Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Inglenook or Rubicon Estate

Please see our updated review at:  Inglenook Revisited

Rubicon Estate was previously known as Inglenook and Neibaum-Coppola.  (Since this post it has become Inglenook again.)  It is at the end of a long driveway off Highway 29 near Rutherford Cross Road.  Rubicon is in a beautiful old building with a staircase that leads to a museum that includes early lantern movie projectors and a Tucker automobile.  This is a place you will want to see even if you don't taste there.  The tasting was $25 for a flight of five one-ounce pours.

Our tasting began with the Rubicon 2008 Captain's Reserve Chardonnay that had apple on the nose followed by a very smooth citrus and apple on the palate.  It sells for $30.  The Rubicon 2007 Captain's Reserve Pinot Noir at $38 had a raspberry nose with cherry on the palate.  It had light soft tannins with a vanilla finish.  Our favorites, though, were the two cabs.  The Rubicon 2006 Captain's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon had a cherry and blueberry aroma and was very balanced and drinkable.  It is well worth the $48 list price and one that you will surely want to buy.  We were told that their 2006 was an exceptional year.  This is a blend of 87% cab, with 8% Cab Franc, 4% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.  The Rubicon 2007 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon at $65 was rated 95 points by Wine Enthusiast.  I got some violet on the nose with red cherry and mild tannins on the palate.  It should age nicely.  I'd recommend getting the 2006 to drink now and the 2007 to lay away for a few years, although it is certainly quite drinkable now.  We also had the 2007 Rubicon Cabernet Sauvignon that is 94% Cab, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cab Franc.  It had a spicy nose of cherry and nutmeg with fruit forward cherry on the palate.  It sells for $145.  Out of curiosity we tried a little of their Rubicon 2009 Blancaneux which has some Marsanne in it.  This is a pleasant desert wine and sells for $32. 

While each of these wines was quite good I was most impressed at the 2006 Captain's Reserve Cab and the 2007 CASK Cab, especially given their prices.  The service throughout was friendly, pleasant and unpretentious.  This is a Napa Valley winery you must visit even if you are not into wines.  But if you like cabs you will certainly want to sample some.

Rubicon Vineyard
1991 St. Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 968-1100
Date of visit: 3/29/11

Heitz Wine Cellars

Please see our updated 2013 review here: Heitz Wine Cellars Revisited

Heitz Wine Cellars is famous for their Martha’s Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and is also one of the very few Napa Valley wineries to still offer complimentary tastings. Heitz Cellars is one of the older wineries and I first visited it back in the early 1970's. It has moved to a new building and Joseph Heitz is no longer with us, but they still make really good wines.




Although Heitz is famous for their Cabs, especially the Martha's Vineyard Cab, I've always liked the Heitz white Burgundian style chardonnay with its dry presentation and its complex minerality. No overly oaked or too buttery Chardonnay here. The Heitz 2007 Zinfandel was a medium to light bodied Zin that was decent for only $22.




The Heitz 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon at $42 is a good value with its nose of blueberries and cherries and its nice balance.  Even better was the smooth Heitz 2006 Bella Oak Bordeaux style Cab at $60 and the excellent Heitz 2006 Martha's Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon at $150.  We were surprised to learn that Heitz also sold a port like wine they call Heitz Ink Grade.  It sells for $30 a bottle or $15 a half bottle. Although it did not remind me of a great (and expensive) vintage port, it was exceptionally drinkable and really quite nice for the price.  We bought a bottle.  Heitz is one of those historic Napa Valley wineries that every wine lover should visit.  With their complimentary tastings and great Cabs, they should be high on your list of wineries to visit.

Heitz Wine Cellar
436 Saint Helena Highway 
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-3542
Date of visit March 29, 2011 

Folie a Deux Winery

Folie a Deux Winery was founded in 1981 and is north of St. Helena on the St. Helena Highway.  The original founder, Dr. Dizmang, was a psychiatrist and thus the name, which is a mental disorder when two persons share the same delusions.  In 2004 it was purchased by the Trinchero Family who also own Sutter Home. The Folie a Deux tasting room is combined with Napa Cellars, another winery owned by the same family. I've been there in the past but not for many years.  When visiting you may opt to taste wines from either or both wineries.  We opted to taste the Napa Cellars wines on another day.  At the time of our visit, the tasting fee was only $7 and no appointment was required.  Please check their website or call them for current fees and tasting options.



