Mayo Family Winery - it was a pleasure to meet Jeffrey Mayo, who serves as director of winemaking, and also handles sales and marketing chores. The first wine he poured was the 1996 Zinfandel, which is a blend of Russian River Valley fruit, Dry Creek fruit, and old vine Sonoma Valley fruit in equal quantities. Lovely sweet Zin fruit in the nose - pretty balance and depth in the mouth with hints of briar - very nice.

1996 Merlot - the fruit is sourced from the Kunde estate - good fruit and intensity, but yeah, (no disrespect intended) it's another Merlot.

McDowell Valley Vineyards - 1997 Syrah Young Vines - a bit of funk in the nose - pretty balance of sweet fruit flavors in the mouth - not a bad effort.

1990 Le Tresor Old Vine - which translates as "the treasure" - two-thirds Syrah, 20 percent Mourvedre, and the balance Grenache and Cinsaut. Pretty Syrah nose - lovely balance of Rhone-like flavors on the palate - very, very nice.

1994 Syrah Port - 8 percent residual sugar - deep color - fascinating nose of candy and vanilla - dense flavors with noticeable alcohol - a lot of fun.

Michel-Schlumberger Benchland Wine Estate - Jacques Schlumberger is a charming man, and it was a pleasure to chat with him about his wines. 1996 Syrah - A blend of wines from Mendocino Coast, Redwood Valley, and the Santa Cruz Mountains - blended with small amounts of Viogner and Zinfandel - deep purple color - spicy Syrah fruit in the nose with hints of floral perfume - unfortunately, it falls flat on the mid palate - disappointing.

1995 Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - good color - a little musty in the nose - lovely medium weight Dry Creek Cabernet fruit on the palate - needs a little time, but a well balanced medium weight wine.

Bill Hawley in formal attire

Random Ridge - this was my second taste of Bill Hawley's 1997 Old Wave Zinfandel. I first met him at a ZAP event at Carmenet last summer, and I was most impressed with this wine. Bright sweet Zinfandel fruit in the nose - delicious flavors in the mouth, but just a little bit awkward now - bottled in August - give it a couple of months, then LOOKOUT!!

Joel Peterson

Joel Peterson is again pouring for Ravenswood, and this is my second taste of the 1997 Monte Rosso Zinfandel. Dense purple color - beautiful sweet dark Zinberry fruit - fabulous concentration in the mouth with a long finish. A beauty!!

Tasting Notes From the Following Wineries

Amador Foothill Winery

Araujo Estate Wines

Chateau Montelena

Corison

Von Strasser
Vineyards

Fisher Vineyards

Laurel Glen

Navarro Vineyards

Babcock

Mayo Family

McDowell Valley
Vineyards

Michel-Schlumberger
    Benchland Wine Estate

Random Ridge

Ravenswood

Saddleback Cellars

Santa Cruz Mountain
Vineyard

Saucelito Canyon

Shafer Vineyards

Staglin Family Vineyard

Storrs Winery

Stony Hill Vineyards