We passed row after row of grapevines along the driveway to Clos LaChance Winery—all 150 planted acres lush against the hills of CordeValle. With a gorgeous tasting room and a large patio overlooking rolling hills this is one of our most beautiful wineries.
There were three tasting flights to choose from: Red/White, Red and Special Select. I chose the Red/White flight which started with their Grenache based 2016 Rose. At $20, this Rose is done in the French style and is delightfully dry and crisp with tart strawberry flavors and a mineral finish.
Although two of the five Chardonnay offerings are sold-out, leaving fans eagerly awaiting their next vintage, I really enjoyed their 2015 Reserve Chardonnay ($30), which spent 14 months in French Oak and tasted like peach jam spread on buttered toast.
The 2015 Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot Noir ($34) blended from several blocks and made in the California style has a great nose. It is an earthy wine of dried cherry, mushroom and spice.
With my last taste I detected eucalyptus and dried cranberry in the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)—which finished smoothly.
Flights of five pours, positioned vertically on a wrought iron wine glass tree stand, are provided free to club members and, depending on their club membership level, up to 12 of their guests.