Our host was very friendly and the setting was very relaxed and informal.  Thirteen wines were offered for sale with four of them at only $10 on the Ménage a Trois label. (Wine club members may actually purchase these for a mere $7.50.)  The Folie a Deux wines were all $18 to $24 with the exception of one $40 Cabernet.  By Napa Valley standards, these are extremely reasonable prices.

The Folie a Deux 2009 Chardonnay from Carneros was worth the $18 with its peach nose and crisp finish.  I liked that it was not overly oaked. The Folie a Deux 2007 Zinfandel at $22 had a nice aroma of blackberries and was rather jammy and fruit forward with some spice and a decent finish.  We also tried the Folie a Deux 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon at $24 which was smooth with mostly black cherry and blackberries.  All three wines were pleasant and reasonably priced, but we prefer their Napa Cellars line of wines.  Folie a Deux is certainly one of the most reasonably priced wineries in Napa Valley, however

Folie a Deux Winery
7481 St. Helena Hwy
Oakville, CA 94562
(707) 944-2565
Visited 3/29/2011

Grgich Hills Estate


Please see our updated 2013 review here: Grgich Hills Estate Revisited

Grgich Hills Estate was started in 1977, a year after Mike Grgich produced the famous Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that placed first in Paris in 1976.  It definitely belongs on your list of wineries to visit when you are in Napa Valley. Grgich Hills Cellar is right on Highway 29 and very easy to find. It is certified organically and biodynamically farmed and is family owned.  Only natural yeasts are used in their wines.

Our tasting began with the 2009 Fume Blanc, a crisp wine with a very nice long finish. The 2008 Chardonnay does not undergo malolactic fermentation and is not overly oaked so it tasted like a real chardonnay and is quite good. The 2007 Zinfandel had nice fruit but was not a fruit bomb and had some pleasantly soft tannins probably from the 5% Petite Sirah.  It was aged in French oak for 15 months.  The 2006 Merlot had flavors of cherry with some pleasantly soft tannins.  My favorite of the three reds was the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 21 months in French oak.  It is a Bordeaux type blend with 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot.  It had a lovely blackberry nose and was very drinkable.
1829 St. Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-2784
Visited 3/29/2011  

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Miner Family Winery

Please see our updated 2014 review here: MINER FAMILY WINERY REVISITED

Miner Family Winery is a very friendly family owned and run winery that offers wines that are far above average but are available at exceptionally reasonable prices. This very friendly, family run winery should be high on your list of Napa Valley Wineries to visit.

Our tasting began with the 2009 Viognier ($20) from Simpson Valley near Madera. It was a light, fruity, pleasant wine for hot summer days.  The $30 2009 Chardonnay from several different Napa Valley districts was decent and not too buttery.  I preferred the 2008 Wild Yeast Chardonnay at $50.

It was in the red wines, though, that Miner Family seemed to excel. The 2009 Rosella (Carneros) Pinot Noir at $40 was a lighter Pinot Noir that was okay.  I preferred the Pinot Noir Rosella's 777 at $75 which had a strawberry nose with balanced tannins and was one of the better Napa Valley Pinot Noirs I've had recently. Two surprise favorites were the 2008 Sangiovese from Gibson Ranch in Mendocino at only $24 and the 2009 Tempranillo from the Sierra Foothills at only $28.  We were very fond of both of them

Next time we visit, I want to try the Oracle, Napa Valley Red ($90), the Grenache (due out in June and about which we have heard great things) and the 2006 and 2007 Cabs at $125 each.  I might try the $48 Syrah, too.  This is a winery that obviously requires repeated visits, and this was just our first, but we will definitely return soon.  
7850 Silverado Trail
Oakville, CA 94562
(800) 366-9463
Visited 3/23/2011  

ZD Winery

ZD Winery has an excellent, but reasonably priced regular release Chardonnay.  We both liked it a lot and it was an obvious essential purchase.  Even if you don't visit the winery, you should try a bottle of this ZD Chardonnay if you are at all fond of Chardonnays.


Photos added 8/7/13
ZD Winery offers a choice of two tastings.  Their Current Wines are $10 for a tasting and include a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Reserve Wines are $15 for a tasting and include the reserve releases of the same three varietals.



