Merryvale Vineyards

Merryvale Vineyards is located on Highway 29 in southern St. Helena, near Tra Vigne restaurant.  It was the first winery built in Napa Valley after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 and is the largest winery within the city limits.  It was purchased by the Schlatter family in 1983 and continues to be family owned. 

Entry to tasting room

They have two vineyards.  The Merryvale's Estate Vineyard Solstice is on the ridges above St. Helena and focuses on Bordeaux varietal grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Their Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard is located in Carneros where Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay are planted.  Some grapes are also sourced from a few ultra-premium Napa Valley vineyards.

Tasting room

Current tasting options include a Summer Whites Tasting for $15, a Signature Tasting at $15 and the Prestige Tasting for $35.  By prior appointment one may arrange for Artisanal Cheese & Wine Pairing, Historic Tour & Barrel Tasting, Library Portfolio Tasting, or Barrel Tasting Events & Release Parties. Private tours, tastings, and seminars are available for groups by appointment by calling 707-963-7777.  Much thanks to our host, Robert, who was very helpful and pleasant.

Fountain near entryway

We opted for the Prestige Tasting that began with the Merryvale 2011 Silhouette  Chardonnay at $65.  It had a moderate aroma of white peach and minerality.  On the palate it was fairly full bodied, crisp, and well balanced with lemon, white peach and some minerality followed by a good, clean moderate length finish.  This is a classy Chardonnay that is great to drink now but will age wonderfully.  It is priced higher than many Napa Valley Chardonnays, but is very good indeed.  In my tasting notes I rated it a 90.

The second pour was the Merryvale 2011 Stanley Ranch Pinot Noir at $65. This is a single vineyard Pinot Noir from their Carneros vineyard and only a few hundred cases were produced.  It was a lovely purple and rose color with a very good nose of black cherry and spices.  On the palate this was a full bodied Pinot, especially for Carneros, that also had finesse and layered complexity.  I got red cherry, raspberry, strawberry and baking spices with good acid, all very well balanced, followed by a long finish that included the addition of some mushroom notes.  Very nice.  In my tasting notes I gave it a 92.  Highly recommended.

The Merryvale 2009 Napa Valley Merlot at $48 was next.  I got red cherry and chocolate on the nose followed by cherry, chocolate, spice and toast, with very good structure and tannins and a full body.  If you think Merlots cannot be deep, rich and interesting, you should try this one.  I rated it 89 in my tasting notes.

Outside tasting room

The fourth pour was the Merryvale 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at $65.  This was one of the few vintages that I found the winemaker's notes on so I can tell you it is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot and comes from the Merryvale St. Helena Estate, Stagecoach Vineyard and Kenefick Vineyard. 70% of it saw 22 months in new French oak.  Before you swirl and check the aroma with this Cab, please hold it up to the light and over some white paper or background.  It is a beautiful deep, dark purple in color and a delight to look at.  On the nose I got a lot of black cherry and toast with hints of coffee and vanilla.  On the palate it was full bodied, round, well balanced with rather forward sumptuous fruit and very good structure.  It was mostly black cherry, black currants and blackberry along with some cedar and toast.  This is a lush wine with a long finish.  I gave it a 91 in my tasting notes.

Our final pour was the Merryvale 2009 Profile Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend that sells at $165.  This is a Bordeaux style blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc.  88% of the grapes came from the Merryvale St. Helena Estate vineyard, 9% from Larkmead Vineyard and 3% from Stagecoach Vineyard.  It was aged for 21 months in new French oak with minimal racking.  It was an intense, very deep, dark, opaque purple in color.  On the nose it was dark black cherry and black currant with hints of cinnamon and cloves.  On the palate it was very full bodied and lush with black cherry, black currant, cinnamon, vanilla, etc. plus layers of complexity and wonderfully integrated tannins.  The balance was perfect and it had a great sensuous mouthfeel.  Even the smallest sip will tell you immediately that you are dealing with a very high class Cabernet.  As wonderful as this wine is right now, it will develop into something even more amazing with time; it has everything it needs to cellar very well. I rated it an easy 94 points and very highly recommended it to anybody who appreciates a great Cabernet Sauvignon.

