Visiting Sonoma, Part 2

Into the tasting room ... it was a busy afternoon, with at least two tour groups visiting.

Later, we met the adorable donkeys.

Our second and final stop on Thursday was Cline Cellars in Sonoma. I picked it because I have been fond of Cline ever since the days of Jimmy Armstrong's Sal**n in New York, where their zinfandel was the house red.
The contrast with our earlier visit to Ridge Vineyards could not have been more pronounced. At Ridge, the vibe was sedate and intellectual, a place for true connoisseurs. Cline's tasting room was for people who like to drink. The place was buzzing like a 2-for-1 happy hour. In the world of wine, I can appreciate both atmospheres!
Perhaps it's because their wine is so accessible and reasonably priced. Or perhaps it's because the tasting room is free. (Ridge charged $5, which was waived for me because I mentioned my wine blog. Thanks, Ridge.)
I tasted six wines, one white and five red.
1. 2009 Marsanne/Roussane (Carneros), a blend of 74 percent marsanne and 26 percent roussane, two Rhone varietals. This citrusy white was pleasantly tart at the finish; it was a subtle wine from two grapes that are often blended, so this was an unusual pairing for the U.S. market ($20).
2. 2008 Cashmere (California, 44 percent mourvedre, 35 percent grenache and 21 percent syrah). It had a powdery aroma and a sweet finish. This was a silver medal winner at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition; I liked it but it didn't dazzle me ($21).
3. 2008 Ancient Vines Carignane (Contra Costa County). This grape (pronounced karen-YAWN) was new to me, and had an unusual mouthfeel for me -- on first sip, it almost seems to expand in the mouth, and it felt like what I would describe as cloudy or pillowy. It was cool. One of the bartenders described it as "masculine" -- anyway, it had a hint of pepper, with a subtle dryness at the finish ($16). I bought a bottle of this one.
4. 2009 Ancient Vines Mourvedre (Contra Costa County). Chocolate flavors but too dry at the end. In contrast to the Carignane, this one was described as "feminine." ($18)
5. 2009 Zinfandel (California). A big-fruit classic, with soft cherry on the palate. Very well-balanced and at $12 a bottle, a wine for the people. Jimmy Armstrong's house red holds up.
6. 2008 Ancient VInes Zinfandel (California). Spicy aromas, lots of black raspberry flavor, but kind of tannic and what I would call a "fruit bomblet" -- just a bit too overwrought. ($18).
Besides the Carignane, Cline had a few bottles on sale, so I picked up a couple of 2008 Zinfandels at 40 percent off ($7.20 each). I know I paid at least twice that for this wine in New York, so it was hard to pass up such a bargain.
Cline Cellars has beautiful grounds and, out back, a pair of very friendly donkeys. It made for a very memorable afternoon.