Saturday, December 31, 2011

Jarvis Winery

Jarvis Winery is worth visiting to see the incredible job they have done making wine caves into a spacious winery. We had been wanting to visit Jarvis Winery ever since hearing from a neighbor about his tour there earlier this year.  It seems to be the only winery that is entirely in a cave.  All the offices, tasting rooms, ballroom, etc. are in the cave with no buildings at all outside it.  I heard the tour was interesting and the wines worth tasting.  Fortunately, we had a friend who is a club member and we did not have to pay the $40 (soon to be $65) for the tour and tasting.  Reservations for the tour and tasting are required.


Outside Entrance to Jarvis
Jarvis really is an interesting place.  It is amazing how much space they made in the caves, including a large tall reception area and a huge ballroom.  They have giant crystals on display in one of the rooms and long halls with wine related photographs. There is even a river in the cave that comes down as a waterfall and exits the cave, helping to keep the humidity high.  Jarvis bottles and then stores all of their wines right there and tends to hold off on releases until they feel the wine is ready to drink.  They produce six to seven thousand cases a year, and, although they have 1300 acres total, only 37 acres is cultivated.  Prior to 1985 there was little there other than livestock.



Barrels Inside Wine Cave
Our tasting was done in luxury at a large dining table where we sat with different glasses for each wine, along with goat cheese, brie and crackers.  We started with the Jarvis 2008 Finch Hollow Chardonnay which has full malolactic conversion (often referred to as malolactic fermentation, MLF or secondary fermentation, but it is not technically a fermentation process so is more accurately described as a "conversion".) This was much too buttery for either of us.  If you like Rombauer type Chards, you might like this one, but neither of us care for this style of a Chard.  We liked all of the red wines much better.  These included the Jarvis 2006 Cabernet Franc ($65), which was our favorite, the Jarvis 2007 Merlot ($75), Jarvis 2007 Lake William Blend ($115), Jarvis 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($95), Jarvis 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($195) and the Jarvis 2007 Reserve Merlot ($100).  The 2005 Reserve Cab was rated 94 by the Wine Enthusiast and the Lake William Blend was rated 93.  We took extensive tasting notes, but can summarize by saying that all of these red wines were very drinkable, with the Cab Franc being our favorite.


Stream That Runs Through Caves
You will definitely want to bring a camera to take numerous pictures, especially of the waterfall inside the cave.  The gardens and ponds outside the building are also lovely.  It is really an amazing place to see.  You will also be able enjoy a luxury tasting of Jarvis wines in a setting that is much different from the usual one of standing at a winery bar.

Jarvis Winery
2970 Monticello Rd
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 255-5280
Date of visit: December 28, 2011

Kent Rasmussen Esoterica Petite Sirah

I've had multiple bottles of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 and highly recommend the 2007 and 2009.

Kent Rasmussen Esoterica 2007 Petite Sirah-$20 if you were able to get some on Wine Woot otherwise it retails for twice the price but is certainly well worth the price. This wine was given a well-deserved 94 points by Wine Enthusiast.  I liked it better than the Kent Rasmussen Esoterica 2008 Petite Sirah which was simpler and more fruit forward in presentation, but still nice.  For many years I have loved Petite Sirahs even though the grape is now known to be the same as the Durif varietal in France, where it is raredly grown anymore.  Petite Sirah, like Zinfandel, is something of an "all American" varietal, (North American or U.S. to be more specific.) even though it did not originate in the Americas.

Deep purple and gorgeous to the eye, this Petite Syrah has great fruit, but is not fruit forward and is still rather dry, perfectly balanced and intense with blackberry and interlaced tannins. No excessive fruit, high octane or overpowering tannin as with some Petite Sirahs, this one is actually rather elegant for a Petite Sirah despite its boldness because it is so well balanced and has layers of complexity to it.   Some Petite Sirahs will improve with age, and this one should, but it is extremely drinkable now.  The Kent Rasmussen Esoterica 2007 Petite Sirah is one of the finest Petite Sirahs I’ve ever had in the past 44 years.  And I have had many of them and have attended blind tastings of Petite Sirah and Petite Sirah festivals.  A wonderful Petite Sirah!!!