Barrel room

Although we were especially fond of Merryvale's Cabernets we were also quite impressed with their Pinot Noirs and they make a very good Chardonnay and quite decent Merlot.  They also produce a second label that is very affordable, called Starmont.  Although there is no tasting room for Starmont, you might want to check this line out if you are looking for more affordable wines.  I have not tasted them, so cannot comment on them.  As we were leaving we did try a quick sample of the Merryvale 2011 Carneros Pinot Noir which sells for about $30.  I did not take tasting notes, but it was a very nice Pinot for the price and we purchased several bottles to try later.  Merryvale is one of the major Napa Valley Wineries. They produce excellent wines You will certainly want to visit them when visiting Napa Valley.

Building behind tasting room building

Merryvale Vineyards

1000 Main Street    

St. Helena, CA 94574    

(707) 963-2225

Date of visit: August 28, 2013

The Winery Tasting Room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the last wine tasting flights of the day offered at 6:00 p.m. They are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. There are rare occasions, mostly during the winter months, when they are required to close their tasting room early for special events. Please see their webpage for more up to date information.

Cuvaison Estate Winery Revisited

Cuvaison is certainly one of the Napa Valley Carneros wineries that you will not want to miss.  They have been around for a long time and they make well balanced, very decent wines, with something for everybody to enjoy.  The view is gorgeous and the hospitality excellent.  They also have a very attractive wine club program that allows you to purchase limited release wines that are not for sale to the public. I'd check them out before heading up valley unless you plan to be up near Calistoga and prefer to visit them at their tasting room there.

View of pond

In 1979 the Schmidheiny family from Switzerland purchased 400 acres of undeveloped land in the Napa Carneros AVA.  The following year they planted it with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot.  In 2004 the entire vineyard was replanted after Phylloxera had been discovered. The Cuvaison Carneros estate now consists of 38 blocks of Chardonnay, 23 of Pinot Noir, 5 of Syrah, 1 of Merlot and 1 of Sauvignon Blanc.  In 1998 they purchased the 170 acre Brandlin Vineyard on Mt. Veeder, a vineyard whose history dated back to the late 1870s.  They planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, with the first release being the 2003 vintage. In addition to their winery in Carneros that was completed in 2004, Cuvaison also has a tasting room in Calistoga on Silverado Trail.  Our two visits were to the Carneros winery which is across the street from Domain Carneros.  The word "cuvaison" is French, meaning vinification or fermentation.

View from patio

The broad open view from Cuvaison Carneros is spectacular and you may chose from indoor our outdoor seating.  The modern style building has large windows overlooking the vineyard and is out of site of the highway giving it a natural and secluded feeling that belies its close proximity to highway 12 and 121.  It is a great place to relax and unwind and the service is excellent.

Indoor or outdoor tastings

Our first review of Cuvaison was on November 11, 2011 and may be read here:

http://bachtobacchus.blogspot.com/2012/01/cuvaison-estate-wines.html

We were especially fond of the Cuvaison 2010 Chardonnay at $22 which we thought was quite good at this price point, noting that it could easily be found in many grocery stores. We enjoyed all of their wines, but the special standout for us was the Cuvaison 2009 Diablo Syrah.  The Diablo Syrah had not yet been released during this most recent visit, however, so we had to forgo that pleasure.

Tasting room wines

Our first pour was the Cuvaison 2012 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir at $19.  Neither of us care much for most U.S. roses or blush wines, but this one was very good.  After a very nice nose, I got dry, crisp cranberry and pomegranate with some raspberry on the palate with excellent balance and more character than one usually finds in rose wines.  It seemed more French in style, was quite refreshing and is one of the very few California roses we can recommend. If you ordinarily do not like roses, you might want to try this one.  Very well done! This will be the first Napa Valley rose wine we will be adding to our list of favorite wines of Napa Valley.

