A Personal Visit to the Fieldstone Winery Tasting Room.

I have long been a fan of this winery and these wines. Have visited over 20 times, with other wine makers, travelling companions, and sometimes by myself. I have purchased many different vintages of their Petite Sirah and Viognier for my cellar and enjoyed them for many years after purchase. This was our second stop on our third day tasting. One of my companions; Jennifer Root is obsessed with all of the "other white" varietals beside Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Fieldstone is known for Viognier, so this was a natural stop for us. The staff is unusually friendly and professional. The wines sell themselves, especially the Viognier, Petite Sirah, and the port.

• 2009 Field Stone Viognier Staten Family Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  The first thing I noticed was the almost perfect balance of white fruit, spring flower, and floral aromas on the nose. Such a treat. The fruit comes in complex layers of almost everything, apples, pears, melon, spice, lemon, tangerine, and grapefruit that just keep attacking the palate. Typically heavy in the mouth, this one is accelerated by 50% neutral oak fermentation, that results in a golden richness. There is so much change as the wine opens up when it moves from the lips all the way to the long memorable finish. Just the right amount of acid to keep things crisp. I could put this on my corn flakes for breakfast.

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• 2009 Field Stone Sauvignon Blanc Redwood Ranch Alexander Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  This is a very well made, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. Tasting among the various wineries in the Alexander Valley, I am beginning to get a feel for a common profile for their Sauvignon Blanc offerings. I would say they tend to be very ripe, almost heavy. There is only a minimal amount of that grassy nose and taste. They almost all have that pineapple, melon, and pear profile. And, they are less acidic than their cousins from the Napa side of the hill. This one fits that profile. I immediately got pineapple and white pear on the nose. A little heavier viscosity than other places in the world. Some grass. Very balanced and smooth, just the right balance of acid, and some alcohol. Lemony finish.

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• 2008 Field Stone Sangiovese North Coast 89 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  I have long been an enthusiast of California Sangiovese. Starting all the way back to the early 90's with Atlas Peak and Pepi 2 Heart Canopy, and continuing on to a friendship with Lorenzo Petroni and his Poggio alla Pietra in Sonoma Valley, I have tasted hundreds. I like this a lot. They have paid special attention to the characteristics of this finicky grape, and it shows. It might be best to describe what it is not. It is not over extracted, and it is not over acidic. They have captured the crisp, bright, ripe light red fruit qualities of cherry, strawberry, and cranberry. Then aged it for 20 months in an unusual combination of American and Hungarian oak which softened and enhanced the wine without diminishing the typical Sangiovese crisp acidity. Unique, nice job.

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• 2007 Field Stone Merlot Andre's Block 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  It is hard to not like anything these people produce. The history by itself is a story, this vineyard is named after Napa "icon" Andre Tchelistcheff who helped choose this spot, and consulted on the clones. The vineyard is now at the peak of maturity, and with deep respect to the history, terroir, and the grapes, they have produced a memorable wine. With some respect to the awesome 2007 vintage, I think there is a nice combination here of old world earthiness, and California ripeness and fruitiness. It is rich and elegant, without being heavy. The medium bodied red cherry, strawberry, and hint of black currant melt in the mouth. Silky tannins, well integrated oak, soft finish.

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• 2007 Field Stone Syrah Alexander Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  I like the way Fieldstone does things. All their reds seem to have a balance between the fruit aromas and flavors, and the other sensory ingredients that we enjoy in wine. Very dark. It starts out a little rustic on the nose, but that leads to spicy, and peppery aromas, that leads farther to a floral, jammy, fruity nose. The fruit follows this profile, rich and creamy, almost meaty red cherry, raspberry and some darker fruits. Refined tannins, judicious use of oak. A good dose of acidity that will only get better with age.

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• 2007 Field Stone Petite Sirah Staten Family Reserve 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  I have been visiting this winery, and tasting and buying this wine for over 15 years. Even some of the wine makers in the area say this is the best Petit Sirah made in California. I have always agreed, and I think the 2007 vintage adds a little extra to an already awesome wine. There are lots of superlatives to use when describing this wine. Complexity is first. These vines are about 100 years old, in an almost perfect place for Petit Sirah. This is the typical field blend from that era, where there are several varietals, but especially Zinfandel inter planted. But also, Cote Rotie style, they blend in some Viognier. So there is lots going on in the mouth. Second, this is the darkest color wine I have ever seen, the glass is totally stained purple. Third, the super ripe, almost roasted blueberry and blackberry fruit, are still supported with almost perfect acidity and tannins. It is not flabby like some big wines can be. It is powerful and elegant at the same time. If we had not tasted the Petit Sirah port, after this wine, I think the finish would have lasted 2 hours.

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• 2006 Field Stone Cabernet Sauvignon Staten Family Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  The Fieldstone Estate Vineyard is a very special place. It produces arguably the best Petit Sirah in California. With their excellent terroir and almost impeccable growing conditions for several varietals (Cabernet, Petit Sirah, Merlot, Syrah, Viognier) they never bothered to participate in the deficiencies of the 2006 vintage. In fact they may have taken advantage of the smaller, more concentrated berries. This is their flagship red wine and reflects tremendous attention to detail over several decades in the vineyard and winery. This is not for the weak of palate drinkers. It is full throttled, concentrated, and really quit young 4.3 years. I got some of that road tar on the nose. Extremely dark color. Thick layered fruit starting with red raspberry, including dark cherry, and continuing to cassis and black currant. There are plenty of tannins, this will definitely age. The road tar continues on to the complex fruity, leather finish. Thats enough words, wish everyone had a chance to taste this.

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• 2007 Field Stone Vintage Port Staten Family Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  This is a pretty special wine. They describe it as a new world port, and I have to agree. Made from 113 year old Petit Sirah vines, the flavors and even the feel in the mouth is distinct. These old vines by definition produce concentrated flavors, but leaving them on the vine a little longer enhances them more. You get the typical Petit Sirah dark blueberry flavors, but the thickness of the port style, lets them linger all the way through the finish. Not as alcoholic as typical port. There is a nice amount of tannin on the roof of the mouth. Just a little oak, especially on the finish. Delicious.

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