Roessler has become a bit of a regular stop for me whenever I’m in Sonoma’s lovely town square, and recently we dropped by to see what was new. Turns out, lots: The winery is launching a new label called WALT, and we stumbled in just a week before the wines were going to be released.

We also traveled up toward Santa Rosa to check out what was new at Matanzas Creek, long fabled for its Merlot but on this visit more memorable for the release party it was having (complete with free mini-massages).

Thoughts on all wines tasted follow.

2008 Roessler Cellars Pinot Noir Commemorativo Santa Lucia Highlands / $36 / B+ / dried herb nose, lighter body

2009 Roessler Cellars Chardonnay “Big Bend” Estate Carneros / $32 / B / tropical fruit, mild finish

2009 Roessler Cellars Pinot Noir “Red Label” Sonoma County / $32 / A- / easygoing, brambles on the finish

2008 Roessler Cellars Pinot Noir “Gran Moraine” Willamette Valley / $48 / B+ / tart, cranberries

2009 Roessler Cellars Pinot Noir “Clos Pepe” Santa Rita Hills / $54 / A- / deeper cherry character, spicy

2007 Roessler Cellars Pinot Noir “Ridges” Estate Sonoma Coast / $60 / B+ / huge perfume, blackberries, menthol, earthy and big

2011 Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County / B- /

2008 Matanzas Creek Winery Chardonnay Sonoma County / A- / very buttery

2008 Matanzas Creek Winery Pinot Noir Bennett Valley / B+ / chocolate, lavender, light body

2007 Matanzas Creek Winery Merlot Bennett Valley / B / lots of tannin, tougher

2006 Matanzas Creek Winery Syrah Sonoma County / B- / not great balance

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