Building behind tasting building

This was followed  by the Cuvaison 2011 Estate Chardonnay at $25.  This represents over half of Cuvaison's yearly production and was the varietal that I associated with them some thirty years or so ago. 20% of this Chard saw new French oak for 8 months. It saw about 60% malolactic conversion but is not at all overly buttery or lacking in varietal characteristics. It had a very good nose of apple and white peach with some minerality.  On the palate it is well balanced and clean with crisp apple, good structure and some great minerality that carried through to the finish.  Cuvaison makes one of the finest Napa Valley Chardonnays in the under $30 range, and I've found it on sale at Safeway for under $20. It is on our list of favorite Napa Valley Chardonnays because it is so well balanced and such a great price.

Our third pour was the Cuvaison 2011 Estate Pinot Noir at $38.  30% of the grapes saw 11 months in new French oak. After a lovely purple and red color and great red cherry and baking spice aroma, I got a medium plus bodied Carneros Pinot Noir with lively acid, great balance, some earthiness and a very good finish.  The fruit was red, mostly raspberry and strawberry. My friend, who often finds Carneros Pinots to be too light, commented on how much he enjoyed this one.  I would have loved to have taken tasting notes on the Cuvaison 2011 Spire Pinot Noir at $48 but this was not offered. This estate Pinot is one of the better examples of a Carneros Pinot Noir. At this price point I thought it was a very good buy and in my tasting notes I rated it a 90.

Lounge in tasting room

The Cuvaison 2010 Brandlin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon at $55 was the second and last of our red wines. It saw 22 months in French oak and is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot, 1% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc, all grown on Mt. Veeder.  It retails at $55 and is well worth the price.  Dark and dense in color, it had a good nose of black cherry with floral notes followed by a very "mountain" Cabernet Sauvignon presentation of dense black cherry, black currant and blackberry, with firm tannins, excellent structure and a medium plus finish. It will cellar well, but I'd be tempted to drink mine now it is so appealing.  Along with the Pinot Noir, it was the favorite of both of us.  In my tasting notes I gave it 91 points.  If you like mountain Cabs, you might want to try this one.

Modern tasting building

I opted to try a taste of the debut release of the Cuvaison 2010 Noblesse dessert wine, which is a late harvest Sauvignon Blanc with botrytis or so called "noble rot" that often adds much to the wine.  It is $45 a bottle.  Although it did not erase memories of some of the layered and complex French Sauternes I've had in the past, it was quite decent for the money and can be recommended.  I especially enjoyed the very flowery nose and good balance.  Try it if you are open to trying sweet white dessert wines.  This one is better than most of them by U.S. producers and is quite pleasant and drinkable.

Entry sign

All of the wines we sampled at Cuvaison were quite good for the price.  I was sorry they did not have the exceptional Diablo Syrah available for tasting and would have liked to have sampled the 2011 Spire Pinot Noir after having tasted the very nice 2011 Estate Pinot.  I noted, too, that they have a Brandlin Vineyard Zinfandel and have yet to try a Cuvaison Zin. You might want to check out our previous review of Cuvaison here: Cuvaison Estate Wines

Cuvaison Estate Wines

1221 Duhig Road

Napa, CA 94581

(707) 942-2455

Date of visit: August 21, 2013

Open 7 days a week, 10 am - 5 pm, by easily made appointment
Last Tasting at 4:30 pm

Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Monday thru Thursday they offer $15 or $20 tasting flight to choose from.

Friday thru Sunday they only offer the $20 tasting flight.

They are in the Napa Neighbor Program.
Please see their website for more up to date information.

Budget Wine Review 10

Budget wines tasted recently (August 14, 2013).  Writing good tasting notes for me involves much time, concentration and effort, and I don't see any point in writing detailed tasting notes on these inexpensive wines so I am keeping the notes brief.  I've added a few wines at the end that are not really budget wines, since they sell for over $20, which is my arbitrary maximum limit to what I am willing to refer to as a budget wine. The wines underlined are the ones I consider the best buys.

