle of their rich and ripe 2006 Merlot.
I was disappointed to miss Schmidt, Wooldridge, and Bridgeveiw but will see them on the First of April.
I also stopped by Troon and tasted what they had out. I have heard from people that they make great wine. I will be picking up a bottle of 2004 Old Vine Meritage!
Last stop of the day was indeed a treat!
RoxyAnn has many things to offer: Great wines, enthusiastic staff, food, nice outside and inside seating, and Michael Donovan who, for those Ashland visitor who have had the pleasure over the years to eat at Chateaulin, will recognize. He sold it to his employees and went in to retirement, until he was recruited by RoayAnn to run the show. And can he run a show!
I was there for about two hours, tasted, eat Rouge Valley cheese, sample chocolate, and was generally entertained. Michael gave me a bottle of 2006 RoxyAnn Claret. I also met the new winemaker, John Quinones.
A day well spent and 9 bottles to show for it!

New Auction Items to Go With the Wine

Last night at First Friday I ask for some special gifts for our auction and got more than I could have imagined!
You may bid on becoming a character in the world famous cartoon series, "Stone Soup" created by Jan Eliot. She will create a "you" in one of her published strips and you will get to travel the world on the pages of hundreds of newspapers, in many languages and be seen by millions of readers!
Justin King will play a private concert in the Barrel room of King Estate, where he began to play his guitar as a young boy!
Jerry Dame , one of Oregon's most renowned artists, will work with you to create an oil painting of your choice from his vast repertoire!
And there is much more to add to the list!
April 10th will be quite a night!

An Afternoon in the Mid Valley

After a Looong board meeting this morning I struck out to gather some wine in the area around Eola-Amity AVA. My first stop was Orchard Heights. I was amazed by their tasting room/snack bar/ gift shop! You would never know what is inside by what is outside. They were so nice and helpful! We were given a bottle of Bronze medal winning Pinot Gris and one of the 2007 Merlot made with 100% Oregon grapes. I really like the Merlot for its deep chocolate and fruit. I also got just a hint of tobacco and leather in the back taste. Nice!
A lot of the wineries are closed now but I did find Redhawk open and got to meet the owner John Pataccoli. He was very nice and even though I interrupted him while he was bottling , he gave us a bottle of his best selling "Grateful Red". I recommend a visit to taste the wines, and to see John smile when he talks about them!
I was in a rush to find more wineries open and I saw Bryn Mawr. Meeting David Lloyd-Jones lowered my blood pressure by a few points and made me want to stop what I was doing and join him in the vineyards to learn the proper pruning methods. His rambunctious dogs and the docile sheep, the view (which he should also bottle) and his calm and patient demeanor, all made me very pleased to be there. We tasted his 06 and 07 Pinot Noirs: Yin and Yang. The yang was the 06 with its power ans rich chocolate and fruit and spirited taste. The yin was the subtle, soft, and vital 07. As I held it in my mouth it began to open and gently let loose the fruit and flowers. Such a huge difference between them yet there was a distinct sense that David's hand had made each one, from the planting to the pruning to the harvesting. I can't wait to spend more time there. I think he might be a secret poet! You HAVE to read his web site.
David was kind enough to give us two bottles of his 07 Pinot Noir. I think this is as good or better than most of the "big boys" in the area.
Bethel Heights was next. What they gave me was a true nectar of the Gods. I have drank this wine before and even have it in my tasting notes! "Rich deep lasting flavor of sweet pear and anise, dry wheat and pepper. Love it!" It is the 05 Chardonnay done in oak.
Ted and Pat were working in the office when I came in and plead my case and when ask for a wine that they were very proud of, the 05 Chard came first. I am taking Linda up in May to buy me a birthday present!
I swung by another winery to pick up a donation from Whistling Dog and the woman at the vineyard where I picked it up was very nice and sweet. The wine Celeste left for me is a big Pinot Noir: lush mouth feel, lots of rich fruit and soft sweet finish. I can't wait till they have their own tasting room. The 06 Pinot Noir has already gained a rep and three of the other wineries I stopped at spoke very well of it.
My next stop involved daffodils! As I got out of the car at Kristen Hill a had to stop and think about what moth it was. It IS still February is it not? She had Daffodils blooming in the yard! My attention soon moved to wine: Pinot Gris. I did not taste it but will before the auction and will tell you what I think.
Last stop! Amity Vineyards.
Deep history of wine there. I had already picked up an 06 Pinot Noir from them at the Newport fest but had to stop and taste the rest. Absolutely wonderful whites, reds, and desert wines. You have to go and spend some time sampling and buying. The range of tastes in the 06 Pinot Noir are astounding!
Back home now with wine everywhere and not a drop to drink...I have to break into my cellar tonight!

Benton County Surprise

Today I got up at 6:00, after sleeping from 10:00 the night before...a record for me for the past few years, and decided to take a chance on Friday the 13th and go on a wine adventure.
I stopped at OMP offices and picked up my paperwork ( I hate paperwork!), had coffee at MidTown, the headed north. I passed Tyee on the way to Corvallis and called to make sure they would be around later. I went to Wineopolis and had the usual great and uplifting conversation with the owner. He gave me some tips on wineries to contact and off I went! Man on a mission!
I went around the corner and down the street to Pioner Hopyard Vineyard 255 SW Madison and in to Coleman Jewellers. When I was much younger I bought a nice necklace for a girlfriend there. Nice memory. Anyway, John said that they had an old hopyard up past Salem that had been in the family for years and they decided to grow wine there. The result is an astoundingly good Pinot Noir! The 2003 is subtle and rich, like a ballet dancer, strong and full of energy.
The next stop was Spindrift Cellars out in Philomath where I picked up such a wonderful wine that I almost just stopped for the day. They let me taste the wine they were giving us, a 2006 Pinot Noir. OMG it was good! They gave me four tasting certificates also and whoever gets the case they are in is in for a treat! Megan was more that helpful and patient with me...has anyone ever told me I talk to much???
Away and on to Lumos Winery. Big dog, nice folks, wonderful wine and a VERY COOL web site!
Last stop for the day was Tyee Wine Cellars. Danial was nice enough to meet me at the tasting room, even though they are closed, and give me a bottle of the 2006 Barrel Select Pinot Noir.
I look forward to April when they open for tasting!

