Napa Valley, July 2009

My good friends Chas and Trisha planned a trip to California to celebrate Chas's upcoming 30th birthday. They were kind enough to invite me to join them for three days of tasting and dining in Napa! None of us had been before, and we've been geeking out on wine together for a while now, so this was a great opportunity! We jumped into the planning pretty early, and were able to get all of the reservations we needed. Make no mistake, Napa gets a fairly rough rap from the folks I know in OR. Talk about the oak, talk about the prices, talk about the attitude, talk about the crowds; to be honest, I think we were all a little apprehensive to start. However, no matter how you cut it, it IS the most famous wine region in the USA, and as such, really ought to be visited at least once. We had a couple favorites that we were interested in checking out, but the majority of the visits were spontaneous decisions or recommendations heard along the way. Here's what we tasted!

This was a spontaneous stop on the way to an appointment with Elyse. We had heard of Alpha Omega, but they were packed already in the morning, and we noticed that the Grgich sign declared all of their wines to be biodynamic. I've had some great experiences with biodynamic wines recently, and was excited to try some from Napa. I had no idea at the time that Mike Grgich is massively famous in the wine world for making the breakthrough chardonnay for the tasting in Paris in 1976! The experience we had here was priceless. It's always great when the tasting staff enjoy conversing with tasters who appreciate discussing styles, production, and other details. We had a fantastic time discussing the wines, and ended up making friends that we spent time with throughout the trip! The wines were impressive too, displaying a lighter clean style while still delivering fantastic fruit in the best cases. I've got an idea that biodynamic wines usually exhibit a distinct clarity, however I need to taste more before I talk about it too much. It's distinct in my mind, but it's equally clear that I'd be inclined to infer that sort of characteristic with bias because I'm fond of the concept. It was wonderful to taste these wines, to learn about the farming practices, and to make friends that I look forward to staying in touch with. The Fume Blanc, Old Vine Zin, and Yountville Selection Cab were all exceptional. If you're in Napa anytime soon, check this place out!

• 2006 Grgich Hills Chardonnay 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  The nose on this wine is a lot of fun. Lemon tart scents make up the bulk of the experience, but there is a hint of sea spray and clay soil as well. It's fresh, light and enjoyable. On the palate, the wine is crisp. The lemons come across as expected along with a distinct and enjoyable minerality. Unfortunately, the alcohol is also distinct, and the heat keeps this wine from being too exciting.

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• 2006 Grgich Hills Zinfandel 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  This zin is said to be made in a "rustic style" and is dry farmed in the Napa Valley using less than 5% of the water used in typical irrigation in the region. The nose is full of bright cherries with a hint of citrus and some heat rising in the background. The cherries appear when tasted, as well as some nice tannins. The structure is lighter over all, especially for a zin, and the wine shows off some clean and pure fruit flavors that struggle with the heat noticed on the nose.

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• 2007 Grgich Hills Sauvignon Blanc Fumé Blanc 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  Another wine with an awesome nose from this producer. Limes, nectarines, and rich grassy scents leap out of the glass. Very enjoyable! The wine delivers in spades on the palate. Bracing acidity teams up with nectarine flavors that bloom in the mid palate while light fruits tral off on the back end. Evolution of flavor! Strong acid! Clarity! Biodynamic! Best American sauv blanc in my experience? Certainly in the running.

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• 2006 Grgich Hills Zinfandel Miljenko's Old Vines 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  Another dry farmed zinfandel from Grgich, this one is made from vines that are over 100 years old! The cherry scents on the nose are rich, dark, and seductive. They're bound up with a creamy note that complements them very well. A hint of citrus scents suggests some nice acidity, and a bit of clay soil edges through on the nose as well. When tasted, the acidity leaps onto the palate immediately and quickly blooms into the lovely dark cherries noticed on the nose. The tannins are lighter, but still contribute nicely, and run out on the finish along with enjoyable acids. The flavors are distinctly "clean". This is a characteristic I'm coming to associate with biodynamic wines. I'm not sure if this is typical, or all in my head, but either way, there is a clarity here that is notable and enjoyable.

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• 2005 Grgich Hills Merlot 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  The nose on this wine reminds me of a sweet dinner and is full of rich steak scents combined with apples, plums, and a hint of dandelion to represent a tangy salad! The plums jump out right away on the palate and mingle with cherry flavors to create a luscious experience in the middle. However, the flavors die off quickly from here, and, while clean, there isn't a whole lot to retain my interest on the finish.

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• 2005 Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  The wine smells like deep dark cherries buried under a pine forest floor. Cedar scents, more than oak, come through with a slight hint of eucalyptus. When tasted, the wine has a bright clean start with clear flavors that run all the way through the experience. Plums show up on the mid palate, and run out to the end along with some enjoyable tannins. The acidity and plum flavors last for thirty seconds or more. The wine is lighter and cleaner than the typical cabernet sauvignon that I've experienced. Solid wine.

