Kenwood is very quickly becoming one of my favorite places in Sonoma County. I am purposely trying to time my days so I can end up near Kenwood to catch lunch at Cafe Citti . The town along Route 12 has some of the county’s best restaurants, tasting rooms and wineries.
When friends took us to Cafe Citti for the first time we parked in front of the En Garde tasting room. Curiosity about the winery and the wines brought us to make a future appointment to taste.
It was definitely a good choice. En Garde focuses on Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The coveted grapes from the vineyards on Diamond Mountain in Napa for the Cabs and the Russian River for their Pinot Noirs make many of the wines created by owner and winemaker Csaba Szakál true standouts.
Our host for the tasting was Paul Morand. I still have a grin on my face from meeting him! Humor and ancedotes aside, He is an excellent host!
I found these wines to be the most appealing:
- 2013 Malbec Alexander Valley
- 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain
- 2014 Gold Ridge Pinot Noir
- 2013 Le Bijou Du Roi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
They are not everyday wines. They are quite amazing and most definitely worthy of serving with a special meal, special friend, or for a special occasion.
I am looking forward to going back for another taste and with hopes of having the chance to try their Magdalena berry port.
Thank you Paul and En Garde for a great tasting experience!
(En Garde founder and winemaker Csaba Szakál’s photo is credited to Chris Hardy)
John's Wine Cellar 