Pat Paulsen Vineyards

How can I not like a vineyard that has my exact same last name? I initially found Pat Paulsens by accident, but I really like the wine here. The wine tasting room is really small and cozy, and there’s usually only one person pouring, but the employees are always attentive and personable. I’m very partial to buttery chardonnays and the Pat Paulsen chardonnay has nice butter and vanilla notes. It’s definitely one of my favorites.

Pat Paulsen winery was a pleasant surprise this year. The Winemaking team likes to take some chances, and the outcome are handcrafted products full of life. I can’t wait to taste more from this little tasting room.
3.5 Stars
Cellar door
First time at this winery, Monty Paulsen was warm and knowledgeable. He said he wanted to offer somthing different to people, and different was his 2012 Chenin blanc from Texas.
Boasting with funky-​classic Chenin aromatics like honeydew melon and fake fruits like skittles. Refreshing acidity. This is best Chenin Blanc outside of Vouvray, and I would imagine it will age as such. Bravo 3.5−4.0
His 2013 Sauvignon Blanc from Lodi, was another pleasant surprise. His grower wanted to do an Unfiltered sb, and the result is a wine full of stone fruits: peach, citrus: grapefruit. Creamy texture and Good acidity. 3.5−40
Crackling rose.
50% rose of cab Livermore.
50% moscato from Lodi
Stone fruits: peaches, watermelon, strawberries, skittles. Good acidity, off dryish, some carbonation. Nutty finish. 3.0
2012 Ranch las juntas zin. Contra Costa
Primary, black fruits: blackberry, plums. Not sweet or overripe. Lighter, dry. Pencil shavings. Finishes like a cab. 3.0−3.5
2012 rancho las juntas petite Sirah
Black and blue fruits: blueberries, blackberries, plum. Beefy, Bretty. Ripe red apples. Good acidity. 3.0
13 contra Costa. Tad oxidation.
Riper nose. More alcohol. Va. Least favorite. Sweeter too. Least successful. 2.5
Lodi cab.
Primary. Black fruits. Blackberries. More plummy on the palate. Good concentration. Fruit driven. Meaty cherries. Black tea. Tad sweet. Crowd pleaser. 3.5
Elkhorn Peak Pinot noir. Carneros (ish) ripe red fruits: cranberries, pomegranate, hibiscus, red apples, good acidity. Nutty finish. Firm tannins. Creamy texture. 3.0
Pinot noir reserve. Carneros
Primary fruit. Similar nose. Red fruits mostly. Good aromatics. Violets too. Woody finish. 3.0
Napa cab 11’
Oxidation. Good concentration.
Firm tannins. Massive structure. Black fruits. Good acidity. 2.5−3.0
Parthenogenesis
Fruit driven, sweaty socks, ripe mangos, oaky, good acidity. Firm tannins. Black fruits: plums, blackberries 3.0

Really sweet and friendly wine servers and great wine! I would highly recommend coming here.

This is my new favorite livermore winery! The wine maker is pouring wines. He consults for a lot of other wineries during blending, so he really knows his stuff. Very smalk, homey place. There are three wineries in the parking lot. The Singing Winemaker– guess if you want to heater him singing, but after a long day it was a bit much. After stopping at Paulsen, we didn’t even make it to the other one. $ 12 to $ 25 for reds, but they were selling a great white for $ 100 per case. I’d say a must stop in Livermore

Pat Paulsen Vinegards was bunched with 2 other wineries in this «area».
event:LVBTW (3÷21÷15)
taste: petite syrah 2013
–tasted slightly harsh
passed on cabernate sauvignon, not a fav
not able to taste white wines, separate building, apparently not part of LVBTW
3ish stars.

We grew up watching Pat Paulsen on the Smothers Brothers and were excited to finally visit his namesake winery. We weren’t disappointed! Thoroughly enjoyed our visit and owner, winemaker Monty (Paulsen) could not have been more friendly or welcoming. Learned a lot about his award-​winning wine experiences and definitely agree with Wine and Spirits Magazine review of their «Import Series» Cabernet Sauvignon as «One of the Best Chilean Cabernets of the Year.» Delicious! Minimal tasting fee for a wide selection of excellent reds and whites.
Location is in between 2 other wineries, so you might want to hang out awhile. Skip the Napa, Sonoma traffic, pretentious, crowded tasting rooms, & ridiculous tasting prices and kick back with a leisurely drive to Livermore wine region. The wine is great, the locals are friendly, and the grape vines are just as scenic.

Great location. In between 2 other wineries. There are 2 food trucks as well there. I really enjoyed the Zinfandel and Sauvignon blanc. The staff was very nice.

Had a GREAT time! Very original wines, and talking with the owner and winemaker Monty was a very educational experience. Wines were fantastic, I definitely recommend visiting them!