A Virtual Visit to the Tasting Room at … Easton/Terre Rouge

By Thom Elkjer, Wine Editor

A visit to Bill Easton and Jane Riordan's winery and tasting room in the Shenandoah Valley east of Sacramento is a fascinating double-dip: one of America's top Rhône producers (Domaine de la Terre Rouge) and one of California's top Sierra Foothills wineries (Easton Wines) share one roof. With roughly a dozen bottlings under each label, there's abundant variety. Riordan is also a master chef, so there will plenty for the foodies in your tasting party. Open 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Friday through Monday in historic Fiddletown – a splendid day trip from the San Francisco Bay Area. Here are some wines to look for this month and next

	Easton Sauvignon Blanc Sierra Foothills Monarch Mine Vineyard 2004 ($16): The Swedish Ski Team of Sauvignon Blanc: sleekly full-bodied, gliding across your palate while carving figures into your taste-buds. Foreplay for any evening meal.
	Domaine de la Terre Rouge Red Wine Sierra Foothills "Tete-a-Tete" 2002 ($13): Incisive Cal-Rhone nose of ripe fruit and summer spice; adds minerality in the mouth, a good touch of oak, and juicy acid going into the finish. Where the Domaine and Easton meet.
	Domaine de la Terre Rouge Syrah Shenandoah Valley of California Sentinel Oak Vineyard Pyramid Block 2001 ($35): One of California's classic Syrah bottlings year in and year out, the wine once again offers as much suppleness as ripeness, as much structure as luxury. Well made wine and worth every penny.
	Easton Cabernet Sauvignon Shenandoah Valley of California Estate Bottled 2000 ($30): Aromatically dark and brooding right now, it's plush enough in your mouth to reward decanting and drinking today for its black fruit, smooth oak, and sweet finish. Or you can wait 2-3 years for a more seamless pleasure.