I even wrote to Kent Rasmussen about it thanking him, something I rarely do. I've read that they also make an interesting Pinot Noir but I have yet to locate a bottle. I've tried to arrange a visit to this winery but have not been able to do so. Here is their web page: Kent Rasmussen Winery

Addendum:  I later had three bottles of the Kent Rasmussen Esoterica 2009 Petite Sirah and liked it almost as well as the 2007.  Point wise I would give the 2007 a 95, the 2009 a 93 and the 2008 an 87.


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Paloma Vineyard

Paloma Vineyard makes some of the finest wine in the world, especially a great Merlot. They also have one of the most beautiful views in the Valley.

View from Paloma

It is a unique, small, family run winery up in Spring Mountain near St. Helena. If you are a serious wine drinker and love great Bordeaux or Napa red wines, then you will certainly want to visit.  If you can't visit, then buy a bottle of their Merlot if you can find it.  This is not your one dimensional, easy to drink (but easier to forget) Merlot, the type that was so maligned in the movie Sideways.  It is a complex, layered, fascinating Merlot that is very different from your usual California Merlot regardless of price.

Paloma tasting room bar

The Paloma 2008 Merlot, like the great right bank red Bordeauxs, is primarily Merlot but is blended with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.  It is 30% new French oak.  Deep ruby like in color, it has a blackberry aroma with a full luscious silky taste of ripe cherries and plums along with hints of chocolate and minerality that is incredibly layered and complex. The finish is very long and interesting, another sign of a great wine.  This wine is very well balanced so that it is quite drinkable now, but will obviously age well over the next ten or fifteen years.  The voluptuous layered complexity of this wine in mid palate along with its long finish, place it in a rare class.

This is the best California Merlot I've tasted in over forty years of wine tasting. Paloma's Merlot compares favorably quality wise with wines that sell for several hundred dollars but is priced at a mere $54.  It could easily be a cult wine that you would have to sign up years ahead of time to buy and then spend a small fortune on once you were privileged enough to be able to purchase a bottle.

Paloma tasting room

As with all wineries up on Spring Mountain, reservations are required but easily made by phone or email.  There is no charge for the tasting, which is in their own home, and Barbara Richards or her son Sheldon will spend an hour with you explaining their philosophy and their obvious love for growing and making one of the great wines of the world.  Although the Merlot is the only wine available for tasting, they do bottle a very limited amount of Cabernet Sauvignon every few years and offer it for sale when they have some, the 2009 selling for $54. Obviously, Paloma is a very special place. Paloma Vineyard is not just a wonderful winery; it is a labor of love by a remarkable family.

Paloma Vineyard
4013 Spring Mountain Road
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-7504
Date of visit: December 28, 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Smith-Madrone Vineyards

Smith-Madrone Vineyards makes the finest American made Riesling that I’ve ever tasted, one of the finest Cabs and a great Chardonnay.  The winery is a wonderful, down to earth place to visit, with a gorgeous view, and an authentic atmosphere reminiscent of Napa Valley in the 1970s.

Smith-Madrone Vineyards Revisited (with photos) may be viewed here.  Revisited
After having several more bottles of the Riesling described below, I posted a revised review here: Riesling
Note that there is an addendum to the review of the Smith-Madrone 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of this post.

The Smith-Madrone 2010 Riesling sells for only $27 and compares to the best Alsatian and German Rieslings being made today. Arguably, the Riesling varietal is one of the four greatest or most noble grapes in the world, along with the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.  In the 1970s, I went through a Riesling phase back when wines from famous wineries around the world were still affordable, even great German ones.  Over the years, I have found only a few decent American made Rieslings, with most of the dryer ones lacking complexity and minerality and the sweeter and late harvest ones usually being too simple and sweet without the interesting layers that can be found in high-end late harvest German and Austrian Rieslings.  The Smith Madrone Riesling is a drier style Riesling, drier than most German Kabinetts, more along the lines of an Alsatian Riesling, but without being overly crisp on the palate or rather austere on the finish, as some Alsatian Rieslings can be.