Much of what I look for in inexpensive wines is decent balance, whether I enjoyed drinking it and if I would purchase another bottle. I do not expect much subtlety or complexity.  In non-blends I do prefer some truness to varietal characteristics. If I poured the wine down the drain I comment on that.  Some people will cook with wines they do not like.  I believe it takes a decent wine to make good food and that life is too short to drink or cook with a wine that is not pleasant to drink. Most of the wines listed below were recommended to me by reliable sources.  I rarely purchase a budget wine without a recommendation by a reliable person because there are so many of them, especially those under $10, that are  not very pleasant to drink.  If you know of any budget wines you really like, please email me and I will try them.

Acacia 2010 Red Blend-$7.99 at Safeway.  This was recommended by a well known wine critic as being a good buy. It is a Rhone style red blend with mostly raspberry on the palate and is okay for the price, but it just didn't come together very well for me and I will not buy another bottle of the 2010. You might want to try it, but I can't really recommended it.

BV 2010 Coastal Chardonnay-$5.99 at Safeway.  Often recommended as a wine bargain, this is a decent enough Chardonnay for the money and the probably the least expensive Chardonnay I can even mildly recommend. For only $2 more, though, you can get the Clos du Bois Chardonnay, which I like much better. Very mild, rather tepid, recommendation at this price if you really can't afford $7.99 for the Clos du Bois.

Chalone 2010 Chardonnay-$9.99 at Safeway.  Another one that was recommended as a decent budget Chardonnay by a famous wine critic.  It is a decent $10 Chardonnay, and  I purchase a bottle or two perhaps once a year. I do like the dry flintiness and absence of excessive butter. Worth trying. Mild recommendation at this price.

Charles Shaw California 2010 Sauvignon Blanc-$2.49 at Trader Joe's. It has almost no aroma and does not taste much like a Sauvignon Blanc--none of the crisp acid or citrus of most SBs. If you have only $3 in your wallet and need a Sauvignon Blanc, this is probably as palatable as you will find at that price. Not really recommended. Spend a little more.

Clos du Bois 2010 Northern California Chardonnay-$7.99 at Safeway.  Very nice for the price and consistent from year to year.  I don't drink that much of this, but I've purchased a bottle or two every year for many years and have never been disappointed. One of the finest budget Chardonnays.  Highly recommended at this price.

Columbia Crest 2010 Grand Estate Chardonnay-$8.99 anywhere. I have had the Columbia Crest Chardonnay in the past and liked it well enough for the price, but I don't like this 2010.  Apple, pear and butter but too much butter for me. Recommended by others, but I simply did not like it and cannot recommended it, at least not the 2010.

Contadino Pinot Grigio-Italy. $3.99 at Trader Joe's. One cannot expect much at this price. I liked it better than the Gaetano D'Aquino mentioned below but found it to be barely drinkable.  On another day I might have poured it out. Spend a three dollars more and get the much better Mezzacorona mentioned below. I can't recommend it.

Delas Saint-Esprit 2011 Cotes-du Rhone Rouge-French. $9.99 on sale at Cost Plus.  I really liked the 2010 so thought I'd try the 2011.  This one is has a good nose but is a bit rough right out of the bottle.  Decant it or give it some air first.  Mostly black cherry, blackberry and some spice on the palate with blackberry and pepper on the medium length finish.  I gave the 2010 a moderate to high recommendation and it is the better of the two vintages.  I bought a number of 2010s but will not buy any more 2011s and will wait until 2012 comes out. It is not as well balanced as the 2010. This 2011 is only mildly recommended at this price level.

DeLoach 2011 California Pinot Noir-$9.99 on sale at Safeway. A lighter style Pinot with lots of strawberry. This one is well balanced and refreshing.  It is not a complex Pinot, but for its style, it is very honest and well worth the price.  Some light, fruity Pinots almost taste like Nouveau Beaujolais but not this one. With the DeLoach the Pinot Noir varietal characteristics are quite evident. I'm not sure what the regular price is on this but it is worthwhile at anything less than $15.  There are also a DeLoach 2011 Russian River and a DeLoach 2011 Heritage Reserve that sell for more, but I have not tried these. If DeLoach sends me some I'll gladly do so very detailed tasting notes.  They obviously know what they are doing with budget Pinots. I enjoyed drinking this wine and give it a moderate recommendation at the price if you like this style Pinot. 