ZD Winery is mostly known for its regular release Chardonnay.  Of the 30,000 cases of wine they produce yearly, 18,000 cases are this Chardonnay.  The ZD 2009 Chardonnay ($34) is made from Carneros grapes and is a full bodied Chardonnay that is not excessively buttery from malolactic conversion.  (I believe it has none.) With a green apple nose and a crisp, full, toasty palate of citrus and pineapple, it should be very appealing those who like Chardonnay with plenty of fruit but good, balanced acid. But it is a unique plush style with lots of fruit that might not appeal to everyone. There is also a Reserve Chardonnay from Carneros at $55, but we did not try this.



The 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir at $45 was a lighter style PN with ten months of French oak.  The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) from different Napa Valley districts was aged a year in American oak, has a wonderful raspberry (they say blackberry) aroma and, although it is very drinkable now and not a really big cab, it should age very nicely. If we return to ZD, I'd like to do the Reserve tasting.  If you are unable to visit the winery, you might want to track down a bottle of their Chardonnay.


ZD Winery
8383 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
(800) 487-7757
Date of visit: March 23, 2011





Darioush Winery

Please see our updated 2013 review at Darioush Winery Revisited

Darioush Winery is a very interesting and exotic looking winery that would be worth visiting even if they did not have such good wines. Steve Devitt is the winemaker.  Our server, Alex, was very helpful and professional. They have two different tastings, the Amuse Flight for $12 and the Signature Flight for $25.  (Check with the winery for current prices.) We had the later which was served with a dish of pistachios.

The 2008 Chardonnay at $43 was nicely balanced with not too much oak.  It was refreshing to see a Cabernet Franc here.  This was very well balanced and sells for $58. The Darioush Winery 2007 Merlot at $46 had a lovely ruby color, intense cherry nose and nice finish.  The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon at $80 was quite good, but my favorite, along with the Merlot, was the Darioush Winery 2008 Shiraz at $68. All of the Darioush wines we tasted were rather full bodied, ripe, well balanced and very appealing.  Darioush Winery should be high on your list of Napa Valley wineries to visit.

Darioush Winery
4240 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 257-2345
Visited: March 23, 2011

Clos du Val Winery

Clos du Val describes their wines as being balanced, elegant and complex and I would agree. They make very interesting wines that will appeal to palates that prefer more complexity and subtlety. Clos du Val was founded in 1972 by John Goelet and winemaker Bernard Porter.  They now have 150 acres of vineyard inn Stags Leap District and 180 acres in Carneros.  John Clews has been the winemaker there since 1999. You won't find any fruit bombs or overly oaked chardonnays here.  To me the wines taste more French like in style, but that is an over simplification because Clos du Val wines have a unique style that cannot easily be classified.

The New Releases Tasting was $15 and began with the Clos du Val 2009 Ariadne at $25.  This is a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc and was named after the wife of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.  I got mostly melon nose.  On the palate I got mostly citrus.  It was dry, subtle, well balanced, with good acid and a crisp finish. The Clos du Val 2009 Carneros Chardonnay at $25 definitely avoids the over oaked, buttery extreme of some California Chardonnays. The nose was mostly pear and on the palate it was dry, full bodied, citrus with a long finish. This tasted to me more in the French white Burgundy style, which I love, but you would not confuse it for a French wine. The Clos du Val 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir at $30, with a raspberry nose and some spice was better than most Carneros Pinot Noirs but I preferred the Clos du Val 2007 Pinot Noir Reserve at $55 with its cherry nose and more substance on the palate.  We also tasted the Clos du Val 2008 Merlot at $30 which had mostly red plum with a touch of spice and more complexity than most Merlots and the very nice Clos du Val 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon at $35.  On the Cab I got mostly black cherry with toast, cedar and baking spices and a medium plus length finish.  It was very drinkable now but should cellar well.  Although we enjoyed all six pours, my favorite was the Clos du Val 2007 Pinot Noir Reserve.  (Clos du Val is especially noted for their reserve and library wines.)

