While technically
not an urban winery, since the actual winery is established in Sonoma, on the
day after Christmas I decided to visit the Wattle Creek Winery tasting room in
San Francisco located at the Fisherman’s Wharf in the Ghiradelli Square.
Wattle Creek
Winery, founded by Christopher and Kristine Williams,
is a family
owned winery producing small quantities of premium wine from their estate
Alexander Valley and Yorkville Highlands vineyards.
In 1994 Christopher
and Kristine purchased the 51-acre Alexander Valley vineyard that they then
replanted. Four years later they acquired another 600 acres in the Yorkville
Highlands appellation in 1998. From these vineyards they produce an
impressive portfolio of wines including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Muscat
Canelli, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petit Sirah, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon as
well as Bordeaux and Rhone style blends.
The Wattle Creek tasting room is located in San Francisco’s
historic Ghirardelli Square near Fisherman’s
Wharf and it is open seven days a week. But, finding a parking
space in the area can be a bit challenging - especially if it is the day after
Christmas, the 3rd busiest shopping day of the year!
The tasting room has three flights; a White Wine flight ($10
for 5 wines), a Red Wine flight ($10 for 5 wines) and a Reserve Wine flight
($15 for 5 wines). While visiting I sampled (and spit into a cup) the following
wines from all three flights:
My first wine was the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from Mendocino.
Usually on a fairly cold winter day I wouldn’t find a wine such as this all
that appealing, but this was wine had the balance of fruit, herbs and acidity
that I look for in a Sauv Blanc and it is at a
price point that can’t be beat. On the nose I picked up peaches, nectarines, “7-Up”
or “Sprite” soda with some tropical undertones followed by a hint of fresh cut
grass and a lingering melon finish. It has a full mouth feel, is somewhat silky
and yet it maintains its crispness all the way through. A really nice wine for
only $15 a bottle. I would have bought one but I was more in the
market for buying a unique red wine blend.
My second wine was the 2009 Viognier from the Alexander
Valley. Think of this wine as being done in a California Chardonnay style. It
is aged sur lies in 15% New French Oak and is very
tropical and floral on the nose with mango, bananas, apricots and vanilla. On
the palate it has a lot of weight for a white wine with a full-mouth creamy feel
and a little hazelnut on the finish and return. A well crafted wine if you like
this style. It sells for $24 a bottle.
My first red wine was the 2009 Pinot Noir from Yorkville
Highlands. Aged in 35% New
French Oak it undergoes a cold-soak maceration which extracts more fruit and
color, making this wine a fruit forward, bold style wine yet it maintains the
elegance and finesse and complexity that Pinot lovers look for from this
varietal. On the nose this wine displays fresh strawberries, dried Cherries and
potpourri aromas along with a hint of vanilla, caramel and spice. On the palate
the profile of the aromas are repeated along with silky tannins and a
full-mouth feel. At $30 a bottle, this wine could easily
compete with others in the $40 - $45 price range
My second red wine was the 2007 Merlot from Yorkville
Highlands. Aged in 35% new
French oak and 15% American Oak this is a bigger Merlot, one that would be
appreciated by Cabernet lovers, with a bit of grip in the tannins on the front
end and yet supple on the mid palate. This Merlot displays inviting aromas of cherry
pie filling, sweet plums and violets. On the palate it has layers of maraschino
cherries, fresh baked pie crust and a hint of damp earth. A nice wine for $30
a bottle.
My third sample of red wines was the 2007 Malbec from the
Alexander Valley, a blend of 84%
Malbec and 16%Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine spent 14 months in the barrel, 100
French Oak of which 30% was new. This is a bigger and earthier style Malbec
with a lot of dark fruit - black cherry, dark plums, dark chocolate and freshly
poured concrete on the nose as well as some spice and toasted bread on the back
end. A bit steep at $38 a bottle but if you’re a Malbec
fiend you’ll want to check this one out.
The fourth red wine pour was the 2006 Triple Play from
Yorkville Highlands. A Rhone style blend of 94% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah and 3% Viognier.
This wine underwent a cold maceration for 72 hours before undergoing
fermentation which extracts great color and fruit concentration. The
wine was then transferred directly to barrel for 18 months of maturation. This
is a deep, dark and complex wine with layers of fruit, earth and spice that
linger for days. On the nose I picked up blackberries, raspberries, molasses,
anise, black pepper and mocha. On the palate the oak is noticeable but not
overbearing as the fruit shines through and is followed by an earthy spice
finish. The tannins are supple and the wine has a full-bodied mouth feel. A
really nice wine for $25 and my favorite of the evening,
so I brought one home.
My fifth red wine was the 2009 Petit Sirah from Yorkville
Highlands. To say this wine is intense and concentrated would be an
understatement. An inky wine, dark purple to purple to almost black in color. The
nose seemed a bit closed (perhaps due to the cold temperature) but I was able
to coax out of it wild blackberries, tar, anise, black pepper, sweet pipe
tobacco with a touch of oak. The nose is confirmed on the palate along with
tannins that made my teeth stick to the front of my mouth and I could feel them
being stained purple. If this is what you’re looking for, this wine sells for $30
a bottle.
The sixth red wine was the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alexander
Valley. A blend of 93% Cabernet sauvignon and 7% Malbec, this is not
your humongous over the top Napa style wine. It displays a lot of finesse and
elegance but is quite tame in comparison to the previously sampled Petit Sirah
suggesting that perhaps this one ought to be served earlier in the line up. On
the nose I picked up red currants, raspberry, cocoa, a hint of tobacco, cedar
and a hint of mint and eucalyptus. On the palate this wine is extremely supple and
silky with definite “ready to drink now” approachableness. A nice wine but a
bit steep at $42 a bottle.
My final red wine pour was the bigger brother of the
previous wine, the 2006 Vintage Select Cabernet Sauvignon also from the Alexander
Valley. Whereas the previous wine was a blend, this one is 100% Cabernet. The
nose on this wine is very distinct from the previous Cab, as it exudes a classic Cab profile of
black currants, graphite and a shade of oak followed by cigar box and dark chocolate.
This wine is also very supple with velvety tannins yet it also has just a
slight grip on entry. A really fine wine but at $65 a bottle there
is a lot of competition out there at that price range.
Overall, Wattle Creek Winery has a profile of wine to suit
every palate - big California styled whites, voluptuous Bordeaux varietals as
well as big, tight and aggressive Rhone varietals. If you are ever in the city,
I highly recommend stopping in!
For more information or to visit:
Wattle Creek Winery (Ghirardelli Square)
900 North Point St,
San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone for San Francisco Tasting Room: 1-415-359-1206
Wattle Creek Winery (Sonoma)
25510 River Road
Cloverdale CA, 95425
Phone for winery tasting appointment: 1-707-894-5166
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