Porter Creek Vineyards: Tasting Review

If you like to get off the beaten track a little and sample some superb wine in an intimate, friendly setting, Porter Creek Vineyards is just about the perfect destination.

Porter Creek Vineyards is a very small operation, easy to miss, with a “tasting room” that is more of a large shed, located around the corner from the main house. This feels more like Anderson Valley than Napa. My last visit was about five years ago, when they were offering superb pinot noirs from two vineyards that flank the tasting area, in addition to a crisp chardonnay. The pinots and chards still have the dominant position at Porter Creek, but the addition of syrah, carignane and viognier makes for a much richer tasting portfolio. I found all five wines to be excellent examples of each varietal; based on a barrel tasting of the forthcoming syrah, it looks like things are poised to get even better.

A large part of what makes tasting at Porter Creek one of the best tasting experiences around is the host, who has perfected the craft of mixing pouring with story-telling and light entertainment, all the while providing the customer with as much or as little information about wine as they desire. I also get a sense that the tasting menu is whatever suits the fancy of the host and makes sense for the customer. This is my kind of place.

Tasting Overview:

Wine: A-
Experience: A
Setting: B+
Extras:
Overall: A-

Pros: High quality wines, in an interesting assortment. While syrah is becoming more popular in the area, carignane is an inspired choice for something different, the viognier is among the best I have tasted of that varietal recently, and blending 10% viognier with the syrah softens some of the edges and adds some mystery to the nose.

Cons: None to speak of, unless you prefer the high end, corporate wine experience. These wines are not inexpensive, but you they are definitely a good value. Finally, Porter Creek is off the beaten track, but that is a plus for me.

Bottom line: One of my favorite Sonoma tasting experiences – and improving. Great wine; great fun.


Quick Facts:

• Winery Location: Healdsburg, California
• Apellation(s): Russian River Valley
  
• Production: 3,500 cases
• Wines
  
• Map and Directions