The weather’s been surprisingly delightful in Mendocino this fall, and a recent excursion to the coast brought not fog and drizzle but sunshine, warmth, and sea breezes. We took the opportunity to visit a number of wineries along the Mendo wine trail, finding some new Anderson Valley favorites in Phillips Hill’s lush Pinot Noirs, squirreled away in a quiet tasting room in the tiny town of Philo. Thoughts on other wines from this land of Pinot, unoaked Chardonnay, and a healthy number of German varietals follow.

2011 Mendocino Road Trip Tasting Notes

2009 Navarro Pinot Gris / $19 / B /

2009 Navarro Gewurztraminer / $19 / B /

2010 Navarro Riesling / $18 / B- /

2010 Navarro Edelzwicker / $13 / A- / my fave wine from Navarro, a lovely German style belnd

2009 Navarro Navarouge / $14 / B / licorice notes

2009 Navarro Pinot Noir / $19 / B / very dry

2007 Navarro Pinot Noir Methode a l’Ancienne / $29 / B+ /

2006 Navarro Cabernet Sauvignon / $29 / B / licorice again

2009 Navarro Gewurztraminer Late Harvest / $35 / A- / like peach pie

2006 Navarro Riesling Cluster Select Late Harvest (375ml) / $29 / B+ / honey and tea

2005 Scharfenberger Blanc de Blancs / $30 / B / big, yeasty

NV Scharfenberger Brut / $20 / B+ / more fruit, light bitterness on finish

NV Scharfenberger Rose / $25 / B+ / blackberry notes

NV Scharfenberger Extra Dry / $21 / B+ / light sweetness is nice

NV Scharfenberger Cremant / $25 / B- / cheesy character

2006 Scharffenberger Pinot Noir / $20 / B / past its prime

2007 Scharffenberger Syrah / $23 / A- / chewy, good fruit

2008 Scharffenberger Chardonnay / $16 / B+ / easy

NV Roederer Brut / $20 / A- / lots of fruit

NV Roederer Brut Rose / $27 / A- / lovely strawberry

2002 Roederer L’Ermitage Brut / $43 / B / tart, acidic and yeasty

2000 Roederer L’Ermitage Brut (magnum) / $90 / A / considerably better, creamy and balanaced

NV Roederer Extra Dry / $22 / A- / sweet finish, nice

2009 Roederer Rose of Pinot / $19 / B /

2007 Roederer Pinot Noir / $22 / B+ /

2008 Roederer Chardonnay / $18 / B /

2009 Goldeneye Chardonnay Migration / $30 / A- / figs and lemon

2009 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir / $55 / A- / herbs and mint, easygoing

2009 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Confluence Vineyard / $75 / A- / light body, quite similar to the blend

2009 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Gowan Creek Vineyard / $75 / B+ / tougher, great with cheese

2009 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir The Narrows Vineyard / $75 / B+ / a bit unripe and heavy, needs time

2010 Phillips Hill Chardonnay / $30 / A- /

2010 Phillips Hill Gewurztraminer Valley Foothills / $18 / B+ / unusual, big acid and earth

2009 Phillips Hill Pinot Noir Wiley Vineyard / $38 / A / great fruit here, Burgundy style earth

2009 Phillips Hill Pinot Noir Boontling / $27 / B / some bitterness, tougher

2008 Phillips Hill Pinot Noir Beeson Tree / $40 / B+ / from the Mendocino fire year, hugely smoky, like a Syrah

2008 Phillips Hill Pinot Noir Oppenlander Vineyard / $38 / A- / mushrooms, good earth, nice fruit too