Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Coolest Tasting Room Ever

At the very end of the second day of the Wine Blogger Conference, my bus loaded up with the rowdy crowd and we made our way to Conn Creek for dinner.  I’d never heard of Conn Creek before, but honest to Bacchus they have the coolest tasting room ever.  The entire room is lined with wine barrel.  Most have Cabernet Sauvignon from the various appellations in Napa, but others have blending elements such as Petite Verdot.  Each barrel has a tap and is outfitted with an interior balloon system that inflates as wine is removed.  You get to play with all the wines and make your own blends!  I understand you have to call ahead to go to this special tasting room, and there is a fee, but it’s so much fun and so different that it would be a great experience that differs entirely from the normal tasting room visit.

We had dinner at Conn Creek (my favorite was the dessert) and enjoyed wines from Conn Creek, Napa Valley Farms, and Cornerstone Cellars.  Wow did I get a lot of Cornerstone Cellars on this trip, lucky me! I still have a tasting at Cornerstone Cellars new tasting room that we went to after WBC to tell you about!

2008 Conn Creek Sauvignon Blanc: Melon, grapefruit, lemon, white pepper, tart, acidic, tropical notes, orange zest, stone fruits, crisp, easy drinking, white flowers.

2006 Napa Valley Farms Viognier: Floral, aromatic, white flowers, stone fruit, soapy, tropical notes, orange blossoms.

2005 Napa Valley Farms Syrah: Smoky, licorice, vanilla cream, plums, some herbal qualities, violets, red fruit, tannins, smooth fruit.

2006 Conn Creek Cabernet Franc: Strawberry, bright red fruit, raspberry, spice, tannins.

2001 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Napa Cabernet Sauvignon: Vanilla cream, blackberry, spice, herbs, soft fruit, smooth , integrated, pepper, some red fruit showing on the edges.

2005 Napa Valley Farms Cabernet Sauvignon: A little funk, leather, earth, dirt, mint, eucalyptus, strawberry.

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