California - Day 2 Continued (Gloria-Ferrar and Nicholson Ranch Wineries)

After tasting at Viansa and Schug Carneros Estate we made it to The Lodge at Sonoma.  However, our cottage wasn't ready.  Dang, what to do?  Guess we'll have to kill some time and go wine tasting.  So, back in the car and off we go.  We had passed Gloria-Ferrer on the way to the hotel, so we went there. Gloria-Ferrer's tasting was two glasses per person and was priced based on what you chose. 

The wines Dave and I tasted were two sparklings and two Pinot Noir's (which we shared) .  The sparklings we chose are only available at the winery.  

First was 1999 Carneros Cuvee.  A dry sparkling wine and a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay.  Bubbles were dancing in the glass and it had a nice fruit flavor with a hint of vanilla.  

Winemaker's Notes:  A complex, effusive nose offers ripe apple and rich Asian pear aromas interlaced with bright berry notes, hints of marzipan and biscuity, toasty yeast tones. On the palate, this wine is creamy, plush and remarkably fresh, with layers of lemon curd, baked apple, vanilla and pear flavors intermingling in a very elegant, vibrant and enduring finish.


Second was 2006 Brut Rose.  A fruitier sparkling wine and a blend of 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Chardonnay.  An explosion of strawberry on our palate.  We enjoyed this the best and purchased a couple bottles.    

Winemaker's Notes:  This luminous pale salmon rosé offers a mouthwatering nose full of enticing strawberry, lemon, pear and vanilla aromas, delightful bread dough nuances and a trace of rose petals. A creamy entry onto the palate leads to tangy raspberry, apple and citrus flavors, and bright acidity sustains the refreshing finish.

Next were the two Pinot Noirs.  Frist, 2006 Gravel Knob Pinot Noir.  A thin mouthfeel with red berry flavor and some spice.  Not a fan as I don't enjoy a thin Pinot Noir.  

Winemaker's Notes: Vibrant, pure fruit aromas of ripe raspberry, wild berry and cranberry along with background sassafras and cola notes fill the nose of this lively Pinot Noir. On the palate, this sleek and supple wine offers complex Bing cherry and raspberry flavors with hints of spice through a bright finish that is persistent and harmonious.


Lastly, 2006 Jose S. Ferrer Pinot Noir.  The aroma was a fantastic cherry.  However, it fell short on flavor.  Disappointing.  

Winemaker's Notes: A wealth of ripe cherry and black plum aromas intermingle with scents of violets, leather and oak spice in the heady nose of this Pinot Noir. Velvety textures carry complex black fruit flavors as well as hints of cinnamon and sandalwood. Firm structure and polished tannins make this a substantial wine with great finesse that can be enjoyed now with robust cuisine or cellared for further development.   

With the tasting at Gloria-Ferrer over, back in the car and off to The Lodge.  But wait, just one more winery.  So, we turn in to Nicholson Ranch.  A winery we were not familiar with.  WHAT A FIND!  WHO KNEW!  They only  produce 6,000 cases per year.  It was a Sunday so we decided to do their special Pinot Noir tasting; six Pinot Noirs for $10.  At this point I am going to give you the Winemaker's Notes.  Dave and I had each tasted 14 wines and these Pinot Noir's made 20.  I was done analyzing and looking for the nuances.  It was now, "I like it", "I don't like it".  We did have two favorite Pinot Noirs which I will indicate below.  But after this winery we were done.  HOWEVER, Nicholson Ranch is open for tastings until 6:00 p.m. so we will come back one day after class to taste some other varietals.  

2006 Russian River Pinot Noir - Winemaker's Notes:  Cream, peppertree, and floral notes mingle with a red fruit compote aroma, all before the refreshing acidity in tandem with the sweet cream texture completes the taste.  

2006 Estate Pinot Noir - (Favorite #2) Winemaker's Notes:  This Pinot Noir packs a punch on the palate. Very ripe-fruit and fruit-forward, this newest vintage is a crowd pleaser.  