Rieslings are among the most visually beautiful wines in the world with their deep gold to green-gold colors.  This one leans toward light straw. Hold the glass up to the sunlight before you drink it or you will miss part of the pleasure of a Riesling. The nose tends more toward a tart apple aroma like a Granny Smith rather than a sweet apple like a Fuji or Gala.  Rieslings make one of the most nakedly honest wines in the world, with no malolactic conversion, oaking or winemaker skills or tricks to compensate.  (Some are late harvest with botrytis, but that is really nature’s doing.)  The varietal characteristics always come through strongly as well as any minerality and regional characteristics or terroir. This Riesling gives me Cox’s Orange Pippin apple on the palate (I grow one, so can be specific.), with a touch of sweetness (0.65%), balanced acidity, and great minerality.  It is a respectable 12.9% alcohol, making it all the more interesting and substantial compared to some of those of those low alcohol. (7.5 to 10%) German Rieslings.  This Riesling tells me that it does not come from the Rheingau, Mosel or Alsace.  It has a unique Riesling personality from its own vineyard.

If I may be pseudo-poetic for a moment, the Smith-Madrone Riesling seems to reveal the subtle minerals that the vines slowly extracted and dissolved from the rocky soil of Spring Mountain, yielding something like a primal connection to the earth and nature, with perhaps subtle hints of heaven.  This is an interesting, complex and layered wine to slowly savor.  Roll it around in your mouth.  Notice how it is different on the various areas of the tongue.  Let it warm a bit in your mouth to see how it changes character.  This is a wine that invites investigation beyond its lovely color, tart apple taste and long finish.  Like a beautiful painting, the more you spend time with it, the more you will appreciate it.  A quick glance or a cursory viewing will not allow you to understand or appreciate its beauty.  You will miss so much if you do not take time and savor the experience.

On a less poetic level, this is a crisp, but not bone dry, very well balanced wine that should go well with seafood.  Others might suggest Thai or Vietnamese food, but I confess to liking this sort of wine either alone, with a little cheese or with sushi or sashimi.  If you understand the difference between grocery store sushi and sushi from a great Japanese sushi bar then you will understand the differences between various Rieslings.  Or perhaps, if sushi is not your thing, you would prefer to think of the difference between French food at an informal sidewalk cafĂ© compared to a great French meal from a master chef.  It has that extra magic, that interesting complexity that eases you into the experience.  Time seems to slow down when you are drinking this wine.  The Smith-Madrone Riesling is ideally pared with a kiss!

Smith-Madrone also makes a very nice Smith-Madrone 2008 Chardonnay ($30) that is not overly oaked or too buttery from excessive malolactic conversion.  And their Smith-Madrone 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($45) is very good as well.  I would love to try their Reserve Cab when it comes out. Smith Madrone makes three wines from three of the four greatest varietals and they do a great job on all three.  They use to make a Pinot Noir, but you would have to break into the winery with scuba gear to find a bottle of it in the underwater cellar.

If you visit Smith-Madrone, and you really should if you love wine and “Authentic Wineries,” then you will have the pleasure of meeting Charlie and Stu.  Charlie will conduct the tour and chat with you about wine while Stu works hard in the back.  It is not the easiest winery to get to, although directions are pretty straightforward and four wheel drive or mules are not necessary.  Once you do arrive, you will meet the friendly winery dog who will gladly show you where the entrance to the building is after he finishes peeing on one of the empty barrels. Upon entering, you will encounter what is referred to by some as an “Authentic Winery” with a “tasting room” that is as colorful as the two owners are.  But before you get to the “wine bar” be sure to look at the chalkboard to the left with the wonderful quotation.  A great story goes with it, and more interesting stories are sure to follow. 

There is also no tasting fee (another sign of an “authentic winery”) but, as with all of the wineries located up on Spring Mountain, reservations are needed, although easily arranged.  Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the wine, with the Riesling being a downright steal at only $27. Smith-Madrone provides the sort of experience you might have found in Napa Valley back in the 1960s or early 1970s; there is really nothing quite like it.  If you don’t visit Smith-Madrone, you are missing a part of this history as well as Napa Valley today at its best. We strongly encourage you to visit Smith-Madrone Vineyards while there is still the opportunity to experience a winery that was and continues to be the real thing.

Addendum 4/24/2012:  Here is a post I put on the Smith-Madrone Facebook site: 
"Wanted you to know that we had your 2005 Cab for dinner with high quality rib eye steak. Even before the meal, my wife commented on how good the wine was, and she generally likes whites. Yeah, it was very good, indeed. Not at all the Parker type with over ripe fruit. Much drier, with good tannins and structure. But when the wine aired a bit, and especially when we paired it with steak, it really came into its own. This is a great Cab. Exceptional in every way. I took notes but who cares about notes? This is not a Cab everyone will love immediately unless it is given some air and, ideally, paired with some food. What this Cab has underneath the tannins is complexity. Unlike many bold Cabs, this one has layers of subtlety once the tannins are aired or paired.