Certificate vs Bottles

I think we need to have a few gift certificates mixed among the bottles in each region to encourage people to go to the wineries and spend some time tasting the other wines they offered and explore the other wineries..
Setting that president is Melrose Vineyards in the Umpqua region. They have graciously given a certificate for a bottle of 06 Pinotage. This is a wine found almost exclusively in South Africa and it has very unique qualities. Linda and I had dinner in Amsterdam at Puri Mas and when I ask for a wine to go with the spicy food, the waiter came out with a red...."Oh?' ask I " and what would THIS be?" He smiled and told us about Pinotage, the way it is grown, and why they serve it with spiced foods. Chilled a bit to around 52 degrees, it takes on an astounding quality. It approaches the spice and instead of masking it as some big reds would, it enhances the subtle flavors and enjoys the contest without trying to win. Needless to say I was excited when Melrose uncorked a bottle for me to try. VERY big fruit nose! More subtle ion the pallet. A keeper that will be good for at least 5 years if you can control yourself.
So look for some paper in your cases of wine you bid on and you may discover a real treat!

A visit to Portland

Today I delivered a painting by Allen Cox to the Cascade AIDS Project in downtown Portland. While I was there I went to visit one of our wine donors, GC Winery. They are out on 30th in the 2600 block in a new industrial building. Very modern and stylish. I went in on the off chance that John Grochau would be around. He was gone but I got to meet Athena, who, with friend, partner, and husband Stewart Boedecker makes Boedecker wines! Great luck. I ask her for one their wines and she graciously gave me a 2007 Grenache made from grapes grown in the Rouge Valley. She also gave me John's Grochau Cellars Toute de Suite 2007 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
I recommend a trip to NW Portland and a stop to taste and visit!

Oregon Mozart Players' Auction

As the new President of Oregon Mozart Players I would like to present you with an idea we have for our auction on the 3^rd of April 2009 and would like your input.

I would like to get one bottle of wine, any kind, but hopefully one you are very proud of, from every winery in Oregon.

This will be a feat indeed, but it will also be an amazing collection to auction off to raise money for our performances. Also, it likely will make the news among the performance community outside and inside Oregon in all the related web and paper publications.

I love to talk about our great wines when I travel and this will indeed be something really cool to talk about!

Each winery will be listed along with the wine they donate and each will be thanked in the program and on the blog. http://oregonwineandmusic.blogspot.com/

I would love to hear from you about the idea and if you would be willing to give us one bottle.

In the process I will list EVERY WINERY in Oregon, even if they don’t donate ONE BOTTLE so if you know of any small, start-ups or any others who should be ask or included, please let me know.

We plan to auction them in “blind” cases so no one knows what they are getting. There will also be the chance to buy it all in one lot.

541 515 0487 cell

The Challenge begins!

Part of a letter from a vintner who is inundated with requests for free wine:

While I would like to help, candidly I’ve already supported the initiatives that are consistent with our charitable goals / interests. I like Mozart, and I’m sure that you and your organization make wonderful music, but I can’t support everyone.

However, there is one aspect of this proposal that does cause me to pause, and that is the idea that you hope to get “every winery in Oregon” to participate. I would never want to be “the one winery that didn’t”! So here’s my proposal: When you have secured commitments from a minimum of 150-wineries (which is a fraction of the number in Oregon), please come back to me at that time with some evidence that you’ve achieved the goal and I will provide one bottle for your auction event.

Oregon Mozart Player's Auction Project

Wineries and other small Oregon businesses are great supporters of the arts and should be thanked often. The best way to thank them is to support them with your purchases. The site will give links to all participating wineries and will be an ongoing record of the process of getting all the bottles. I will also include where I eat and stay on my journey.
I think this will be a great adventure!
Today I picked up a bottle of LaVelle Pinot Gris. I sampled the plummy, rich, juicy 06 Merlot. It will be amazing at about 5-6 years!
Looking out over the snow dusted hill from the tasting room of
Sweet Cheeks Winery and tasting the Dry Riesling made me very glad I was inside. The wine is crisp and cold but as it warms in your mouth you begin to feel the soft velvet and taste the figs and apples.
I was there to pick up their donation of the last bottle of the 2006 Reserve Pinot Noir. I may have to bid on it myself as all of mine is gone except for two bottles.
I drove across the road and up the long drive to the elegant Silvan Ridge Winery where each year Winetasia raises money for the Children's Miracle Network. I was stunned buy the reds I tasted! They gave us a 2006 Reserve Syrah that is remarkably smooth and rich, and files your mouth with ripe fruit.
I went to King Estate for what has become a bit of a habit: Lunch in the resturant overlooking the vineyards and the rolling hills. The food is worth every moment of the drive. They gave us a Signature Pinot Noir 2007 .
I ordered a glass of it to go with my Burger and truffle fries. Yes!

Thank you
Robert Canaga