Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

Please see our update here:  Napa Favs

Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries
The wines listed below are some of our favorite wines from the hundred plus wineries we visited over the past year or so in the Napa Valley. There are still many great wineries we have not visited, and there were certain wines that were not offered for tasting at some wineries we visited. When a wine is produced from grapes not grown in Napa Valley, I have tried to make a note of that.

Tasting wines at a winery is somewhat similar to listening to audio speakers in stores. It is brief and very limited. I can tell which ones I like, but not until I take the speakers 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 a thorough understanding and appreciation of them.

Sometimes a bottle of wine I take home from a winery does not taste quite as good as I remember it at the winery.  More frequently, 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. Visiting a winery, meeting the winemaker, sampling the wines and then slowly and attentively drinking the wine later at home is, for me, the best way to understand and truly appreciate a wine.

Not surprisingly, we were especially impressed with the very high quality of Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley. I think they hold their own with the finest wines in the world. There were so many outstanding Cabs, it was difficult to pick favorites.

We welcome questions from potential visitors to Napa Valley. Please send these directly to us at our email address and do not post them as comments under a winery unless the question relates specifically to that winery. 

Cabernet Franc

Ballentine 2008 Cabernet Franc $29. 
Chappellet 2009 Cabernet Franc $65

Girard Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc $40

Robert Keenan 2008 Cabernet Franc $60

Titus Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Franc $36

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Blends
Alpha Omega Winery 2007 Proprietary Red, Bordeaux blend, $86
Alpha Omega Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $85

Barnett 2009 Rattlesnake Hill Cabernet Sauvignon $140
B Cellars 2008 Synergy Cabernet Sauvignon $55

Bennett Lane Winery 2006 Maximus $35, Bordeaux blend
Beringer 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $89

Burgess Cellars 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon $68

Burgess Cellars 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $80

Cain 2002 Cain Concept $70

Cain 2007 Cain Five $100

Chappellet 2009 Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon  $135

Chappellet 2009 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon $49

Chateau Montelena 2007 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $135
Cosentino 2006 Winemaster, Cabernet Sauvignon, $60
Elizabeth Spencer 2007 The Guardian $60
Elyse 2007 Morisoli Vineyard, $70
Erna Schein (Behrens) 2006 Fat Boy $75, Bordeaux blend
Girard Winery 2009 Artistry, Bordeaux blend, $40

Groth 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $125. Wonderful.

Heitz 2006 Martha's Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon $150
Hendry 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $55
Hill Family Estate 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $55. Great value
Hill Family Estate 2007 Double Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon $150
Hill Family Estate 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $48

Honig 2009 Campbell Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $75

Ideology 2007 Reserve Block Cabernet Sauvignon $68
Inglenook 2006 Captain’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $48
Inglenook Estate 2007 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon $65
Inglenook Estate 2008 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon $65

Jacquelynn Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon $175 (Chateau Boswell)

Joseph Phelps Vineyard 2006 Insignia $200. Famous for a good reason.
Joseph Phelps Vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $54
Juslyn 2007 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $110
Kelly Fleming 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon $120. Best paired with food
Kelly Fleming 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $120. Drink alone, great stuff
Kelly Fleming 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $90
Louis Martini 2007 Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon $85
Marston Family Vineyard 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon $120. Loved it
Marston Family Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $100

Quintessa 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon $155

Quintessa 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $155

Regusci Winery 2008 Angelo’s Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon $125
Regusci Winery 2008 Patriarch Proprietary Blend, Bordeaux blend, $80

Robert Keenan 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $49

Rutherford Hill 2007 TFV Cardinal’s Peak $48
Rutherford Hill 2007 TFV Rutherford $62
Sawyer Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Schweiger Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $58
Schweiger Vineyards 2007 Dedication $85
Smith-Madrone 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Air it or pair it with food

Smith-Madrone 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Even better than the 2005

Smith-Madrone 2007 Cook's Flat Reserve $200. Fantastic

Somerston Wine Co. 2007 Somerston Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $120
Spring Mountain Vineyard 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $75. Loved it.
St. Supery Estate 2006 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon $80
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2007 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon $125
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2008 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon $95
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 Cabernet Sauvignon $195. Wonderful.
Summers Estate, 2007 Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $70
Terra Valentine 2007 Marriage, Bordeaux blend, $75