Your Riesling hit me over the head at the winery and knocked me out after I tasted a bottle. Your Cab intrigued me at the winery, but a sample did not do it justice.. This is a phenomenal Cab. I can't wait to try your reserve and your 2007 when they are available, and I really need to taste more of your Chard. I still say your Riesling is the best American Riesling I've ever tasted and comparable to the best in the world. Now I have to say your Cab is among the best I've ever had. It improves with air, so will improve with time. But if you drink it now and pair it properly, it really comes into its own.

You make some great wines. To paraphrase Dylan Thomas, these are wines to make your toes tingle. Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication to growing and producing great wines. It makes life more interesting.
Best wishes, TJ Jones

 
Smith-Madrone Vineyards
4022 Spring Mountain Rd
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-2283
Date of visit: 12/21/2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Inglenook Vineyard Revisited

Inglenook Vineyard is making some very nice Cabernet Sauvignon wines at prices that are very reasonable for such quality.  It is also one of the most picturesque wineries in the Valley and one of the few wineries that even people who don’t drink wine would probably enjoy visiting.

Inglenook winery building

When we visited Inglenook Winery in February of 2011, it was known as Rubicon Estate and had been known previously as Neibaum-Coppola.  In April of 2011 they restored the traditional Inglenook name.  Inside the gorgeous Inglenook Chateau is a spectacular tasting room and a museum that begins on the ground floor and continues up the staircase to a second level.  Here you will see early movie projectors (zoetropes and magic lanterns), many interesting photos, Captain Neibaum’s private tasting room, and a Tucker…yes, there is a beautiful Tucker automobile on display.  It is best to visit on a weekday or during off-season.  We went on a Tuesday morning in December and there was hardly anybody there.  If you visit on a weekend or during the summer in the afternoon, there might be crowds of people there.  It is very popular.

Inglenook Tucker car on second floor
In my last review, I commented on how good the wines were, especially the two Cabs we tasted.  The current tasting is $25 for four four-ounce pours, all Cabernet Sauvignons.  Our first was the Inglenook 2007 Captain’s Reserve at $48.  As good as this 2007 was, I remember the Inglenook 2006 Captain's Reserve last time as being even better despite the stellar reputation that 2007 Napa Valley Cabs have.  This was followed the Inglenook 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot Twenty-Two and the Inglenook 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot Four, both at $65.  Both were good but I preferred Lot Twenty-Two with its cherry and chocolate on the palate.  Lot Four, however, had a great aroma.  Both are 100% Cab.  Last time we visited, we had the Inglenook 2007 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon that was scored 95 by Wine Enthusiast.  As much as I liked it, I thought back then that it needed more time.  The Inglenook 2008 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon that we sampled this time was also $65 ($48.75 for club members.)  It had one of the most incredible aromas I’ve ever encountered.  With my nose several inches above the glass, I got some distinct maple syrup.  I grew up back East where we made a lot of maple syrup so I am extremely familiar with the aroma.  Much thanks to our wine host to pointing this out.  This was the first time I ever got a pronounced maple syrup nose on a Cab and it really was delightful.  Although this Cab is quite drinkable now, it should continue to improve with time.  This 2008 CASK Cab was an essential purchase. Service was very professional.


Inglenook fountain

Please see our   Previous Visit

Inglenook Vineyard
1991 St. Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 968-1100
Date of return visit: December 20, 2011

White Rock Vineyards Revisited

White Rock Vineyards is a wonderful winery you absolutely must visit if you are serious about wine.  Their wines are among the finest in Napa Valley at nearly half the price.  They also have wine caves and a great tour conducted by either the owner or the winemaker.  A prior appointment is absolutely essential! Please respect this and do not drop in on them unexpectedly without an appointment.