Gaetano D'Aquino 2011 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie-Italian. $3.99 at Trader Joe's. Barely drinkable at best.  Not at all recommended.

Gnarly Head 2010 Malbec-$8.99 at Safeway-Tastes rather like a Malbec.  Okay for the price.  Not many budget Malbecs out there. Mildly recommended at this price.

Grifone 2010 Primitivo-Italian. $3.99 at Trader Joes.  Drinkable but not a wine I would ever purchase again. On another day I would pour it down the drain.  Can't really recommend it.

Hess 2010 Select Chardonnay-$8.99 at Safeway or just about anywhere. Fairly decent Chardonnay at under $10. It is widely available and is reliable from year to year. One of the better budget Chards out there, and I've never purchased a bad one. Mildly recommended for the price.

La Ferme Julien Rouge 2012 Rhone Red- French. $4.99 at Trader Joe's. They have a white, rose and red.  Of these, I prefer the red which is  a Rhone blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah.  I'm very fond of Rhone red wines but can rarely find a decent one for under $10.  At only $5 I find this one to be a real bargain.  If you like Rhone wines and are looking for something very inexpensive, this would be a good choice.  I have only tried the 2012 so cannot comment on other vintages.  This is an honest, simple, pleasant every day wine that benefits from a little air.  It is mostly spicy blackberry on the palate, with good body and decent balance.  Highly recommended for a $5 wine.

Les Portes de Bordeaux 2012 Sauvignon Blanc-French. $4.99 at Trader Joe's. Grapefruit and citrus with a decent finish. Fairly decent for price, but I don't plan to buy any more.  Mildly recommended for a Sauvignon Blanc at less than $5.

Mezzacorona 2010 Pinot Grigio-Italian. $6.99 at Trader Joe's. Recommended by our local TJ's wine guru and very nice for the price.  Good fruit, decent balance and tastes like a Pinot Grigio.  A winner.  One of the best buys in a white wine. I have had numerous bottles of this. It is very pleasant and I've never grown tired of it. One of the best white wine bargains I've found recently. Probably my favorite every day budget white wine.  Very highly recommended for the price.

Portico da Ria 2011 Albarino-Spanish. $5.99 at Trader Joe's. Finally a decent, inexpensive Albarino. TJ's hardly ever carries this varietal, much to my disappointment. . It is a wonderful, much underappreciated varietal here in the U.S. but, of course, is well known and appreciated in Portugal. I'm very fond of good Albarinos but rarely find a decent one for under $20 and don't seem to find any for under $10.  Mostly lemon and green apples on the palate, well balanced, this one is a winner at the price and should be selling for at least $10 to $15.  If you have never had an Albarino before, this would be a good start.  If you love pleasant, floral, not too sweet but not bone dry, easy to drink white wines that are not one dimensional you might love this one.  Buy a case before they run out.  I do not know of a better red or white wine deal, and I do not know how long TJ's will carry this. (It is a fairly recent arrival.) I've recommended this to many friends and neighbors and they have all loved it.  Many now purchase it by the case.  Women seem to especially like it. Very highly recommended Albarino for the price.

Red Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon-$6.99 at Trader Joe's-Drinkable.  It is okay but not something I would purchase again.  I have a difficult time appreciating most  Cabs that are under $10. As with Pinot Noirs, you really must almost always pay more to get a drinkable one. I just can't really recommend this Cab.

Reserve des Cleones 2012 Muscadet Severe et Maine Sure Lie-$7.99 at Trader Joe's. Muscadet is made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, often referred to as melon.  Pale yellow in color, this one is light, very dry, and crisp with melon and lemon on the palate.  Balance is okay for the price. Short finish. It is not very complex, but if you are looking for a Muscadet to pair with seafood or whatever, this is worth investigating. I doubt I will purchase any more, but I have to give it a mild recommendation at this price.

