Bonney Doon Wines

[dananne]

I've enjoyed many different Bonny Doon wines over the years. Heck, long ago before I knew much about wine, I started buying them just because of the wonderful labels!

Randall Grahm, the iconoclastic and rather eccentric winemaker, was one of California's pioneers of then-unfashionable French and Italian varietals. The Ca Del Solo line of wines put out by Bonny Doon are very nice for price/quality ratio, and for everyday quaffing wines, the Big House white and red are pretty consistent. I usually enjoy the Malvasia Bianca and the sparkling Moscato del Solo dessert/aperitif wine, also. Under the Bonny Doon label, the rose is called Vin Gris de Cigare, and is a rose in the Rhone mold. Very nice in the summer, and a good rose. The Pacific Rim Riesling is a nice one, too, and in my house I use it often with Chinese carryout. With reds, I've had several Le Cigare Volant wines (at least one of which I've posted a tasting note on in the Rhone thread), which are in the style of a Chateauneuf du Pape, but I'm liking the prices less and less each year. I've also enjoyed the Cardinal Zin and the Madiran Heart of Darkness (which I may have posted a tasting note on in early November last year). He also puts out a Vin de Pays Syrah called Domaine de Blageuers that's sourced, obviously, from French grapes. Finally, there is a yummy raspberry dessert wine called Framboise that I had recently and posted about in the Wine/Foods thread under "A Nice Chocolate Pairing."

I've tried many others, too, such as his Sangiovese, so let me know if you need any info on anything else Bonny Doon puts out. Also, take a look at the winery's webpage -- it's a hoot.

Oh, and welcome to the board!