Back in September, Thea, Brittany, and I spent the better part of the day at Michel Schlumberger with Judd. We really could have spent the rest of the day tasting the delicious Michel Schlumberger wines and just chatting with Judd, but the call of bacon at Bovolo proved too strong. Its siren song lured us away from our spot in the Michel Schlumberger private tasting room.
View from the top of the hill.
However, before it called us away, we toured all the way to the top of the hill in the vineyard, and back down through the barrel room and the bottling machine which hummed away as we passed. Judd told us all about the different grape vines, when they were planted and some interesting facts about pre-phylloxera clones that they still have at Michel Schlumberger. It’s always fun to see the inner workings of a winery!
After our lovely stroll (sadly, the sheep that mow the vineyard were not out and about, I would love to see them! They are miniature sheep!!) we headed back to the private club tasting area to taste through the current line up and a vertical of Cabernet Sauvignon.
2006 La Brume Chardonnay: Apple, pear, yeast, fresh, slight oak, lemon. Fermented in new oak for 2 months and then in old oak.
2007 Pinot Blanc: Honey, peach, nectar, pear, minerals, stone, light, citrus, orange blossom. I adore this wine.
2005 Pinot Noir: Strawberry, mint, mushroom, earthy, straw, leather, tart fruit, it smells like the Pinot Noir vineyards we walked through.
2005 Syrah: Vanilla, dark cherry, plums, spice, big, perfumed, dark berries, cedar, sandalwood, licorice, floral. Love this one.
2004 Merlot: Berry, plum, spice, licorice, dark, has hints of red fruit.
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon: Cherry, leather, earth.
1998 Cabernet Sauvignon: Smells delicious. Cherry, tart, leather, spice, dark, yummy, still tannic.
1999 Cabernet Sauvignon: Vegetal, herbal, earth, forest floor, not too fruit driven, some red fruit in the mid-palate.
2000 Cabernet Sauvignon: Strawberry, oak, berries, perfume, flowers, fresh fruit, dirt, earth.
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon: Berry, big fruit, spice, vanilla, still needs time, blackberry, pepper, licorice, fruit driven, tannic.
2006 Cabernet Franc: Very new, can still smell the yeast, strawberry, dust, wood, currants, dark, herbs.
Many thanks to Judd for a fabulous day. Any time you are out in Sonoma, make sure to give Michel Schlumberger a call to schedule an appointment to stop by! And don’t forget to follow their award-winning and very well done blog!
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Filed under: California, Michel-Schlumberger, Vineyards, Wine, Wineries |
Wannabe Wino Wine Blog 
Great photography! This must have been an awesome day!
Your post and pictures makes me want to go back… oh wait, I have been there three times in the past week.
We will have to make a stop here again during your visit (and ask to try some of the Deux Terres in the Barrel)
It was & always is a pleasure having you at the Estate! Thanks so much for the kind words & the beautiful pictures. For what it is worth…the sheep are out now mowing the lawns!! But once bud break occurs, we’ll move them out — they aren’t too discerning about what they eat.
To all your readers — come on up to Michel-Schlumberger — we’d be honored to show you around!!
That was so much fun! I still dream about that Pinot Blanc….
It was quite fun Randy.
Lucky you Shana!! Yes, I want to go back again, love it there!
Hey Judd! Wish I could see the sheep!!
Oh the Pinot Blanc is to die for WineQT!