An update to this list has been added here: Napa Favs
These wines listed below are some of our favorites from the wineries we visited
over the past year or so in the Napa Valley. There are still many great wineries
we have not visited. There were many wines we tasted that we would love to
have purchased to more carefully evaluate. And there were certain wines that were not offered for
tasting at some wineries. Although we did put our favorites in bold type, the quality of the wines was usually so high, especially with Cabs, that picking
favorites was difficult to do and involved a fair amount of subjectivity and
individual preference.
For me tasting wines at a winery is somewhat similar to listening to audio speakers in stores. It is brief and very limited. I get some idea of what I like, but not until I take them home, hear them in my own listening room, spend extended periods of time with them and "pair" them with different types of recordings, do I really develop an understanding and appreciation of them. Sometimes a bottle of wine I take home does not taste quite as good as I remember it at the winery. More often, however, it is even better than I had initially thought. At home I am able to find that right combination of temperature, air, pairing, etc. in a setting where I can really pay close attention. It is a much different experience than tasting wines blind or tasting numerous wines at one setting. Different types of tastings provide different kinds of information. There is really no substitute for blind tasting when rating wines or comparing one wine to another, but visiting a winery, meeting the winemaker, sampling the wines and then slowly and attentively drinking the wine later are, for me, the best way to understand and truly appreciate a wine. This is why some winemakers do not submit their wines to blind tastings. They want their wines to be understood and appreciated, not just compared and rated. I understand this attitude. A really exceptional wine stands on its own. There is no need to compare a Renoir to a Monet.
Not surprisingly, we were especially impressed with the very high quality Cabs in Napa Valley. There were so many good ones, it was difficult to pick favorites. I think they hold there own to the best of red Bordeauxs but then I have not been able to afford many 1st Cru red Bordeauxs since the 1970s. There were also some excellent Merlots, Zins and Petite Syrahs. With white wines there were two outstanding Sauvignon Blancs and an incredible Riesling but no knockouts with Chardonnays. (But then my bias is toward white Burgundies.) On a positive note with Chardonnays, though, is that many wineries seem to have moved away from the intensely oaked Chards with excessive malolatic conversion. I find a little oak or MLF to be okay with some Chards but dislike butter bombs or those that no longer retain the varietal characteristics of a Chardonnay. We found Napa Pinot Noirs to be less than sensational, but then Napa is not known for this varietal and has only part of Carneros where the varietal does well. Some Napa Valley wineries do source grapes from Russian River and other areas outside Napa Valley, however.
We were also delighted to discover so many fantastic wineries up on Spring Mountain in St. Helena. Despite having visited Napa Valley wineries since 1973 and both of us being long time Napa residents, neither of us had previously explored these Spring Mountain gems. Mountain wines can be very different from Valley wines. It would be interesting to write a book about Spring Mountain Wineries--such great wine, a wonderful shared community philosophy and interesting characters reminiscent of the old Napa.
Much thanks to the Napa Neighbor Program of Napa Valley Vintners for making these tastings feasible and to the many warm, friendly and knowledgeable people who assisted us. Napa Neighbor Program
For me tasting wines at a winery is somewhat similar to listening to audio speakers in stores. It is brief and very limited. I get some idea of what I like, but not until I take them home, hear them in my own listening room, spend extended periods of time with them and "pair" them with different types of recordings, do I really develop an understanding and appreciation of them. Sometimes a bottle of wine I take home does not taste quite as good as I remember it at the winery. More often, however, it is even better than I had initially thought. At home I am able to find that right combination of temperature, air, pairing, etc. in a setting where I can really pay close attention. It is a much different experience than tasting wines blind or tasting numerous wines at one setting. Different types of tastings provide different kinds of information. There is really no substitute for blind tasting when rating wines or comparing one wine to another, but visiting a winery, meeting the winemaker, sampling the wines and then slowly and attentively drinking the wine later are, for me, the best way to understand and truly appreciate a wine. This is why some winemakers do not submit their wines to blind tastings. They want their wines to be understood and appreciated, not just compared and rated. I understand this attitude. A really exceptional wine stands on its own. There is no need to compare a Renoir to a Monet.
Not surprisingly, we were especially impressed with the very high quality Cabs in Napa Valley. There were so many good ones, it was difficult to pick favorites. I think they hold there own to the best of red Bordeauxs but then I have not been able to afford many 1st Cru red Bordeauxs since the 1970s. There were also some excellent Merlots, Zins and Petite Syrahs. With white wines there were two outstanding Sauvignon Blancs and an incredible Riesling but no knockouts with Chardonnays. (But then my bias is toward white Burgundies.) On a positive note with Chardonnays, though, is that many wineries seem to have moved away from the intensely oaked Chards with excessive malolatic conversion. I find a little oak or MLF to be okay with some Chards but dislike butter bombs or those that no longer retain the varietal characteristics of a Chardonnay. We found Napa Pinot Noirs to be less than sensational, but then Napa is not known for this varietal and has only part of Carneros where the varietal does well. Some Napa Valley wineries do source grapes from Russian River and other areas outside Napa Valley, however.
We were also delighted to discover so many fantastic wineries up on Spring Mountain in St. Helena. Despite having visited Napa Valley wineries since 1973 and both of us being long time Napa residents, neither of us had previously explored these Spring Mountain gems. Mountain wines can be very different from Valley wines. It would be interesting to write a book about Spring Mountain Wineries--such great wine, a wonderful shared community philosophy and interesting characters reminiscent of the old Napa.