Saint-Bris Vin de Bourgogne 2012 Sauvignon Blanc-French. $9.99  at Trader Joe's.  A Sauvignon Blanc from Chablis?  Yup.  And very nice for the price.  This one has hints of what premium Sauvignon Blancs offer but costs a fraction of the price.  I've several bottles so far and really like it. Moderately recommended.

Sebastopol Hills 2011 Pinot Noir-$9.99 at Trader Joe's. Recommended by Traer Joe's staff and not really bad, but I did not enjoy drinking it and would not buy it again.  Not recommended by me.

Tarmina 2012 Monastrell-Spain. $6.99 at Cost Plus.  Monastrell is Spanish for Mourvedre, a varietal that is used in French Rhone GSM blends.  Inky purple in color with a decent nose. Full bodied but smooth, jammy and round with lots of balanced dark fruit.  Appealing and easy to drink.  Quite a bargain actually. I've tried three bottles now. Moderate plus recommendation at the price.

Trader Joes 2011 Coastal Sauvignon Blanc-$3.99 at Trader Joes. Some varietal characteristics but rather round, insipid and not dry or crisp enough.  Not recommended.

Trellis Sonoma Chardonnay-$4.99 at Trader Joe's. Okay for the price but not something I would purchase again.  Possibly worth a try if you want to try a Chard at under $5.  I'd recommend spending a few dollars more on a Chardonnay.

These wines below are more expensive than the wines above so I'm mentioning them separately:

De Sante 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Old Vine-$33 at a wine shop.  Fairly good and mildly recommended, although not my favorite SB at this price level despite its recommendation from a reliable source.  Mildly recommended at this price level.

Elk Cove 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley-$20.29 at Safeway. Bright strawberry nose.  Red cherry and strawberry on the palate with some cinnamon.  Medium finish.  Quite nice for a Pinot at this price. Moderately recommended at this price.

Raptor Ridge Willamette Valley 2010 Pinot Noir -$20 at Safeway.  Strawberry nose and palate with medium body.  Finish could be better. I will pass on trying any more. Very mild recommendation at this price.

Talley 2009 Pinot Noir-$33.50 at a wine shop. Talley has a very good reputation and this was recommended by a reliable source. Pleasant, medium bodied, easy to drink, lacking the complexity of an exceptional Pinot but well worth the price.  I liked it but will pass on trying any more, at least of this vintage.  Mildly recommendation at this price level.

Previous Budget Wine Reviews may be viewed here:

Budget Wine Review 1

Budget Wine Review 2 Alsatian Gewurtztraminers

Budget Wine Review 3

Budget Wine Review 4

Budget Wine Review 5 Pinot Noirs

Budget Wine Review 6

Budget Wine Review 7 Pinot Noirs

Budget Wine Review 8 New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs

Budget Review 9
Budget Wine Favorites in 2012
Budget Wine Favorites in 2013
For favorite wines from Napa Valley wineries please see here: Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

Rombauer Vineyards Revisited

Rombauer undoubtedly has one of the most attractive winery grounds, the gardens being carefully planned works of art with picnic tables situated in a half dozen or so locations.  I think many people would enjoy visiting Rombauer even if they did not drink wine, and it is a great place for a picnic.

Patio with view

Rombauer Vineyards was founded in 1982 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer.  It is on the left side of Silverado Trail heading North and is marked by a small sign.  A driveway winds up the knoll where the winery sits on top surrounded by trees and gardens.  

View

Below the winery is a wine cave that extends for over a mile into the hillside and provides the cool, humid environment that is ideal for storing wine.  Walking paths wind through the gardens.  The tasting room is rather small but pleasant and hospitality at Rombauer has always been very good.  For this visit we thank Mary for being so friendly and helpful.

