Porter Creek Winery will always have a special and meaningful place in my heart! My husband and I spent a week in the Russian River Valley on our honeymoon at the tremendous Farmhouse Inn which was only a mile away from Porter Creek. We had the most memorable afternoon there driving up the dirt driveway to the tasting room, playing with the wine makers dog who sat outside at the front door, and of course, tasted quite a bit of wine! We had several special bottles shipped home to us and always reminisce over our trip whenever we uncork one. So, for our first series of Friday Favorites I thought we would share our love for Porter Creek with you! I hope you are all getting together with family and friends over the weekend so bring a bottle of Porter Creek with you wherever you go!
I chose a lovely 2005 Fiona Hill Pinot Noir– which I am obsessed with. It is SO yummy! From the winemaker: This meticulously planted, steep hillside vineyard is situated along Westside Road at the entrance of Porter Creek with an ideal southern face. Hard clay top soil with a fractured stone bedrock places continual stress on these Pinot vines, resulting in a very expressive, unique vineyard designate wine. The nose has aromas of wild berries and forest floor, a weighty mid-palate and long silky finish.
A second choice of mine but Lindsay’s choice would be the 2009 Chardonnay: The growing conditions of this terraced, hillside vineyard, with mature vines and low yields produces a very unique Chardonnay. George’s Hill vineyard extends from the hilltop down a steep terraced slope of approximately 30% grade. The soil profile consists of Franciscan, metamorphic hard clay with a bedrock of fractured stone material. The bedrock layer allows the roots to penetrate, but only slowly over time. Parts of the vineyard yield only one and a half tons per acre. The grapes are harvested in the early morning hours in order to preserve and capture the fruit at perfect ripeness. The wine undergoes natural fermentation in barrel as well as natural malolactic fermentation, and is aged sur lees. The 2009 vintage is extremely well-balanced. Aromas of lemon, lime and pear. Richness and mineral notes on the pallet, yet restrained with a long finish.
Diana’s 2009 Zinfandel pick would be a wonderful choice for your Thanksgiving dinner table: A classic example of Sonoma County Zinfandel. Aromatically, it has the explosive cherries and berries jam and on the palate it is rich and textured on the finish. Produced from hillside grown vines and blended with 10% Carignane for texture and overall harmony.
Cheers! xoxo