Our host, Joe, was very professional and courteous.  The winery is on Silverado Trail and is easy to find.  The ivy covered tasting room is lovely and a picnic area is available. Clos du Val has a Cellar Club that offers, access to limited releases and library wines plus a 25% discounts on wine and other purchases.  Their wine prices seem very reasonable for the quality of the wine.  When we visited they were open 10 to 5 without appointment but be sure to call for current hours, tasting options, etc.  Clos du Val is definitely worth a visit, and we have been there many times over the past 40 years.

Clos du Val Winery
5330 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 261-5251
Visited: 3/23/2011

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Monticello Vineyards

Monticello Vineyards is a small friendly family owned and operated  (Corley Family) winery on Big Ranch Road in north Napa.  They have a reserved picnic grove with tasting and group tastings up to 30. Their administration building is a one third size replica of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.  The Corley family originally settled in Virginia where Monticello is located, and Jefferson was well known for his interest and sophistication in wine. 

Jay Corley came to Napa Valley in 1969 and purchased land in the Oak Knoll district in 1970.  In 1982 they moved to their current winery where they now produce about 15,000 cases a year under the labels of Monticello Vineyards, Corley Reserve and Corley.  They have five vineyards, two in Oak Knoll, one in Yountville, one in Rutherford and another in St. Helena.  Jay Corley's three sons are now deeply involved with the winery.  Kevin Corley is the winegrower and president, Chris Corley is the winemaker and Stephen Corley is the Director of Wine Sales, making this a very authentic family owned and operated winery rather than one that is a "family" winery in name only.

At the time of our visit Monticello Vineyards offered a four wine regular tasting for $15, or one could arrange in advance for various special tastings, including a reserve tasting in the Jefferson house, a single vineyard Cab tasting in the Jefferson house, a wine and cheese paring, etc. Group visits of 17 to 30 people are offered in the garden or wine cellar.  You may also reserve a tasting in the picnic grove.  Call or check their web page for current options and prices.

We found Monticello Vineyards to be a very relaxed, informal, friendly place and our host was quite welcoming.  We started our tasting with the Corley 2006 Reserve Chardonnay at $40 which was a full bodied, rich Chardonnay with mostly apple and pear.  My friend liked it enough to purchase some.  This was followed by the nice Monticello 2007 Estate Grown Pinot Noir at $38 which emphasized fresh fruit, mostly cherry and strawberry.  The Monticello 2006 Estate Grown Merlot at $34 was offered next.  It had a nice aroma and plenty of lush, fresh fruit, with a very smooth presentation.  The final pour was the, Monticello 2007 Jefferson Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon at $38. This was my favorite of the wines we tried.  It was a very lush, smooth Cab with mostly cherry and black currant plus some mocha, cedar and baking spices.  It had a good medium plus length finish.

We enjoyed our visit to Monticello Vineyards.  Wine prices there seemed quite reasonable by Napa Valley standards, ranging from $22 to $72 and they even have a sparkling wine.  Next time we visit, I'd like to try their Syrah and the Reserve Cab.

4242 Big Ranch Rd
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 253-2802
Date of visit: 3/16/2011


Trefethen Vineyards and Winery

Please see our updated 2012 report here: Trefethen Revisited

Trefethen Vineyards and Winery  is north of the city of Napa on Oak Knoll Ave.  It has been around for over 40 years and is owned by the Trefethen family.  Staff was friendly and informative. We tasted the 2009 Dry Riesling which had an apple aroma with some minerality and a little sweetness, making it dry compared to most U.S. Rieslings.  The 2008 Chardonnay had some French oak but was not a butter bomb. The 2009 Pinot Noir was on the lighter side with a strawberry nose, nice balance and not excessively fruit forward. The 2007 Double T Red Wine is described as a Bordeaux blend and was the least interesting of the wines we tasted.  Our favorite was the 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon which was very good, extremely well balanced and worth the $125.  It is unusual for any winery to offer a tasting of a wine with this much age on it and Trefethen should be applauded for doing so.  Most of the Trefethen wines were in the twenty and thirty dollar range, representing very good value.  Next time we visit, I'd like to try the Cabernet Franc and the Malbec based Dragon's Tooth.

