We recently visited the new winery location for Las Positas Vineyards in the former Deer Ridge Winery.  They remodeled the tasting room but left the grounds and architecture as it was.  Very nice mission style ambiance and extra friendly staff with a nice courtyard style picnic area and view.  Wines are excellent.  Las Positas has been in business for a few years and now have a full time tasting room.  When we arrived the owners were pouring which is a special treat.  Lots of info with the tasting.

We like vertical tastings of the same varietal from the same vineyard but different years so we purchased their 2008 and 2009 Livermore Chardonnays and tried them at home.   We paired them with thin sliced BBQ filet Mignon tacos and table grapes on our patio for a light lunch. There wasn’t a big difference in the wines considering the varied climate in those years.  Both were aged in French oak, the 2007 for 8 months and the 2008 for 10 months, so the 2007 had lighter oak flavor and aroma with the 2008 being medium.  Overall the 2007 was lighter but both had a good lingering finish, big vanilla nose with the usual apricot, apple and for me banana flavors.  We love the Burgundian style Chards and these are right in there with the top quality wines at $22 a bottle.

- Jim