I have been blessed to visit so many great wineries on this trip that selecting one or two to write about is a real challenge. My visit to Rombauer yesterday stands out as one of the true highlights so far.

Our host Bob Silva was incredibly knowledgeable and supremely gracious. I'm grateful to the Rombauer family and my Midwest Rep Clyde Gilbert for alllowing us to visit and treating of so divinely.

The great thing about this tasting was that they shared 10 total wines with us and 8 of them are "winery only" offerings, which means we never get to see them in the state of Ohio. This made the lineup truly special.

Here's a look at what we tasted in order:

Three vintges of their Bordeaux style blend "Le Meilleur du Chai" 2005,06 and 07

All three of this wines were incredibly well structured and elegant. Le Meilleur du Chai means best of the cellar in French and these wines lived up to that billing. My favorite was the 2007 which offered the highest percentage of Cabernet at 65%.

2009 Atlas Peak Cabernet

A big, 100% Cabernet a purity of dark fruit flavors and perfectly dry tannins provide remarkable balance with subtle tobacco and licorice notes adding to the fruit.

2008 Stice Lane Cabernet

Made from grapes grown in the southern Saint Helena Valley with a more full bodied style. The fruit and spice components are beautifully intertwined.

2010 Proprietor Selection Chardonnay

That's right - Rombauer is one of the very few wineries that will have you taste their world renowned Chardonnays after tasting red. This version is fruitier, fresher and cleaner than the lengendary Carneros Chardonnay that has made Rombauer so famous over the years. The flavor and style cut right through our palates.

2011 Proprietor Selection Zinfandel

Only 400 cases of this deleicous and jammy zin from the Sierra Foothills. Truly mouthwatering and luscious with a silky mouthfeel.

We also tasted their 2011 Fiddletown Zin along with the aforementioned legendary Carneros Chardonnay. It was an incredible lineup!

On our way out we had the good fortune of meeting Rombauer's Chief Horticulturalist Xavier Corral. He took the time to give us a personal tour of Rombauer's amazing gardens. His graciousness and knowledge put a great cap on an incredibler visit.