1160 Oak Knoll Ave
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 255-7700
Written 3/16/2011  

Alpha Omega Winery

Please see our updated 2013 report: Alpha Omega Winery Revisited

Alpha Omega Winery is a winery we kept hearing about from staff at other wineries.  It is one of the newer wineries in Napa Valley, but already has some excellent wines. Prior to 2006 this winery was called Quail Ridge.  It has now become a very serious, premium winery, one that definitely deserves a visit.  The tasting fee is $20 for four very nice wines.  Wine Club members taste for free and obtain a 20% discount, with a 30% discount on the first purchase. They also have many wine club events scheduled, including oysters with SB, Kobe beef with cab, lobster dinner, etc.  There was no pressure at all for us to join the club. We were told that Alpha Omega uses only all natural yeast, that they manually crush their grapes and that none of their wines are filtered except for the Sauvignon Blanc.


Our tasting began with the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc at $36 which had the usual grapefruit nose but seemed more melon on the palate.  The 2008 Chardonnay is not too buttery.  A nice nose of apricot is followed by a well balance palate of vanilla and citrus.  It retails at $56. I really liked the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon at $84 with its complex nose and well balanced mostly cherry fruit with a long finish.  Our favorite, however, was the 2007 Proprietary Red Wine at $86.  It is approximately 50% Merlot, 39% Cab, 7% Petite Verdot and 7% Cab Franc. This had a blackberry nose with plenty of tannins and acidity and, although it is drinkable now, it should improve with age.


Staff at Alpha Omega were very pleasant and informative.  During the red wine pouring our server used the Vinturi aerator.  As a demonstration, he poured one glass of wine with the aerator and one without so we could smell and taste the difference.  The difference was dramatic and they tasted like two different wines, the aerated having a better aroma and also tasting more balanced and integrated.  Of course you may do the same thing by decanting or aerating a wine.  It is a slower process but you have better control over how much you aerate the wine.  But if you want a quick way to aerate a wine, you might want to try the Vinturi aerator or another brand.

We enjoyed our visit to Alpha Omega Winery.  The wines were very good and the service was helpful and friendly.  It is certainly worth a visit.

Alpha Omega Winery
1155 Mee Lane
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-9999
Date of visit: March 16, 2011

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Madonna Estate

Madonna Estate is owned by the famous Bartolucci family who have been making wines in Napa Valley since 1922 when Andrea "Andy" Bartolucci purchased a vineyard in Oakville making them the third oldest winemaking family in Napa Valley. This was during Prohibition and they made sacramental wines for churches.  Thus the name Madonna.  (They have also made wines under the St. Johns label.)  In 1970 they sold the Madonna winery in Oakville and moved to their current winery that is located on Highway 12 in the Carneros AVA.  Their primary vineyard of 160 acres is also in Carneros near Acacia winery, an area know especially for their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.  All of their vineyards are organically grown (since 1990) and dry farmed. I first tasted at Madonna Estate around 1976. The wines at Madonna have always been very reasonably priced by Napa Valley standards.



During this visit we tasted the Madonna 2010 Estate Pinot Grigio, the Madonna 2009 Estate Chardonnay, the Madonna 2007 Estate Pinot Noir and the Madonna 2010 Estate Riesling.  The Pinot Grigio was $26.50 and was crisp and dry with mostly melon and pear.  I preferred both the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, however.  The Chard was $26.50 and was rather creamy with mostly apples and pears.  Even better was the Pinot Noir at $30 with strawberry, cherry and some oak in a well balanced presentation.  I did not care so much for the Riesling at $20 which I found too light and sweet, but others who like such a style might enjoy it.  Madonna Estate has some vineyards that are very well suited for Pinot Noir and I would like to have tried their Madonna 2008 Due Ragazze Pinot Noir Reserve at $60 but this was not offered.  But their regular release Pinot Noir is certainly worth trying if you are in the area and you will find their prices quite reasonable by Napa Valley standards. Five of the varietals offered are in the twenty dollar range and none are listed at over $60.



Other varietals produced are Merlot, Dolcetto, Barbera, Gewurztraminer and Muscat Canelli. I suspect that for many people visiting Napa Valley, Madonna is one of the first wineries they see as they drive into the Valley. I have driven by thousands of times and often see large tourist buses parked there so it is probably best to visit the winery on weekdays, in the mornings or during the off-season.  Our server was down to earth and friendly and had a good sense of humor. 




