We are pleased to present a new feature on Lucy's website, Bruce's Wine Blog. Lucy's husband Bruce has been tasting wines for over 25 years and has kept a running reference journal on all of the wine he's tried. His enthusiasm for wine has taken him to many a wine course and to wineries in Italy, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia and New Zealand. He's tasted alongside professionals all over the world and always manages to match the pros bottle for bottle in a blind tasting. He has an unpretentious attitude towards wines, loves a good bargain and has never been seduced by labels.

From time to time Bruce will write about interesting wine discoveries. In this entry, Bruce writes about his and Lucy's recent trip to the Sonoma Coast in California.

Fort Ross Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2004 ($39)

Perhaps the sunset helped (see photo below), but on the 5th of September 07 at Nick’s Cove on the Sonoma Coast, this was magic. Intense black cherry notes, with smooth tannins and plenty of depth, lots of fruit and richer than most burgundies. Very Good.

Nick's Cove At Sunset

Fort Ross itself is a bit of unusual American history. Established in 1812 by the then Tsar, it was built to protect the settlement of Ross (derived from Russia) in the style of Siberian and Alaskan forts. Nick’s, not established until a few years after the Russians left, is a former fishing lodge, with cabins refurbished for comfort and a dining room and bar attractive enough to bring in the locals from “over the hill” in Marin County, and a few from Canada.

Navarro Gewurztraminer 2006 ($16)

Briefly, we had a bottle, acquired from Copia, which we left with our hosts in Napa. Several hours later we arrived at Navarro, hoping to land a replacement. But no, Mother Nature had reduced the yield to the point that little was available, period, and none for us. We had been hoping to score  a bottle to taste with the 76, 86 and 96 that we have in our cellar. We will still do it, but will have to rely on our friends for the 06 notes.

Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2004 ($52)

This is a polished version of prime Anderson Valley pinot. Lots of guts, yet elegant through and through. Fine long finish.

Goldeneye (a variety of duck) is part of the Duckhorn group. The design and decor in its tasting room and patio rank them at the top end of such sites.  It could be a set for a fashionable wedding, as one would expect.  Striving to make great pinot noir from the Anderson Valley, it also produces a more fruit-driven pinot (Migration), and a pink pinot.

Toulouse Estate Pinot Noir 2005 ($35)

Toulouse Estate Pinot

Not a duck at all, Toulouse is a variety of goose. Vern Boltz’ tasting room is a counter, where he pours his own wines and those of others made from his fruit. His estate Pinot has all the guts of Goldeneye, but is somewhat less polished. Not so much a barnyard nose, as tobacco and berries. Dark fruit and mushrooms join the tobacco on the palate, which goes on and on. Long clean finish.
Almost everything that Goldeneye isn’t.