A friend recommended that we visit Michel-Schlumberger and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after our tasting.  Of course, the day we visited it was pouring down rain but we could tell that it would be a fantastic place to take a break post tasting.  The grounds and the buildings are gorgeous.

Michel-Schlumberger

We tried a nice selection of wines including a lighter bodied Chardonnay ($32), the Dry Creek Pinot Noir ($32) and the 05 Dry Creek Syrah.  I noted that the Syrah grapes came from a pesticide-free vineyard and that the wine had a spicy nose.

The star of the tasting for me was the 03 Dry Creek Cabernet ($38) which is a Bordeaux style blend including Merlot, Malbec, Petite Verdot and Carmenere.  This wine was a little harsh in the tannins and could likely benefit from some cellar time but we really liked the concentrated flavors driven by the stressful conditions of the vineyards where the grapes grow.

Inside Michel-Schlumberger

I would love to visit again on a beautiful day to really enjoy the stunning grounds at Michel-Schlumberg.  Fortunately, the wines are delicious so even if it is raining like on our visit, you will still have a lovely time.

Downsides?  It could rain and make you sad that you can’t have a picnic there. It is a way off the beaten path in Dry Creek but there are quite a few great wineries near by.

http://www.michelschlumberger.com

Rating: 3 out of 4 stars – recommend