Please see our previous report at:   Previous White Rock Report


Henry and Bill at White Rock tasting bar

In February of 2011, I wrote a review for White Rock Vineyards and declared it our favorite winery after some forty years of visiting wineries.  My friend and I decided to return December 20, 2011 because another friend from out of state wanted to visit, and because we wanted to purchase more wine from White Rock.  This is a very small, family winery whose wines are not available at most wine stores.  The owner runs the winery.  One son manages the vineyard.  The other is the winemaker who studied in France.  His daughter is a cheese maker. They have a great membership program that allows you to purchase wines at a discount with free shipping.  My friend joined their wine club even though he picks up the wine and does not benefit from the free shipping. 



White Rock barrel room in wine cave
 
I continue to love their White Rock 2008 Chardonnay, which is white Burgundy in style without too much oak or excessive malolactic conversion.  ($30 for the 2008).  The White Rock 2006 Claret is one of the most pleasant and drinkable Bordeaux blends I have encountered.  ($36 for the 2006) The White Rock 2006 Malbec at $25 is good, more French in style than Argentine.  All of the cabs are very good to outstanding and quite reasonably priced for Napa Cabs.  ($45 to $75) The White Rock Syrah is well worth investigating.  White Rock Vineyards is next to Stag’s Leap District.  They have white volcanic rock on a higher level that stresses out Cab vines and a lower area of their vineyard where Chardonnays do well.




White Rock wine bottles stored in wine cave



This New Years eve we chose a bottle of White Rock 2004 "Laureate" Cabernet Sauvignon  as our wine to celebrate the New Year.  (It went well with Italian food.)  In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, this has 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% combined Merlot and Petit Verdot.  It is a $50 wine that tastes as good as most selling for twice that price.  This cab needs some time to open up, however, so give it several hours in a decanter.  Once it was given some time, I got lush ripe blackberries, a hint of vanilla with a great mouthfeel and a long finish.  This is a substantial wine but not one of those huge, in your face Napa Cabs.  This one has nuance and subtlety.  I think it will cellar nicely.  We could have picked any from a large selection of premium wines we had available, but this is the one we chose to celebrate our New Year!


Door to wine caves

We love all of the wines at White Rock!  It is a small family run winery and remains a favorite of the several hundred wineries we have visited.  As with all small, family run wineries with limited production, reservations are needed but can be obtained by phone or email.  Please do not show up at this small winery without an appointment. And please do not take advantage of their complimentary tour and tasting without making a reasonable purchase of their wines. This applies to any small, family owned, appointment only winery and is common courtesy.  These small wineries are for serious wine lovers and not for those who simply want to visit as many wineries as they can.  We purchased nearly a case of wine the first time we visited White Rock and over a case on subsequent visits.


White Rock Vineyard

White Rock Vineyards
1115 Loma Vista Drive
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 257-7922 Prior appointment absolutely essential.
Date of return visit:  December 29, 2011

Addendum April 8, 2012:  We drank a bottle of the White Rock 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ($50).  Although it is nearly ten years old, it still needed air and some time to open up.  This was a very good Cab and will continue to improve with time, but we preferred the White Rock 2004 and 2005 Cabernet Sauvignons at the same price and especially the White Rock 2003 Cave Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at $85.

Addendum August 22, 2012: We continue visit and to purchase White Rock wines.  I had three bottles of the White Rock 2009 Chardonnay but did not like it as well as the 2008; it tasted softer, rounder and more buttery to me.  We also had a White Rock 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Laureate Reserve that was sensational!  It has only recently been released.  That is a 2005 being released in 2012.  It is one of the finest Cabs I've ever had.

Addendum August 15, 2013:  Another visit to White Rock so added some photos to this post.  I love every White Rock Cabernet Sauvignon I've tasted and especially love their Reserves, although they only offer the Reserves certain years. Same on their Cab blend, the Claret.  My favorite Chardonnays have been the 2008 and 2010.  The 2009 was slightly too buttery for me and the 2011 was slightly sweeter.  These are fairly subtle differences, though.  If you like your Chards with more malolatic conversion, you might want to try their Reserve Chardonnay.  Prices as of this date are $30 for the Chardonnay, $40 for the Claret, $50 for the Laureate Cabernet Sauvignon $52 for the Reserve Chardonnay and $100 for the Reserve but they are all sold out.  White Rock wines continue to be excellent values for this quality of wine. We really love the winery, the people and the wines and can never visit often enough.






Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Pride Mountain Vineyards has remarkable views, great wines and an outstanding educational tour/tasting program. It is winery that you really must visit!