Flower garden

Last time I visited several years ago I tasted the Classic Flight, which is now $15.  This time I opted for the $30 Proprietor Flight and was very glad for my choice.  My friend opted for the Classic Flight. Rombauer is also in the Napa Neighbor Program.  Rombauer is famous for its Chardonnay which is done with generous malolatic conversion and oak and is not a style for which I care.  Some people really love it though.  It is a matter of personal preference.  Their regular Zinfandel is also very popular and my friend liked it and purchased some. It was his favorite wine of the Classic Flight.

Tasting bar

The first pour was the Rombauer 2005 Stag's Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon at $90.  Many Napa Cabs from this year were powerful wines with significant tannins and needed aging.  This one certainly did and should continue to improve, but I found it quite enjoyable now.  It had a very good nose of cherry, oak, chocolate and earth notes.  On the palate it was a full bodied powerful Cab with black cherry, black currants, chocolate, and green olive.  I liked the tannins but they were not what I'd call soft.  It was, however, well balanced.  The finish was medium plus length with cherry and mocha.  This is not a Cab for the faint of heart but I liked it and would gladly drink some any time.

View from patio

It was quite a contrast to have the Rombauer 2007 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon ($70) next.  2007 was a great year for Napa Cabs.  Many of the 2007 Napa Cabs started out being a bit flashy but often ended up being rather elegant, smooth and very enjoyable.  This one had a lighter nose than the 2005 with mostly cherry and vanilla.  On the palate I got black cherry, black currant, chocolate, vanilla and very well integrated tannins followed by a long finish of black currant and vanilla.  Although full bodied, this Cab is very smooth, even silky.  I'd rate it a 92.  It was my favorite of the tasting.

View from tasting room

Third up was the Rombauer 2007 Stice Lane Cabernet Sauvignon at $70.  Stice Lane is a vineyard in the St. Helena AVA.  This was a lovely purple and violet in color with a medium nose of mostly cherry.  On the palate I got black cherry, forest floor, cedar and chocolate.  It had a medium plus body with firm tannins and a clean medium length finish.  It was good, and I'd gladly drink some any time, but I preferred the 2007 Atlas Peak at the same price.

One of many places to picnic

The last pour was the Rombauer 2010 Proprietor Selection Zinfandel at $60.  This had 4% Petite Syrah added to the Zin and the grapes came from Fiddletown in Amador County.  It is 15.9% alcohol.  The color was a lovely purple, with a very pleasant blueberry and blackberry nose. On the palate it came across as a very fruit forward Zin, bursting with blackberry, chocolate and blueberry pie.  Tannins were very soft and I did not get any Zin spice.  I got a lingering finish of blueberries, or perhaps blueberry jam would be more accurate.  This will not appeal to those who like their Zins really dry, although it is not a late harvest Zin either.  I saved some for my friend who liked it better than I did.  It is a matter of preference in styles.  If you Zins with a lot of very ripe fruit then this might be the Zin for you.  It should age well.

Potted flower garden

I was impressed with the Cabernets at Rombauer and recommend the Proprietor Flight to any serious Cab lovers even thought these wines are only available at the winery.  If you have never been to Rombauer before or if more serious Cabs are not your thing, you will probably want to try the Classic Flight.  With either flight you will end up with free wine glasses at the end.  Be sure to allow time to walk in the gardens or even have a picnic at Rombauer.  You will definitely want to linger, relax, walk around and spend some time in this intimate lovely little garden oasis.

Secluded picnic table

Rombauer Vineyards

3522 Silverado Trail North
Saint Helena, CA 94574

Phone: (800) 622-2206

Date of visit: August 7, 2013

Rombauer is open to the public without an appointment unless you are in a limo or have a party of six or more. From the Rombauer website:

"Wine Tasting 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Daily

Classic Tasting Flight of 4 Current Release Wines $15
Tasting fee is refundable with purchase of 6 bottles of wine.
For groups of 6 or more and/or those traveling by limo 
please call in advance. 800-622-2206."

Garden

Sculptures in garden

Sculpture in garden

Friendly cow

Another picnic option

Dino sculpture

Entry to wine cave

Another dino