Gary Farrell Winery, July 25th, 2012

Winery - 8 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Mountain-side winery with tree-top views of Russian River Valley.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah
www.garyfarrellwinery.com

After rushing about Sonoma County working with the planning department, I had enough time left for a single winery visit along the Russian River.  So, I visited my staple winery there, Gary Farrell Winery.  For avid, mountain-climbing bicyclists, the ride up the driveway to the tasting room will be exhilarating … for the rest of us, drive a car with a sturdy motor, as the hill is an ambitious trek up to the tasting room, but not without its rewards.  The driveway entrance to the winery can be found off the lower portion of the Westside Road, but is easily missed if not watching for it.  A modest wooden sign announces the entrance to the winery.  Once atop the winery driveway, you immediately understand why it was located there: the views are spectacular.  So much so that the tasting room is built around the views, with tasters at the bar looking out a panoramic window that wraps around the tasting bar.



The view of Rissian River Valley from Gary Farrell Winery

 The tasting room has an elegant mountain home feel to it, with rustic lumbers on the ceiling, beautiful (yet simple) woodwork surrounding the doors and windows, plenty of natural light, a tile floor that draws in the colors of the forest just outside, and glass doors that open onto a patio where you can enjoy your wine tasting in the beautiful Russian River Valley summer weather.  When the weather is less agreeable, there are a few tables indoors for a sit-down tasting in addition to the handsome tasting bar that wraps around two lengths of the room.  The tasting bar is my favorite vantage point because you are practically forced to take in the tree-top splendor outdoors as you take in the glorious wines that this winery produces.




Entrance to Gary Farrel Winery on top of the hill



The tasting list consists of two Chardonnays and three Pinot Noirs.  My favorite of the Chardonnays was the 2009 Rochioli Vineyard for its clean fruit, grass and mineral notes, and balance.  The three 2009 Pinot Noirs represent the best of Northern and Southern California wine-growing.  The first comes from the famed Bien Nacido vineyard near Santa Maria and was the lightest of the three.  The second was from the Hallberg Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, and was the most balanced, fullest, and richest of the three.  The third was from the Rochioli Vineyard (just a few miles up the road) and was the most complex of the three.  I was so taken by the Hallberg that I bought a bottle.

Inside Gary Farrell at the seated tasting area

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as an 8 and the wines offered as a 7.  This is consistent with all of my previous visits.