Awesome Tasting Room on Sonoma Square

The tasting room at Adobe Road on Sonoma Square is very spacious and has bar seating and table seating as well as a private room in the back for special events. The light yellow walls are adorned with Porsche racing memorabilia and awards, photos of Yosemite, and paintings of vineyards. Its a really well designed tasting room. The staff were very knowledgeable, friendly, and they clearly loved their job which always translates into great customer service.  

You get to taste 4 wines for $5 or $10 for the reserves. The tasting fee, like many of the tasting rooms on the square, is waived with the purchase of a bottle. And like any good tasting room there is always the possibility of extra tastes especially for paying customers.

We started with the 2008 Pinot Rose from Sonoma County. It was a tawny red color with aromas of watermelon and strawberry. The palate was a little different for a rose consisting of grapefruit and hints of geraniums with a crisp finish.

Next up was the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek ($19) which was a light golden color which is indicative of its ripeness and time spent in barrels. The bouquet expressed notes of buttery toffee. The buttery flavors continued onto the palate where it was joined by vanilla and grapefruit.

Then I had the 2007 Grenache from Mendocino County ($25). This a lovely light bodied Grenache with strawberries and cherries on the nose. The cherries follow through in the mouth and merge with red currants, cranberries, and subtle herbal flavors. It finishes crisply with a little lingering acidity.

The girl behind the bar poured what she called Dueling Zins next. They have two vineyard designated Zinfandels which are polar opposites of each other while still exhibiting Zinfandel characteristics.

First up was the 2007 Zinfandel from Dry Creek's Kemp Vineyard ($38). The nose showed brandied cherries and gravel while the mouth feel consisted of round tannins and high alc, but not too high like some Zins. The flavors were quite complex with cherries, white pepper, and fresh leather that evolved the with each taste.

Completing the duel was the 2007 Zinfandel from Dry Creek's Grist Vineyard ($38). The bouquet was of licorice, leather, and cedar while my palate was greeted by red fruit, soft leather, and cigar tobacco. The acid on the medium length finish was a bit too much for me but that will calm with age.

I completed the tasting with the 2007 Petite Sirah from the Russian River Valley's Bacigalupi Vineyard ($38). It was an inky red in color and had a aromas of sweet prunes. The wine showed Port-like flavors but with lower alcohol. The bouquet was showing mocha, coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and cigar smoke. The tannins were big and round and the wine was well balanced. It was my favorite wine of the there. If you do purchase it at the winery and if you mumble like I do, then make sure you check the bag that they hand you so you don't end up with a Pinot Noir instead of the wine you wanted. Unfortunately I didn't realize that until I got home. Oh well this is a quality winery and I'm sure I'll love it when I get to it.