tasted two wines. Tags: 2 stars USA Russian River Valley 1 star 2005 North Fork Sonoma Restaurants I can't say enough about Buttermilk Channel , the relatively new restaurant in my neighborhood, all the way at the ass end of Court Street just south of where any decent account of Carrol Gardens ends. MORE >>

numbered them and we did a blind tasting, pitting Girard's 2002 Cabernet Franc against a 2000 Ch. Haut Gravet ** and the fifth wheel 2005 La Crema Pinot Noir Russian River Valley * It was interesting to note how these wines had evolved over the past 3-6 days. Charmail **, a 2005 Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot, 2000 Ch. MORE >>

The La Crema Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2005 ** from the "cool" region of Mendocino ($35) made by winemaker Melissa Stackhouse is by far and away the best wine I have tasted from here in years. Tags: 2 stars USA 2006 3 stars Russian River Valley 2005 Sonoma This is a good find. 2000 cases produced. MORE >>

ended up in Healdsburg in the Russian River and started at a winery called Sausal winery. tried a Sangiovese, an Italian varietal that is not that common in NorCal and was the only one I tasted on this trip. Sadly the gentleman in the tasting room at SS was not the friendliest guy around. Happy Sonoma wine tasting! MORE >>

But now, my long overdue summary of the wines I was able to try at the Polaner tasting. Maybe given my "neophyte" status, I try to taste as many wines as possible and miss the point. Either way, while it was overwhelming, I tasted some very fine wines and met some very personable and charming winemakers (or winery proprietors). MORE >>