Cellar Tastings and Why They're Worth It...

This past weekend the hubby and I went to Linden Vineyards (yet again) and decided to mix it up by not only doing a tasting at the bar, but also signing up for a cellar tasting. If you've never done a cellar tasting before, I highly recommend it. You'll get to taste wines that typically aren't on the traditional tasting menu (even wines that are no longer for sale), hear in-depth information about the wine and winery, and learn about the wine making method on a more intimate level.

At Linden, as with most vineyards, you have to sign up for the cellar tasting in advance. So I highly recommend seeing what slots are open right when you walk in. Once it was time for our tasting, we walked down to "the Cave," as Linden lovingly refers to it. Thru the door we could see a wonderfully romantic set-up. It was a small room, with stacks and stacks of oak barrels. The scent of the barrels permeated the room. On the top of the barrels were tea lights (which added to the ambiance of the whole thing). So there, in candle light, we approached a small table set for four tastings. Some vineyards do slightly larger groups for their cellar tastings, but Linden definitely keeps theirs intimate. On the table (aside from the glasses and menu) were three glass jars filled with rocks from each of the vineyards they use grapes from; Bouiseau, Hardscrabble, and Avenius.

We were greeted by none other than Shari Avenius herself who gave us a rundown of the different vineyard locations used to make Linden wine and explained the terrain and the different types of rocks found in each location. Yes, the type of rocks found in a vineyard do make a difference ;). From there we tasted the first round of wines and did a comparison of the 2006 Avenius Chard vs. 2006 Hardscrabble Chard, then the 2005 Bousieau Red (which is no longer available to the public, so it was a real treat to taste) vs. the 2006 Bousieau Red, then moved on to the sweeter Vidal Reisling vs. Late Harvest Vidal. As usual all of their wines are amazing, but for me, the standouts were the Hardscrabble Chard and the 05 Bousieau. The Avenius Chard had a subtle, floral/grassy nose and the taste was smooth with an almost creaminess to it. It's hard to find a chardoney that can be both buttery and bright, and this one definitely was. The 05 Bousieau was a bold red, with a smokey nose and a fruity/chocolaty taste.

We had a blast at the tasting and even chatted it up with a local who also dabbled in grape growing. I'd like to think we learned a lot, and will probably check out other vineyards cellar tastings next time we get the chance. It was a truly unique experience.