2006 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Cactus Hill (Favorite #1, going back to purchase a couple bottles) - Winemaker's Notes:  This wonderful Pinot shows aromatic sandalwood, sassafras and ginseng on the nose, with a lovely creamy mouthfeel and a finish of red fruit essence.  

2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Winemaker's Notes:  A wonderful cool-climate Pinot. The nose shows strawberries, cherries and plums, infused with rose petals and lavender. In the glass, these sweet aromas are juxtaposed with an earthy bouquet of hay, forest floor, cedar and cinnamon stick.  

2007 Estate Pinot Noir - Winemaker's Notes:  A gold medal winner, the 2007 Nicholson Ranch Pinot Noir is very fruit forward and supple. The mid-palate is smooth and rich and there is a lovely floral nuance with some spice from our 113 clone. White pepper and lots of cream on the mid-palate.

2007 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Cactus Hill - Winemaker's Notes:  The first aromas that develop are of strawberries, cherries and raspberries. On the tongue, soft and smooth textures carry the flavors of these fruit and spice aromas melding together with dthe flavors of cola and Kir. 

NOW we go back to The Lodge.

After settling in to the hotel, it's time to leave for the Napa Valley Wine Train.  It was with mixed thoughts that we do this.  So many questions ... Is it too touristy?  It's expensive so is it worth the price?  Will the food be good?  What will the views be like?  What will we see when the sun goes down and it's "the moon"?  I now have my answers. 

I found this was not too touristy. No one had a camera strapped on and pointed out "look", "oh wow", there were no children, and no other "tourist" indicators visible.   In fact, it appeared that a number of people were celebrating events, whether it be a birthday (no, no singing - thank God!) or anniversary (Dave and I - 30 years!).  

We decided when we booked the train that we'd splurge and do the "Moonlight Event", sitting in the Dome Car.  The Dome Car was a good choice. What a nice cozy feeling and the windows so big you can see out both sides of the train easily.  The train departed the station for a nice leisurely and relaxing ride through Napa. 

Our servers were wonderful.  Very friendly and answered any questions we had with ease.  Service was well paced and the food ...  DELICIOUS and prepared to PERFECTION.   

The meal came with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine - Mumm Napa - and because our "Moonlight" meal was a special event it came with two glasses of the trains house wine.  The Mumm Napa  is a very reliable sparkling wine and enjoyable.  The house wines (I had Chardonnay and my husband had Cabernet) were okay.  They were drinkable.  That's it no review more that that; remember we'd already tasted 20 wines today. 

The view and ride were relaxing and we could just sit back and soak in the sights and talk.  The train traveled along slowly, so you wouldn't miss a thing and could look out both sides of the train.  When the meal was finished you were allowed to move about the train and go into the various cars.  See what the other dining cars were like, the observation deck, and the kitchen were the food was prepared and served from.  I did not take advantage of this and now regret it, but that's over and done with; no regrets allowed.

As for what one sees when the sun goes down ...  NOTHING.  Even if the moonlight was bright enough or if there were lights on outside (buildings or even car lights), you saw NOTHING.  The lights inside the dining car were on so you could not see out.  Not to mention the windows had condensation on them making looking outside impossible.  Quite the bummer for me, but we had dessert and coffee and chatted.

The last question, "was it worth the price?"  The "Moonlight" option was $318 and we each had a specialty coffee for $22.  Add the 20% tip and .... I'm thinking ... well, I can't make up my mind and probably never will.  We wanted to do the train and we did.  However, we wouldn't do it again.  Just because the train is nice to do once, but to go again just for the food ... that's too expensive.   

If you do decide to take the Napa Valley Wine Train I recommend the Dome Car and do it during the day.  You'll get a view outside for the entire trip and it's less expensive.

Tomorrow is class at the CIA!  Can't wait.