If you are a wine drinker who is serious about learning, Pride Mountain should be near the top of the Napa Valley wineries to visit. Pride Mountain Vineyards is one of the best known wineries in the Spring Mountain AVA in Napa Valley. Appointments are required but can easily be made over the Internet or by phone. The tasting is a very reasonable $10 per person which they credit toward a purchase. A great place for a picnic, the grounds has an incredible view of Napa and Sonoma Valleys and, when clear, other counties as well. (The vineyard and buildings straddle the two counties and they will show you where the dividing line is at the winery.)




They provide a tour with barrel tastings that is not to be missed, thanks to Jason who is a certified sommelier and really knows a lot about wines. Jason was very friendly, down to earth and helpful and is the ultimate in "wine educators." We learned more about wine visiting Pride than we have visiting dozens of other wineries.


Our tasting began with the Pride Mountain 2010 Viognier ($42). This had a wonderful aroma, with lush fruit and perfect balance. It's a soft, fruity white wine that everybody should like and would be perfect for summer sipping. After this, we were given a tour with some Cab barrel tastings and taught about the importance of clones and wine blending. One thing that really impressed us was the huge difference between two different cab clones grown in the same area. In this instance, Jason had chosen two that perfectly complimented each other. Both were quite lacking by themselves, the first being angulated with good fruit but nothing else. The other lacked ripe fruit but had good acid and tannin. Combining the two made a far superior Cab. I've experienced and read about how this is done with Cabs, blending in Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc. And most of us know about blending cabs from different AVAs to complement each other. But this was the first time I experienced (by tasting) the importance of using different clones of the same varietal in blending.



We returned to the tasting room and had a very nice Pride Mountain 2009 Syrah ($60). This has 1% Viognier added. The aroma seemed more plum like with some of the usually Syrah spiciness, but if you expect an Australian type fruit bomb Syrah, you will be pleasantly surprised not to find that here. Sure it had great fruit but it was not excessive or unbalanced. For me this was exactly how a really good Syrah should taste. The Pride Mountain 2008 Merlot at $58 is very nice. In addition to the Merlot, it has 10% Cab and 9% Syrah. The aroma is to die for, with its full ripe cherry. With balanced acids and tannins, sumptuous fruit, layers of interesting flavors and sub flavors and a good finish, this is a Merlot to love and a "must buy" even if you don't make it to the winery. It is one of the best Merlots I've ever tasted and it is so well balanced and integrated that it should appeal even to people who usually prefer white wines and tend to shy away from really big red wines. This delightful Merlot was followed by the Pride Mountain 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($68) which is a blend of Napa and Sonoma cabs, with 11% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot added. It is aged for 19 months in French oak. This has a rich mouthfeel of ripe fruit with nicely balanced acid and tannin and layers of flavor. It is so rich and sumptuous that one almost feels decadent for drinking it. It is very drinkable now but obviously has everything in it to cellar nicely should you want to put some age on it.



We really liked all the wines we tasted but especially the Merlot and Cab. BTW if they offer you some Pride Mountain Mistelle de Viogner at the end, take them up on it even if you don't usually like sweet dessert wines. I believe this is made from Viogner and brandy. It is not at all cloyingly sweet but refreshing instead. Even if you are unable to visit this winery, try to locate a bottle of their Merlot!



Pride Mountain Vineyards
4026 Spring Mountain Rd
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-4949
Date of visit: December 24, 2011






Whitehall Lane Winery


Whitehall Lane Winery has wines that are reasonably priced and quite drinkable without aging. Whitehall Lane Winery is right on St. Helena Hwy outside St. Helena heading towards Napa.  It was founded in 1979 and is owned by the Leonardi family who own 125 acres in Rutherford, St. Helena and Oak Knoll.  Service was friendly.

Our tasting began with the Whitehall Lane 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir ($48).  It was fairly good with a decent nose, well balanced with cherry on the palate and a rather short finish.  We both liked the Whitehall Lane 2007 Merlot ($28). This Merlot is blended with 10% Cab and 9% Syrah.  It had a great cherry aroma with a nice mouth feel and some complexity, along with a long finish.  It seems like a bargain at that price.  We also enjoyed the very affordable Whitehall Lane 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon which retails at $40.  This has 8% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot along with the Cab.  It was cherry on the nose with good fruit, balanced nicely with tannin.  Our favorite, though, was the Whitehall Lane 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at $75.  It as 4% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot added and spends 25 months in oak, with 80% if that being French and 20% American oak.  It is a big, ripe cab, very nicely balanced with a long finish. It is very drinkable now.
Whitehall Lane also has a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay and a Belmuscato dessert wine which we did not try.  With easy access and good wines, it a good winery to visit. They also have an appealing wine club.

