Ty Caton Winery

Whenever I introduce people to the great wines of Sonoma Valley, specifically Kenwood, I always stop at Ty Caton.
This is not your glamourous Napa-fied experience.  This is your, off the beaten path, local people, kind of place.  They know the land.  They know the grapes.  And they know their wines.
All of the grapes are Estate-grown, in both the Sonoma Valley and new Moon Mountain AVAs.
Now to the wines...
They do a few whites.  Most recently is their Riesling.  Has a honeysuckle floral nose.  and not too sweet.  Then their Rose of Syrah, that has a light pink color, which is amazing as Syrah is such a dark, inky grape.  It tasted to me like crisp fresh peaches.    I love their Petite Verdot and Petite Syrah.  They were earthy, deep, dark, tannins,  Awesomeness.  You don't drink these kind of wine on the porch on a nice hot day.  You need food.  Serious food.  You need meat.  Some good beef or lamb.
Of course, my favorite of all the wines is TyTanium.  It is a blend of all the inkiest wines you can think of - Syrah, Petit Syrah, Malbec, Cab Sauv, and Merlot.  This is probably one of their best wines.  Either way, if you are in the area, don't pass this place up.

Cheers.


http://www.tycaton.com

Lynmar Estate Winery

There are wineries that you go to for it's beauty, ambiance and quality of wine.  This one has all of it.
It is kind of secluded, but within the Russian River valley. When you actually find the sign for it you might think you are not actually at the winery yet.  It is very understated.  But, as you walk in it is like Dorothy opening the door to Oz...you get it.  The interior is all a natural palette, with a feel of an upscale wine cellar.  I did not have a chance to tour the entire facility, only downstairs and the garden.  The tasting hostess greeted me warmly and took me through their awesome offerings.  This is a Pinot Noir/Chardonnay house.  (Burgundy)  All of them were very good, but each had their own unique personalities.
There was also a patio with a wonderful canvas canopy covering.  It has an awesome view of Taylor Mountain and the estate vineyards surrounding.  My favorite feature was the organic gardens.  There was kale, chard, lavendar, herbs, vegetables and happy bees.
While this was just a quick stop for me it will be one I return to.  Next time I will try out their lunch offerings and get deeper into the wines.

Cheers.

http://www.lynmarestate.com/

Brassfield Estate Winery

This world-class winery also luxuries on par with the finest Napa houses, and certainly wines to stand up to anyone.  This winery is 4 miles away from  the lake, but it appears to be deceptively long, but you will know when you get there.  You will see statues among the grounds of deer, monks, lamb and other wildlife, all surrounded by the beautiful vineyards and the volcanic basin surrounding it.
They do a great Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Noir, zinfandel and cabernet saugivnon.  I liked all of them.  Matter of fact, there was nothing that I didn't like, which is rare for me.  The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon jumped out at me, as it had some smoke qualities.  The late harvest Riesling was also very good.  All of them had a nice minerality that is distinctive of Lake County.
The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and educated me about both Lake County history, volcanic history and the various microclimates.  They explained how they're able to grow so many different varietals, from Pinot to Cabernet.  It is possible to order a food plate with your tasting, or get a bottle and go out to the picnic areas.  I plan to do just that in the spring time, when me and my wife return during bud break.
Check it out.

http://www.brassfieldestate.com/