Three Sticks Wine
I found Three Sticks Wines at the recommendation of Wine Enthusiast’s Virginie Boone, who rated their pinot noirs highly.
This was another hard reservation to get, and I wish they had told me when I made the appointment that a majority of their wines were sold out. So when we chose to do a $50/pp tasting of current releases, that basically meant 5 wines:
2017 Casteñada: a white blend composed of 40% grenache blanc, 32% Roussanne, 16% Marsanne, and 12% Viognier.
2016 Alana Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
2016 One Sky Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay
2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2016 PFV Estate Sonoma Coat Pinot Noir
Considering the way I feel about Viognier, it’s no surprise that the white blend was my favorite of the bunch. It’s fruity and floral, but also crisp, creamy, and clean. We also picked up a bottle of the Russian River Valley Chardonnay. When you pair it with the sharp cheddar from Vella Cheese Company, it tastes like milk chocolate. (There’s another cheese place in Sonoma?!? OMG! I know. But don’t distracted.)
Aside from the wine, the design, décor, and print collateral at this place were all on point. The winery is housed in a historic adobe just off the main town square. The interior design by Ken Fulk is gorgeous and possibly the only thing that could overshadow his work is that of the artist who hand-painted the wallpaper in one of the rooms and a fantastic mural out back. Each wine came with its own postcard-sized tasting notes, which we’ll be storing along with our bottles. Even the bottle of casteñada came in a special bottle.
No detail is too small to be overlooked by the Three Sticks crew; I just wish we had been given the chance to see if that sentiment pervaded more of their pinots.
