Dinner at The Matheson/Dry Creek Vineyard/ Don Wallace

recently Don Wallace and I enjoyed four courses at the Matheson in Healdsburg. It's always a great time when Don Wallace and I get together. We have 4 wines and 4 courses to share with you today. First let's look at the tasting notes and the great websites of Dry Creek Vineyard and The Matheson. Open Tuesday through Sunday at 5:00 PM. Bar Open at 4pm. A Love Letter to Sonoma County Our menu is a modern ode to Healdsburg’s micro-seasonal ingredients, exploring the possibilities of a locally foraged fungi from a secret stand on the slopes of rolling forest, or the range of a Purple Heart tomato cultivated from a farm within walking distance to the restaurant. For Chef Nate Davis and team, finding the limitlessness in the specific moment is a play of craft and passion. The downstairs bar menu is a culmination of both classic cocktails and their modern twists. The back bar is made of suspended cold steel and is stocked with sought-after brown spirits and other rarities. The Matheson’s sake cellar, includes a range of the major styles of sake, listed on our digital wine list. The Wine Wall features 88 wines on tap, allowing curious drinkers splashes of multiple selections without over-commitment, or those who know what they like a half or full glass. “We are able to share pours of the most extraordinary wines, often hard to find and when found, only by the bottle,” said Beverage Director Jon McCarthy. Design your own flight of fancy, exploring a region, a varietal, a vintage, or a hunch. No reservations necessary, stop by before or after your dining experience - or on your exploration of the Healdsburg Square. We have opened four great wines from Dry Creek Vineyard . Winemaker Notes: For over 50 years, Dry Creek Vineyard has been a leader in Sauvignon Blanc in California. Winery founder David S. Stare was the first person to plant the Sauvignon Blanc varietal in the Dry Creek Valley in our DCV3 Vineyard, against the advice of many viticultural experts. Many years later, Sauvignon Blanc is now the most widely planted white variety in the Dry Creek Valley! With 16 acres under vine, our DCV3 Vineyard is the backbone of our Sauvignon Blanc program. Our 2022 vintage of DCV3 Sauvignon Blanc displays intense aromas of lemon, lime, grapefruit and passion fruit. After a few more minutes of airing, softer herbal nuances of jasmine, thyme and chamomile come forward. The palate is bursting with vibrant flavors of Meyer lemon and nectarine with striking hints of cucumber, jalapeño and white pepper. The bright acidity of this crisp and refreshing wine is preserved by stainless steel fermentation. Enjoy this lively wine now in its youth, or age for a few years if desired. 2020 Farmhouse Vineyard Zinfandel Russian River Valley Winemaker Notes: This delicious bottling is the sixth vintage of Zinfandel produced from our Farmhouse Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The vines in our Farmhouse Vineyard were among the first to be planted using the Heritage budwood concept to preserve the heritage of iconic old vine Zinfandel vineyards! Cuttings from a pre-Prohibition era vineyard were grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock to create a “young vine” wine with “old vine” Zinfandel characteristics. Initially, the aromas show fruit-forward tones of black and red cherries, cranberry and blackberry. Subtle notes of mocha, rose and earthy nuances come forward after several minutes of airing. On the palate, flavors of plum and strawberry mix with soft undertones of coriander, toffee, toasty cedar and roasted almonds. The wine is supple with tremendous complexity and silky tannins. The finish is pure with a slight spiciness and refined elegance. 2019 Merlot Dry Creek Valley 90 Points – Wine & Spirits 92 Points – Wine & Spirits Winemaker Notes: We have crafted this classic Bordeaux varietal since 1974. Our first vintage of Merlot was released in 1974, and we have produced this classic Bordeaux varietal ever since. In fact, the Dry Creek Vineyard 1991 Reserve Merlot won the prestigious “Grand Prix d’Honneur” at the 1995 Challenge International Du Vin in Bordeaux, France — much to the surprise of the French! This delicious varietal adds bright aromatics and a velvety mouthfeel as a blending component for our Bordeaux program, but it is outstanding as the dominant varietal as well. In our 2019 vintage, aromas of black cherry, plum and black currant immediately fill the senses. A few more moments reveal notes of nutmeg, cocoa and black and white pepper. The palate is full of wonderful complexity, combining flavors of blackberry and boysenberry. This wine features deep undertones of coriander, bay leaf and mocha with a bright finish and silky tannins. This beautiful wine has excellent structure and balance with a lush, round quality that lingers. 2018 Meritage "Alluvial Gap" Dry Creek Valley Winemaker Notes: This exquisite Meritage was inspired by almost five decades of working with Bordeaux varietals planted in the different districts and vineyards of Dry Creek Valley. This experience provided us with knowledge of which properties grow the best fruit our region can offer. This delicious blend features fruit from specific vineyard sites within the Lytton Springs district of Dry Creek Valley, including our iconic Endeavour Vineyard. The blend is led by Cabernet Sauvignon, with three additional Bordeaux varietals for complexity and depth. At first swirl, the wine displays powerful aromas of black currant, plum sauce and cranberry. Several more minutes reveal hints of clove, sage and chai. The palate is full and rich with flavors of black cherry, black currant and blueberry pie, with notes of fine leather, dried herbs de Provence and toasty oak. The tannins are firm yet supple, with a round, plush texture and a rich, lingering finish. We have four features to share. Please click on the links below and joinus as we play the audio for these great features. Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine . Now onto our second feature. Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine . please click on the next link and join us. Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine . We are still hungry,join us! cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine .