Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Priest Ranch Wines

Located on the main street in downtown Yountville, Priest Ranch Wines is well worth a visit. Priest Ranch wines are made by Somerston Wine Company who also make Highflyer and Somerston wines.  We last reviewed Somerston Wine Company in November of 2011 when we visited their tasting room in downtown Yountville.  Several weeks ago we received an email informing us that: "We have renamed our tasting room, and are focusing our efforts in Yountville on building the Priest Ranch brand...We now exclusively feature Priest Ranch wines in our tasting room, which are sourced from the Somerston Estate." Because of this change and the length of time since our last visit, we decided to drop in on them.  Much thanks to our excellent host, Eric, who was very friendly and extremely knowledgable.


Priest Ranch Wines building

Priest Ranch (Soda Valley), located up on the eastern mountainside of Napa Valley, was originally part of the 8,500 acre Ranch Catacula that was granted by the Mexican government in 1844. The estate was settled in 1849 by Joshua James Priest and his wife Sarah whose family retained the property for over a century until it was sold in 1963.  In 2006 the 638 acre ranch became part of Somerston Estate along with the contiguous 990 acre Elder Valley Ranch (Lynch Vineyards).  Some of the fruit from Priest Ranch is also sourced to other premium Napa Valley wineries.

Priest Ranch Wines tasting room

The tasting room located on the south end of Washington Street in Yountville, has street parking and a small parking lot in the back. They offer two regular tasting options, priced at $25 and $30 and waive a tasting fee with a six bottle purchase.  An Artisanal Cheese Plate and Chocolate Plate are also available each for $15 and a private wine tasting may be arranged for $45.  Although Highflyer and Somerston wines are still available for purchase, only tastings of Priest Ranch wines are now offered at the Yountville tasting room. They are open without an appointment seven days a week from 11 AM to 7 PM. For current information on prices and visiting hours please see their tasting room webpage at Priest Ranch Wines
 
Priest Ranch Wines tasting room area

Our tasting began with the Priest Ranch 2012 Grenache Blanc at $22.  90% of it was aged in stainless steel and 10% in neutral French oak, and 934 cases were produced. This is a white grape varietal that is different than the red wine grape "Grenache" which originated in Spain. Grenache Blanc is thought to be a mutation from the Grenache grape and is found mostly in the French Rhone Valley and northeastern Spain.  In France it is often blended with Roussanne.  In California Grenache Blanc is grown mostly between Santa Barbara and Paso Robles.  I know of no other winery in Napa Valley that grows or produces it.  Priest Ranch makes one of the finest Grenache Blancs in California.  On the nose I got mostly white peach and melon aromas.  On the palate it was round, soft, smooth, very easy to drink, not at all flabby, with mostly white peach and some pear.  Finish was medium length. I would not call the acid "bright" but it had enough to be well balanced.  It was very pleasant and different tasting than most other white wines so you should certainly try it. Quite likeable.

Priest Ranch Wines tasting table

Our second pour was the Priest Ranch 2012 Sauvignon Blanc at $26.  70% of it was aged in stainless steel and 30% in neutral French oak with 1016 cases produced.  It started out with a good nose of tropical fruits.  On the palate it was very round and smooth with more tropical fruit.  I did not get the lively acid or crisp refreshingness that I look for in a Sauvignon Blanc. It was our least favorite of the wines we tasted, but if you like a rounder, fruit forward type of Sauvignon Blanc with less acid, then you might enjoy this one.

Priest Ranch Wines entrance

Next up was the Priest Ranch 2011 Zinfandel at $40.  I got aromas of raspberry and red cherry.  On the palate it was lighter bodied than many Zins but certainly not thin.  It was nicely balanced with well integrated tannins and smooth with some spiciness.  Fruit wise I got more cherry and some raspberry.  Finish was medium length and very pleasant. If you like a Zin that has more finesse than some Zins, with great balance and fine tannins, one that does not need to be pared with food to be enjoyed, you should really like this Zin.  It is certainly not rustic or high octane.  A very pleasant, easy to drink Zin that most people should like, even those who usually prefer white wines. 

Priest Ranch Wines tasting area

The Priest Ranch 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon at $48 was our next pour.  It was aged for 22 months in French oak with 35% of it in new oak.  2,462 cases were produced.  We were informed that it is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petite Verdot. I got a good nose of mostly black cherry and black currant with hints of mocha.  On the palate it was full bodied with good, well integrated tannins and more black cherry with blackberry and some chocolate.  Finish was medium plus in length.  Be sure to give it some air after opening it. It should cellar nicely.  We both liked this Cab and thought it was a good Cab for the price.


Priest Ranch Wines tasting table

The fifth pour was the Priest Ranch 2010 Petite Sirah at $40.  We both thought this was an exceptionally good Petite Sirah.  My friend bought several bottles of it.  It was very dark in color with aromas of dark cherry with hints of pepper and spices.  On the palate it was full bodied, very well balanced, with integrated tannins and sumptuous black cherry and blackberry along with some pepper.  I love Petite Sirahs and often attend the annual Petite Sirah tasting festival (called PS I Love You.)  This 2010 Priest Ranch Petite Sirah is a real standout!

Priest Ranch Wines patio

Our sixth pour was the Priest Ranch 2008 Coachgun at $75. This is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 10% Petite Verdot.  Half of it was aged in new French oak and the other half in once used French oak.  Only 200 cases were produced.  It had a nice aroma of black cherry and black currant with hints of cigar box and some floral notes.  On the palate it was full bodied, well balanced, smooth and decadent with great mouth feel.  Although lush and ripe, it was also layered and complex. Tannins were flexible and very well integrated.  Finish was medium plus in length and quite pleasant.  Very approachable now, this Bordeaux blend should cellar extremely well.  It is definitely worth the $75 and was our favorite of the wines we tasted.  Very highly recommended!

Priest Ranch Wines back patio

Our final tasting was the Priest Ranch 2010 Brut Rose at $38.  This is made from Syrah grapes and was barrel aged in stainless steel and neutral French oak for 12 months and saw no malolactic conversion.  Only 300 cases were produced.  This was crisp and refreshing with layers of strawberry and raspberries. Acidity was well balanced and bubbles were tight. Well worth the asking price. Very nice.

Priest Ranch Wines
Lady Banks Rose

Priest Ranch is well worth visiting.  It is open to the public without an appointment.  There is usually plenty of easy access parking.  They have a very interesting and unusual white wine, their Grenache Blanc, plus some very good reds, including an excellent Petite Sirah and an exceptionally good Cabernet Sauvignon blend.  Prices are very reasonable and even better if you join their wine club.

Priest Ranch Wines
sculpture

Priest Ranch Wines
6488 Washington St
Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 967-8414
Date of this visit: April 16, 2014
Date previous visit and review: November 16, 2011





Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Chateau Montelena Winery Revisited

Chateau Montelena Winery is one of Napa Valley's iconic wineries, and made headlines back in 1976 when nine French judges scored the Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay as the best Chardonnay over some very famous white Burgundy and other Chardonnay wines. I bought a case of their famous 1973 Chardonnay back then, and it really was a wonderful wine. Chateau Montelena continues to produce some excellent wines and makes an outstanding, consistently excellent Estate (Reserve) Cabernet Sauvignon. The historic winery building itself is very lovely, and the grounds, a relaxing setting with a Chinese garden, pond, pagodas and bridges, are especially beautiful. Chateau Montelena is one of those handful of historical Napa Valley wineries that everyone should visit at least once.  Don't forget your camera.

Chateau Montelena winery buliding

Chateau Montelena began back in 1882 when Alfred Tubbs, after making his fortune in selling rope to miners during the gold rush, purchased 254 acres two miles north of Calistoga at the base of Mount Saint Helena.  He planted a vineyard in the loose, rocky soil and  hired a French architect to build the chateau. In 1986, he brought over a French winemaker.  When he named his winery Chateau Montelena in 1896 it was the seventh largest winery in Napa Valley.  Winemaking was interrupted in 1920 when Prohibition came but returned after it was repealed. The Tubbs Family eventually sold the winery in 1958 to Yort Wing Frank, a Chinese electrical engineer, and his wife, Jeanie, who wanted a retirement home for themselves.  The Franks created the large Chinese garden and excavated a lake which they called Jade Lake, adding small islands, bright red bridges and pagodas.  In the pagodas there are picnics table and chairs set up for an intimate wine tasting for wine club members.  In 1972 James Barrett and his family purchased the winery.  Their 1973 Chardonnay won first place for in the famous 1976 Paris tasting, and a bottle of it can now be found in the Smithsonian Museum.  You can read about this historic event in George Tabor's book, Judgment of Paris, or on the Internet.  The movie Bottle Shock is a loosely historical (somewhat fictionalized) account of the event. Bo Barrett, Jim's son, has been the winemaker since 1982.

Chateau Montelena Jade Lake

Chateau Montelena continues to produce their Chardonnay but is now also famous for their Cabernet Sauvignon with their Estate being consistently excellent every vintage.  They also produce a Zinfandel and a dry Riesling.  They are open to the public 9:30 AM to 4 PM without an appointment, although closed on certain holidays.  The current basic tasting fee (which includes a pour of their $150 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon) is $20, but other special tasting options are available by appointment.  At the time of our current visit they will waive one tasting fee for every $100 purchase.  Please see their web page for current tasting options and prices: Visiting and Tasting Service over the years has always been good, and we extend much thanks this time to our host, Nick, who is also their Chef.

Chateau Montelena tasting bar

Our tasting began with the Chateau Montelena 2012 Riesling from Potter Valley in Mendocino County.  It sells for $25.  It was a pale gold in color with mostly melon and white peach on the nose.  Although it has 0.5% residual sugar, which makes it quite dry, it had a pleasantly round and smooth entry with some sweetness.   I got more white peach with some apple and pear on the palate, with good balance.  I did not get the lively acid that I get with some Rieslings, nor much minerality.  Finish was medium length.  This is a style of Riesling that should be especially appealing to many people, and the price is very reasonable. 

Chateau Montelena Jade Lake

The Chateau Montelena 2012 Sauvignon Blanc at $28 was next.  It was a light straw in color with mostly lemon on the nose with some floral notes.  On the palate I got lemon, grapefruit, lime and some tropical fruits in a style that was well balanced but emphasized fresh fruit.  It was pleasant and very accessible.  If you find some Sauvignon Blancs to be too dry, austere or acidic, you might really like this one.  It was more California in style than French.  Nice.

Chateau Montelena private tasting table


There have been some years when I have liked the Chateau Montelena regular release Cabernet almost as much as their Estate, but that was not the case this time.  This Chateau Montelena 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon sells for $53 and is quite good and reasonably priced.  It is 91.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 0.5% Cabernet Franc.  It was aged for 14 months in French and "Eastern European" oak with 27% of this being new oak.  It was deep red in color, and I got mostly red cherry with floral notes on the nose.  On the palate I got mostly red fruits, cherry, some raspberry and a touch of toast.  It was well balanced, smooth and very drinkable, with good acid, soft tannins and a medium length finish.  This is a Cab that you will probably not want to cellar but can enjoy immediately.  Very easy to drink.

Chateau Montelena garden

I've been visiting Chateau Montelena for many years and don't recall ever tasting one of their Cabernet Estate releases that I didn't love.  At this visit we tasted the Chateau Montelena Estate 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon which sells for $150.  It is 98.75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.25% Cabernet Franc and was aged for 22 months in French oak with 29% of this new oak.  It was deep red and purple in color with mostly black fruit, rather than red fruit, on the nose.  On the palate I got mostly black cherry with some blackberry and black currant with some baking spices and good, lively acid.  Tannins were well integrated.  Finish was medium plus to long in length with some spice.  Although this is quite drinkable now, it should cellar very nicely and continue to improve with age.  Highly recommended.

Chateau Montelena Jade Lake

Last year a fellow who worked with the San Francisco 49ers wrote to me asking if I could recommend a Napa Valley winery where he might propose to his fiancĂ©.  He wanted one that was open without an appointment, where the setting was lovely and he might find some privacy.  After discussing this with him, I ended up recommending Chateau Montelena, with its beautiful Chinese garden and pond.  Whenever we visit we like to walk around the pond and through the gardens.  It is one of those wineries to enjoy even if you don't drink wine.  It is a winery we often recommend to others.

Chateau Montelena pagoda tasting

Chateau Montelena Winery
1429 Tubbs Lane
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-5105
Date of this current review: April 8, 2014
Date of  last review : November 23, 2011 



Chateau Montelena Jade Lake