After tasting Murietta’s Chardonnay at the Wine Room in Palo Bajo, I had high hopes for this bottle.  True to the style of California, the quantity of Petite Verdot and Cab Franc in the blend exceeded the typical Bordeaux ratios.  That is not necessarily a bad thing… but unfortunately in this wine the nose far exceeded the finish.  It is a nice mouthful, though, complex and entertaining.  But does the finish belie the true quality of this wine?  In the end I felt I had overpaid by 50%.

paid: $32

scored: 86

reminder:  (to myself and others) the score reflects enjoyment/price!  Without the price in the denominator, closer to 90…

I think this winery used to be called Palomares Vineyards.  We found it by accident on Palomares Road, which I wouldn’t really consider to be part of Livermore Valley — its off the Sunol Grade to the west of the valley, and is actually located in a canyon in some hills.  Very pretty spot.  Climate more reminiscent of the Santa Cruz Mountains rather than Livermore.  ANYWAY decent wine, but not as good as the stuff we sampled at Chouinard (farther up the canyon).  This was our favorite of the 5 we tried, too.  Oh, and they make a lot of Port-style wine here, which I thought was weaker and sweeter than the Portuguese variety.

paid: $20 (at the tasting room)

scored: 88

Very vanilla on the nose, and yet a rather crisp and clean finish.  A balanced and pleasing wine, and all the more so at 35,000 feet.  Go Continental.  I wonder if the fruit is sourced from Livermore, or from the nebulous central coast?
paid: nada, but it is about $12/bottle

scored: 89

Although I’m in Livermore 5 days a week (on a normal week), I haven’t dug too deeply into the wineries there.  Aside from a Murietta’s Well Chardonnay I tried at a wine bar in Alto Palo, I haven’t ben super-impressed.  Wente’s estate “Charles Wetmore” cab changes all that.  Not only is this a delicate and suitably complex wine, it tastes distinctly different from the Santa Cruz Mountains and Napa cabs to which I have grown accustomed.  I can’t put my finger on it, which is great news, because there is only one way to remedy such a situation…

paid: $23 (at a supermarket in Livermore)

scored: 90

I tasted this gem on the heals of the Stanza.  The Concannon folks claim to be the first winery to bottle up Petite Sirah, which may explain the general impression that they are doing something right here.  Nice fruit, nice finish.  I’ve got to find time to go tasting in Livermore.

paid: $11

scored: 87