Trefethen 2006 Halo (92% Cabernet Sauvignon) $175

Trefethen 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $100

White Rock Vineyards 2003 Cave Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $85. Great!!!
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate Cave Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $100 Sensational!!!
White Rock Vineyards 2004 Laureate Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Wonderful Cab and a great value
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Great value

White Rock Vineyards 2006 Claret, Bordeaux blend, $36. Great bargain

Charbono
Summers Estate Wines 2008 Charbono $28

Chardonnay

Chateau Boswell Russian River 2009 Chardonnay "The Voyage" $75
Cuvaison 2010 Carneros Chardonnay $23

Robert Keenan 2010 Chardonnay $30

Smith-Madrone 2008 Chardonnay $30
Smith-Madrone 2009 Chardonnay $30. My favorite.
Stony Hill 2010 Chardonnay $42
White Rock Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay $30
ZD 2009 California Chardonnay $34

Chenin Blanc:

Chappellet 2010 Signature Chenin Blanc $30

Gewürztraminer
Stony Hill 2010 Gewürztraminer $24. My favorite.

Grenache:

Burgess Cellars 2009 Grenache $24

Late Harvest wine:

Van Der Heyden 2002 Late Harvest Semillon $125 half bottle

Merlot

Barnett 2009 Spring Mountain Merlot $55

Burgess Cellars 2008 Merlot $28
Darioush Winery 2007 Merlot $46
Duckhorn Vineyard 2007 Merlot $52

Paloma 2008 Merlot $54. Outstanding! A great Merlot. My favorite.
Pride Mountain 2008 Merlot $58

Robert Keenan 2008 Merlot $36

Rutherford Hill 2007 Reserve Merlot, $59

Petite Sirah

Ballentine 2009 Fig Tree Vineyard Petite Sirah $28

Behrens Family Kick Ranch Petite Sirah $50

Burgess Cellars 2009 Petite Sirah $28

Esoterica (Kent Rasmussen) 2007 Petite Sirah $40. My favorite.
(The 2008 Esoterica is not nearly as good.  The 2009 is not quite as good.)
Gustavo Thrace 2006 Petite Sirah $40.

Pinot Noir

Barnett 2010 Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, $55

Clos Pegase Winery 2008 Mitsuko’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros, $35.

Etude 2008 Carneros Estate Pinot Noir $42

Etude 2009 Carneros Estate Pinot Noir $42
 

Port type
Beringer 1987 Port of Cabernet Sauvignon $60
Heitz Ink Grade Port NV $30 half bottle

Red blends
B Cellars 2008 Blend 24 Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangioves/Petite Sirah/Syrah, Super Tuscan $55
Benessere Vineyard 2006 Phenomenon $50, Super Tuscan

Riesling
Smith-Madrone 2010 Riesling $36. Incredible! My favorite!
Stony Hill 2010 “White Riesling” $27

Trefethen 2011 Dry Riesling $22, better than 2009 or 2010, exceptional

Roussanne
Truchard 2010 Roussanne $22

Sangiovese
Benessere Vineyard 2008 Sangiovese $28

Sauvignon Blanc
Hill Family Estate 2010 Tiara Sauvignon Blanc $35
Jacquelynn 2010 Cuvee Blanc $45
Joseph Phelps 2009 ‘St. Helena’ Sauvignon Blanc $30
Kelly Fleming Wines 2010 Sauvignon Blanc $30. Great! My favorite.
Marston Family Vineyard 2010 Albion $50.  Really nice.

Peirson Meyer 2010 Sauvignon Blanc $28. Lovely

Robert Mondavi 2010 Stag’s Leap District Sauvignon Blanc $32
Robert Mondavi 2009 Fume Blanc $20 (sale $13 Safeway) Great value

Solovino 2009 Sauvignon Blanc $19, good value

Syrah
Cakebread 2009 Napa Valley Syrah $55
Cuvaison Estate Wines 2009 Diablo Syrah $35
Darioush Winery 2008 “Shiraz” $68
Robert Keenan 2008 Napa Valley Syrah $38

Zinfandel

Ballentine 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel $25

Elyse 2008 Zinfandel Morisoli Vineyard (Rutherford) $37

Hendry 2007 Block 28 Zinfandel $35
Highlands Winery 2006 Howell Mountain Zinfandel $29
Robert Biale 2009 Monte Rosso Zinfandel $50. My favorite.