Day One, Winery #7: It was getting a bit late in the day by the time we made it to Kunde Estate Winery. (We found out that Kunde rhymes with Sunday.  Who knew?) The grounds of this winery are very picturesque (which explains why there were so many pictures that I took there). I am sure that there is a story to the cow in the picture below, but I have to admit, we didn’t really even question the presence of a cow at this point.
The staff at this tasting room really drove home the point that these people work on commission.  When it became apparent that we were not going to be pressured into joining their wine club, the gentleman helping us, Bruce, became much less interested in pouring us wine.  We nominated Bruce the “Used Car Salesman” of tasting room employees title winner, though we still enjoyed our wines:

1. 2004 Vallee de la Lune - Rhone style blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Zinfandel and Viognier ($23/bottle)
2. 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal Winner, 2007 Sonoma County Harvest Fair ($22/bottle)
3. 2004 Barbera - Gold Medal Winner, 2007 Sonoma County Harvest Fair ($28/bottle)
4. 2004 Meritage 202 - Cabernet/Merlot blend ($40/bottle)
5. Century Vine Zinfandel Port

Day One, Winery #5:  By the time we hit Kenwood, our main focus was on lunch, not wine.  We called ahead to find out if they had food that could be purchased at the winery, and we were told that they had some sausage and crackers.  This worked for us, and so we left Ravenswood and make the trek to Kenwood with visions of alcohol-sopping food dancing in our heads.

As to the wines, we limited ourselves to only three tastes of their reserves, as follows:

1. 2004 Zinfandel (Reserve) ($25/bottle) - Winery notes - Blackberry, Dried Currant, Black Pepper & Licorice
2. 2003 Jack London Syrah ($$30/bottle) - Winery notes - Red Currant, Dark Chocolate
3. 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series ($75/bottle) - Winery notes - Currant, Black Cherries, Plum

Day One, Winery #1:  Matanzas Creek winery has traditionally produced one of our favorite Merlots.  We were pretty excited to find out that this winery was very near our hotel, and so we planned on making this the first stop of our winery tour, on the very first day. 

We were so eager, in fact, that we got to the winery before the tasting room opened.  No big deal.  The grounds of the winery are beautiful, and though it pained us to wait 15 minutes for our first tast of wine, it was only 9:45 AM and it wasn’t going to kill us.  We wandered and enjoyed the view.  A note to those heading to Matanzas Creek - the winery makes picnic grounds available, and it is a terrific place to take a break from touring if the timing works out.  Bring your own food, as they do not sell it on the grounds.

We tasted a total of 7 wines at Matanzas Creek:

1. 2006 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc:  Tasting notes provided by winery - This 2006 wine begins with bright citrus aromas, including pink grapefruit and Meyer lemon.  The nose will evolve to also include richer melon hues including cataloupe and honeydew.  The palate is consistent with the nose, embodying crips citrus and melon flavors.  The addition of Sauvignon Musque strengthens the mid-palate and renders a softer, longer finish.  Our notes:  We aren’t really white wine drinkers, but it was fine.
2. 2005 Sonoma Valley Chardonnay: Tasting notes provided by the winery - This outstanding wine is masterfully blended from our vineyards in the Carneros and Bennett Valley regions where cooler climates yield Chardonnay grapes that give this wine a refined and complex character.  A first glimpse of the wine reveals a pale, straw color, quite typical for a sophisticated Chardonnay.  The palate is round and velvety with a prolonged, flavorful finish of honey and melon.  Our notes:  Eh, it’s a Chardonnay.  A good one, but a Chardonnay.  Bring on the reds!
3. Sonoma County Rose Wine of Merlot:  Tasting notes provided by winery - Our second Rose in twenty-nine years, this wine celebrates the dynamic nature of Bennet Valley varietals - Merlot and Syrah.  As seen by the brilliant crimson hue and captivating nose, emphasis is placed on maintaining the true integrity of the harvested fruit’s color and flavor.  Bright raspberry fruit prevails on the palate, followed by hinds of both cranberry and cassis.  Best when enjoyed slightly chilled.  Our notes:  Not bad.  Where are the reds?
4. 2004 Bennett Valley Merlot: Tasting notes provided by the winery - Sourced from our vineyards in Sonoma County’s Bennett Valley, this 2004 vintage wine represents our 26th vintage of Merlot.  Bennett Valley offers this Merlot model growing conditions.  Both the terraced vineyards of the esteemed Jackson Park Ranch and the vineyards surrounding our Estate benefit from the cool breeze and coastal fog that travel up through a pathway fom the Pacific Ocean.  Also beneficial is the presence of basalt in our soils - an ancient ocean floor rock - that offers smokey character to the wine.  Our notes:  It was recommended that this wine be served slightly cool, and it was very good.
5. Members Blend Merlot: Tasting notes provided by the winery- This exclusive blend of Sonoma County Merlot  was specially crafted by Winemaker Fracois Cordesse as a special tribute to Matanzas Creek Wine Club members.  This wine possesses both a deep, rich crimson color and a nose characteristic of a classic merlot-harmonious aroms of black cherry and dark berries.  Our notes:  We loved it, probably because you can’t buy it, of course.
6. Sonoma County 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon: Tasting notes provided by the winery - Representing the fifth vintage of our limited production Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah from four of Sonoma County’s celebrated growing regions - Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill and Bennett Valley.  The diversity of each of these varietals, and Sonoma County appellations, coalesce to fasion a truly distintive Cabernet Sauvignon.  Our notes:  THIS is why we love Matanzas Creek.
7. Jackson Park, Bennett Valley 2002 Merlot: Tasting notes provided by the winery - This is the second vintage of our single vineyard Merlot sourced from our Estate-owned vineyards in Jackson Park.  The picturesque mountain vineyard is locarted over 900 feet above Bennett Valley’s floor and overlooks Matanzas Creek Winery.  Bennet Valley provides ideal conditions for Merlot to develop due to its long growing season brought abut by the coastal fog that flows into the valley from the Pacific Ocean.  In addition, the unique terrior in Jackson Park has an excellent, loamy soil structure and contains Basalt, an acient ocean floor rock that adds smokey characteristics to the fruit grown there.  This wine can be aged for up to ten years.  Our notes - What a way to kick off our tasting excursions!

What we did not know is that Matanzas Creek also produces a lot of lavendar, which they grow, harvest and turn into various products.  Lavendar field below…