5400 Old Sonoma Rd
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 255-8864
Written: March 10, 2011




Artesa Winery

Please see our updated 2013 review here: Artesa Vineyards and Winery Revisited

Artesa Winery is located in Carneros AVA in Napa Valley in a modern, very interesting building with fountains and a gorgeous view of the San Francisco Bay.  The view and setting is not one you will want to miss. Staff were very friendly.

We opted for the Classic Tasting at $10.  (The Reserve is only $15.)  This began with the 2009 Pinot Blanc which was well balanced, with a touch of sweetness but without the dryness or minerality of a really good Alsatian Pinot Blanc.  But it was certainly better than most California Pinot Blancs and was well worth the $24.  I applaud Artesa for producing this interesting white wine, one of my favorite whites.  The 2009 Carneros Chardonnay was fairly good and only $20 a bottle.  It had an apple aroma with some French oak but was not one of the butter bombs that some Napa Chardonnays have become.  The 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir at $25 had a nice cherry aroma and wasn't overly fruit forward but was too light for our taste.  But we both really liked the 2008 Estate Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir that had a raspberry aroma and some complexity.  It is $40 instead of $25 but is, by far, our favorite of the two Pinot Noirs and well worth the $15 difference in price. We also tasted a nice 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon with a full plum aroma and balanced tannins.  It is well worth the $40 and we couldn't leave without purchasing some.  After we left, I read the brochure and the 2006 Limited Release Cab sounds very interesting at $70. I regret we didn't try it. Next time we visit, we would like to try the Artesa Limited Release and Reserve Tasting.

Artesa Winery
1345 Henry Rd
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 224-1668
Date of visit: March 10, 2011

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Please see our updated review of 2014 here:  Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Revisited

If you love great Cabernet Sauvignon, you have to visit Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. I first visited Stag's Leap Wine Cellars around 1974, a few years before they made such a sensation in Paris.  It is a well-known Napa Valley premium vineyard that produces outstanding cabs and needs little in the way of introductions or recommendations.

They have two different tastings, one at $15 and the Estate Collection at $30.  Needless to say, we opted for the later. Staffs were very friendly and professional and the wines were exceptional.  The 2008 Arcadia Chardonnay at $50 eschews excessive oak.  No butterball here, thank goodness. It is more like a French Chablis with green apple and some minerality.  The 2007 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon at $95 is a very drinkable Cab that could certainly be put away.  The 2007 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon (($125) is a bigger cab, more in the Napa Valley style, with some minerality and soft tannins that is great now but should improve with age.  The 2007 CASK23 Cabernet Sauvignon ($195) is their flagship cab and deservedly so.  It combines the best of the FAY and SLV to provide a wine that has both elegance and full of character, with a violet like aroma and a perfect balance between fruit, alcohol and tannin.  This is the type of Cabernet that gives Napa Valley such a great reputation and we loved all three of them.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars should not be confused with Stags’ (apostrophe after the s) Leap Winery where they make wonderful Petite Sirahs.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
5766 Silverado Trl
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 944-2020(707) 944-2020
Visited 3/2/2011

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a truly great winery and provides a wonderful experience you will long remember. The wines are incredible, the grounds gorgeous and the service outstanding.

Joseph Phelps Vineyard is one of the finest wineries in Napa Valley and among the top two or three that every serious wine lover should visit.  You can learn about biodynamic farming methods, interact with very friendly and professional staff, taste great wines in a beautiful setting and learn about wine from one of their classes or seminars.

We took the aroma class, that includes the Le Nez du Vin Aroma Identity Challenge.  I highly recommend this class to anybody who is interested in learning about wine. I misplaced my wine tasting notes but we had an excellent 2009 Sauvignon Blanc,  a very nice 2007 Freestone Pinot Noir and 2006 Merlot.  (We bought some Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.) Joseph Phelps also has some world class Cabernet, including the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (another wine we bought) which was a bargain at only $54 and the incredible 2006 Insignia, their flagship wine.  The Insignia is 95% Cab and 5% Petit Verdot and is an incredible wine.  It retails for $200 and, unlike many wines this expensive,  it is actually worth the price.

It is easy to see why it receives so many nominations every year as the best winery in Napa Valley.  This is a Napa Valley winery you must visit (reservations necessary) if you are really serious about wines, especially cabs.
200 Taplin Rd
St. Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-2745
Visited 3/2/2011