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Echos from hammer thuds filled the makeshift Matanzas Creek tasting room.
There was a lot going on at the Sonoma winery. The regular tasting room was in the final throes of a renovation and workers were busy piecing together a new floor. Between the pounding, sawing, foot traffic and overall busyness of a renovation crew, Estate Manager Bradford Yoell, poured a wide variety of wines from an extensive portfolio.
Winemaker spotlight
Mention Matanzas Creek around Sonoma and Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot are the two varietals that will enter the conversation. Winemaker Marcia Torres Forno has a deft touch with both. Every Sauvignon Blanc in the lineup is different and exciting. The elegance in the Merlot is memorable.
But Matanzas also does Chardonnay very well and its Cabernet can be approachable at an early age. There’s even a Pinot Noir in the portfolio and it too deserves a spot at the Matanzas Creek tasting table.
Wines are widely distributed and available at a variety of price points. Since I got so deep into the lineup, here are the full tasting notes from the visit:
Matanzas Creek Jackson Park Merlot 2012 ($60) is an elegant red with cocoa, blueberry and grippy in tannins. Made from the Petrus clone. Side-by-side, the Jackson Park 2013 ($60) is a little meatier and more tannic. It's medium bodied, darker in the glass and has flavors of cracked pepper, fresh plum and tomato leaf on the finish.
Matanzas Creek Knight's Valley Merlot 2012 ($45) is bigger, riper and fuller bodied than the Jackson Park. Just 20 miles separates the two vineyards, but Knight's valley has more red fruit than blue. It's got chewy tannins and will get more impressive over the next 10 years.
Matanzas Creek Knight's Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($60) has a nose of cracked black pepper and loads of black cherry and cassis. It's medium bodied and ready to be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years.
Matanzas Creek Journey 2012 ($100) is dominated by dark chocolate flavors. It's framed nicely in the background by dark fruit flavors with tannins that grab on the finish. While in the tank, Matanzas Creek winemaker Marcia Torres Forno said the Pinot Noir 2015 ($50) smells like rose petals. A cold soak before fermentation led to an earthy, medium bodied Pinot with strawberry and cherry flavors.
Naturally, the tasting started with the whites and the Sauvignon Blanc bottlings dazzled.
The Matanzas Creek Helena Bench Sauvignon Blanc 2012 ($40) continued its trend as being one of the prettiest interpretations of the varietal on the market. There's tropical fruit and floral aromas. Pineapple and starfruit flavors emerge on a medium bodied fresh, crisp and complex white that finished with a zest lime note. The mouthfeel is dynamic because of the texture layers it provided.
The Matanzas Creek Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc 2015 ($22) had lemon, lime and grapefruit flavors. It's lighter bodied with a crisp acidity. There's a grassy rock nose that furthered the experience.
From the "superior lots" in the vineyard, the Matanzas Creek Journey Sauvignon Blanc 2014 ($50) had an herbal green snap on the nose and is fuller bodied for the varietal. There's honey dew melon and a long finish of mango, papaya and pear.
While Matanzas seemed to have specialized in Sauvignon Blanc, its Chardonnay line is diverse and fruit focused. The Matanzas Creek Sonoma County Chardonnay 2015 ($26) has fleshy red apple and toasty almond flavors. There's a hint of buttery popcorn on the finish.
The Bennett Valley Chardonnay 2015 ($40) has butterscotch and brioche flavors. The Journey Chardonnay 2013 ($75) is richer and more elegant than its counterparts. It's streamlined flavors of browned sugar creme brulee.
What to buy
Paniza Garnacha Rosé 2015 ($10) was exactly what I needed. On a warm fall afternoon, the Spanish rosé found my palate’s sweet spot with savory watermelon, citrus, strawberry and thyme flavors. Since Sept. 15 was World Garnacha Day, the three Garnachas from Cariñena are an inexpensive way to raise a glass and discover a new region. Bodegas San Valero Particular Old Vine Garnacha 2014 ($10) has spice rack and ripe dark fruit flavors. With raspberry and herb flavors, the Corona de Aragon Grandes Vinos y Viñedos Old Vine Garnacha 2014 ($11) is another inexpensive way to get to know the varietal.
• James Nokes writes a bi-weekly wine column for the Daily Chronicle. He's been tasting, touring and collecting in the wine world for several years. Contact him at news@daily-chronicle.com.