Esterlina

While we were in Mendocino, we took the opportunity to visit Esterlina Winery in the Anderson Valley.  We had been there the last time we were in the area and joined their wine club, which had shipped us a bottle of their wonderful 2006 Cole Ranch Merlot just before we left on the trip.

You have to make and appointment and it's a long drive from Highway 128 two miles up a dirt road to Esterlina's tasting room on top of a mountain, but the view from their deck overlooking the Anderson Valley below is more than worth it.

View of the Anderson Valley from Esterlina's Tasting Room 

Cabernet Grapes

And then you get to taste their wines.

We raved about the 06 Merlot so much that the host opened a bottle for everyone to taste although it wasn't on the tasting list.  It was as good as we remembered, but the 05 Alexander Valley Lazy S Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon and the 07 Sonoma Mountain Janian Vineyard Syrah were also great, so we bought some of each and had them ship it to us so we didn't have to worry about the wine getting too hot in the car on the trip home.

There were still cabernet grapes on the vine waiting to be picked.

Anderson Valley Vineyard

Then we went on to Yorkville Cellars tasting room and got another fabulous Anderson Valley view, as well as more wine.