Much thanks to the Napa Neighbor Program of Napa Valley Vintners for making these tastings feasible and to the many warm, friendly and knowledgeable people who assisted us. Napa Neighbor Program
Cabernet Franc
Girard Winery 2009 $40
Titus Vineyards 2009 $36
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Blends
Alpha Omega Winery 2008 $85
Alpha Omega Winery 2007 Proprietary Red, Bordeaux blend, $86
B Cellars 2008 Syngergy Cabernet Sauvignon $55
B Cellars 2008 Syngergy Cabernet Sauvignon $55
Bennett Lane Winery 2006 Maximus $35, Bordeaux
blend
Beringer 2007 Private Reserve $89
Chateau Montelena 2007 Montelena Estate $135
Cosentino 2006 Winemaster, Cabernet Sauvignon, $60
Cosentino 2006 Winemaster, Cabernet Sauvignon, $60
Elizabeth Spencer 2007 The Guardian $60
Erna Schein (Behrens)
2006 Fat Boy $75, Bordeaux blend
Girard Winery 2009 Artistry, Bordeaux
blend, $40
Heitz 2006 Martha's Vineyard Rutherford
$150
Hendry 2007 $55
Hendry 2007 $55
Hill Family Estate 2007 Double Barrel $150
Hill Family Estate
2007 $55, purchased
Hill Family Estate 2008 $48, purchased
Ideology 2007 Reserve Block $68
Inglenook 2006 Captain’s Reserve $48
Inglenook Estate 2007 CASK $65
Inglenook Estate 2008 CASK $65
Joseph Phelps Vineyard 2006 Insignia $200
Joseph Phelps Vineyard 2007 $54
Juslyn 2007 Spring
Mountain $110
Kelly Fleming 2005,
$120, best paired with food
Kelly Fleming 2007 $120
Kelly Fleming 2007 $120
Kelly Fleming 2008
$90
Louis Martini 2007 Monte Rosso $85
Marston Family Vineyard
2006 $120
Marston Family Vineyard 2008 $100
Marston Family Vineyard 2008 $100
Regusci Winery 2008 Angelo’s Hillside
$125
Regusci Winery 2008 Patriarch Proprietary Blend, Bordeaux
blend, $80
Rutherford Hill 2007 TFV Cardinal’s
Peak $48
Rutherford Hill 2007 TFV Rutherford
$62
Sawyer Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Sawyer Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Schweiger Vineyards 2007 $58
Schweiger Vineyards 2007 Dedication $85
Smith-Madrone 2005
$45, air it or pair it with food
Somerston Wine Co. 2007 Somerston Estate $120
Spring Mountain
Vineyard 2005 Estate $75, air it or pair with food
St. Supery Estate 2006 Rutherford $80
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2007 SLV $125
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2008 FAY $95
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 $195
Summers Estate, 2007 Diamond
Mountain $70
Terra Valentine 2007 Marriage, Bordeaux
blend, $75
White Rock Vineyards
2003 Cave Hill Reserve $85, Loved it!
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate Cave Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $100 Sensational!!!
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate Cave Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $100 Sensational!!!
White Rock Vineyards
2004 Laureate $45
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate $45
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate $45
White Rock Vineyards
2006 Claret, Bordeaux blend, $36, Great bargain
Charbono
Summers Estate Wines 2008 $28
Chardonnay
Cuvaison 2010 Carneros Chardonnay $23
Smith-Madrone 2008 $30
Smith-Madrone 2008 $30
Stony Hill 2010 $42
White Rock Vineyards 2008 $30
ZD 2009 California Chardonnay $34
ZD 2009 California Chardonnay $34
Gewürztraminer
Stony Hill 2010 $24
Merlot
Darioush Winery 2007 Merlot $46
Darioush Winery 2007 Merlot $46
Duckhorn Vineyard 2007 Merlot $52
Paloma 2008 $54, Outstanding wine and a bargain at this price!
Paloma 2008 $54, Outstanding wine and a bargain at this price!
Pride Mountain 2008 $58
Rutherford Peak 2007 Reserve, $59
Petite Sirah
Behrens Family Kick Ranch $50
Esoterica (Kent Rasmussen) 2007 $40, Wonderful!
Gustavo Thrace 2006 $40
Pinot Noir
Clos Pegase Winery 2008 Mitsuko’s Vineyard $35, purchased
Port type
Beringer 1987 Port
of Cabernet Sauvignon $60
Heitz Ink
Grade Port
$30 half bottle
Red blends
B Cellars 2008 Blend 24 Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangioves/Petite Siray/Syrah, Super Tuscan $55
Benessere Vineyard 2006 Phenomenon $50, Super Tuscan
Benessere Vineyard 2006 Phenomenon $50, Super Tuscan
Riesling
Smith-Madrone 2010
$36, Incredible! A great Riesling!
Stony Hill 2010 “White Riesling” $27
Roussanne
Truchard 2010 $22
Sangiovese
Benessere Vineyard 2008 $28
Sauvignon Blanc
Hill Family Estate 2010 Tiara $35
Joseph Phelps 2009 ‘St. Helena’ $32
Kelly Fleming Wines
2010 $30
Marston Family
Vineyard 2010 Albion $50
Robert Mondavi 2010 Stag’s Leap District $32
Robert Mondavi 2009 Fume Blanc $20 (on sale for $13 at
Safeway)
Syrah
Cuvaison Estate Wines 2009 Diablo $35
Darioush Winery 2008 “Shiraz”
$68
Zinfandel
Hendry 2007 Block 28 $35
Highlands Winery 2006 Howell Mountain $29
Highlands Winery 2006 Howell Mountain $29
Robert Biale 2009
Monte Rosso $50
Great list and I envy your proximity to these wineries! My Napa exposure for the year looks to be an upcoming tasting in Denver featuring a couple hundred or so wines from the Napa Valley. I'm hoping that I come across a few of these recommendations at the tasting.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your comments. I've been unable to reply to any comments until now. I finally had to switch from Firefox to MS Internet Explorer to do so. Best wishes, TJ
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