Whitehall Lane Winery
1563 St Helena Hwy S
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-9454
Date of visit: 12/14/2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Terra Valentine Winery

Terra Valentine Winery provided a great view, enjoyable tour and some very good wines.  You should enjoy your visit there.Terra Valentine is a charming little winery up on Spring Mountain, just off Spring Mountain Road.  (The parking lot is quite near the tasting room, so no hiking is involved.) Tastings are by reservation only, something that is standard for this district.  Be sure to bring your camera because you will want to take photos of the interesting castle like building, the stained glass windows and the lovely view off the patio.

Tasting area


Our tasting began with a glass of dry Riesling as a welcome greeting and then we had a short walking tour of the winery, along with a description of the winery and its history. The tasting, afterward, was in a lovely, spacious room where we sat at a table with linen and had a separate glass for each wine, along with some delicious cheeses, chocolate and crackers.  This is not one of those wineries where you have to look for an opening at the stand up bar and then have to wave to the server to get another taste.  We were poured a generous sampling of each wine while we sat and relaxed. It is quite nice and very personal, even indulgent.  The tasting fee is $30 but is waived with purchase.  They also have a special estate tour and tasting ("the ultimate tasting experience with a private tour of the historic 80 acre estate") that is $75 but waived with case purchase.


View from deck

In addition to the very pleasant Terra Valentine 2010 Estate Riesling ($34) which is quite dry for a Riesling, with good acid and fruit balance, we tasted five additional wines, all reds. The first was the Terra Valentine 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($38) which was very good but still somewhat young.  Coming from Sonoma County, it had more substance and a better mouth feel than the thin Carneros PNs that one often encounters at Napa Valley wineries, with a pleasant aroma and a nice balance of fruit, tannin and acid. We both bought some. They also have a Russian River PN which they described as being a bit more rustic, but we did not taste this. The PN was followed by an interesting comparative tasting between the Terra Valentine 2007 Yverdon Cab and the Terra Valentine 2007 Wurtele Cab, both which sell for $65.  Both were very good, with a favorite depending on which style you prefer or what you want to pair with it. (Our host, for example, liked the first with cheese and the second with steak.)  The Wurtele (rated 95 by The Wine Enthusiast) had more rounded blackberry taste with a touch of chocolate whereas the Yverdon seemed a bit spicier and brighter, with a touch of pleasant herbaceousness.  The Yverdon is described by the winery as showing "the elegance and intensity that can be achieved at the highest elevations in our district." Initially we both preferred the Yverdon but the Wurtele began to open up and they seemed equally attractive.  Both have enough tannin and substance to age a few years but are drinkable now.

Stained glass

For me, the best of the wines we tasted was the Terra Valentine 2007 Marriage (not "Meritage") which is a Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot (Bordeaux style) blend at $75. With some cherry on the nose, it had very ripe fruits with a pleasant jamminess, good tannin and a long finish. It should age nicely. If you try only one of their wines, I'd recommend the 2007 Marriage. (It seems underrated by the Wine Enthusiast at only 88, although they rate the 2008 Marriage at 95.) The Marriage is made from the best of the Yverdon and Wurtele grapes.  Last in our tasting was the 2005 Spring Mountain District Cab, that is their basic cab.  It was on sale for $55 and we liked that it had a little age on it so we couldn't resist buying some. This is a very drinkable, soft, round Cab that had 20 months in French Oak.  This would be a good one to take to a holiday dinner at a friend's house. We had heard great things about the TV Cab Franc, but they only make 70 or 80 cases of it and it not available for tasting and all goes to club members.  Case discounts are available and during December they donate 5% of all sales to the St. Helena Food Bank. Our host was extremely gracious and helpful, even offering second tastes of some of the wines when we were trying to decide what to buy at the end.

3787 Spring Mountain Road
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 967-8340
Date of visit: December 27, 2011