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• 2004 Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Selection 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  (7/9/2009)

  Lovely nose comprised of rich, brilliant grapes, plums and blackberries all topped with a sprinkle of nutmeg! The fruits deliver wonderfully with excellent plum and blackberry flavors rolling across the tongue. I love the mid palate ont his wine! It's very clean, and the finish is on the lighter side, being made up of blackberry flavors and some nice acidity. Super clean, not oaky, not overly dense, but elegant. Yes, and elegant cab sauv. This wine is killer!

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• 2006 Grgich Hills Violetta Late Harvest 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  Violets and honey fill your nose when the wine is smelled. There's also a hint of rhubarb, which is enjoyable. This dessert wine is totally luscious with nice acidity at the end. Flavors of peaches and clean white grapes jump out right away and then trail off into a long, enjoyable finish. Tasty wine.

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I have enjoyed a few their wines in the past, and this was the only place I really wanted to make an appointment with before we went down. In the past, I've experienced rich fruit, and great integration on their wines. We had an enjoyable time in the tasting room, and they pour a nice sized lineup that wil probably hold something for everyone. I found one that delivered on the experience I had hoped for (Morisoli Zin), and my friends found a couple favorites as well. Thanks!

• 2007 Elyse L'Ingénue Naggiar Vineyard 84 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills

  (7/9/2009)

  Light citrus scents appear on the nose along with hints of the Rhone varietals used in this wine. On the palate, the oak makes a big showing along with light grapefruit, and lemons. Some light minerality shows up at the end as well. Overall, decently made, but pretty simple, and not really interesting to me.

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• 2006 Elyse Pinot Noir 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (7/9/2009)

  A hint of earth appears on the nose along with some bright raspberry scents. There are some nice ripe cherry flavors on the palate. The finish is clean and short, but still enjoyable. Oak makes an appearance, but it's integrated nicely with the rest of the wine, so it works well. It's a bit simple for a pinot, but the price is reasonable for the region, and the wine is well made.

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• 2005 Elyse C'est Si Bon 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  It's cool to see a red Rhone blend out of a Napa winery. The varietals play it up right away with big dark cherries on the nose along with rocky scents, and something that reminds me of rusty iron. On the palate, the cherries deliver in a wine that is clean and balanced with some nice acidity.

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• 2005 Elyse Syrah Napa Valley 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  This syrah has an interesting nose with some dark blackberry fruits accompanied by scents of carrots and leather. The wine is light on the approach with some nice acidity. The viogner is evident, and lightens the entire experience up as intended. The syrah flavors run out on the finish with some nice oak. The wine is a little awkward, and would perhaps integrate a little better with some time on the shelf.

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• 2006 Elyse Zinfandel A.K.A. 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  The wine's nose reminds me of a blackberry pie with distinct pie crust notes appearing alongside the dark fruit. There's a bit of heat on the nose as well. There are some lovely dark fruits on the palate, composed primarily of plum flavors. Some minerality and acidity appear on the mid palate, and the acidity teams up nicely with some lighter fruit flavors on the finish. The flavors early on left me hoping for more on the finish, but this is still an enjoyable zin.

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• 2006 Elyse Zinfandel Morisoli Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/9/2009)

  This zinfandel has a nose of rich molasses, blackberries, brown sugar, and some oak contributing a nice vanilla scent that plays very very well with the other elements on the nose. The beginning is nicely acidic, and then some lovely fruit rises up on the mid palate and lingers gently. The acidity becomes pretty gentle, but it lasts well into the finish along with the lovely dark fruit flavors. I love it when wines have an explosion of flavor a little after the first taste sensations start.

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• 2005 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Tietjen Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  This has a well done, but typical cabernet nose. Blackberries, spice, and hints of it's tannic structure appear in full force when you smell the wine. The mid palate is fun! The initial blackberry fruit fades, and secondary, brighter fruit rises up to replace it. The tannis fill the mouth and make the wine quite dry, but they don't take it too far. The fruit is full, and the wine is clean, and it will likely be even better with a little age.

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• 2006 Elyse Zinfandel Howell Mountain 81 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  (7/9/2009)

  This zinfandel is made with grapes from the Black Sears vineyard. The nose is spicy with cherry and orange peel fruit scents. The wine is clean and lighter with tannins that hang out for quite a while. The flavor coats the mouth, but there is something distinctly off here that throws the whole experience out of balance.

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• 2005 Jacob Franklin Cabernet Sauvignon Hoffman Lane 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  Wow! The nose on this is full on steak doused with Heinz 57 sauce. That's a first for me. The flavors carry through on the palate too! Gentle tannins, and herbal flavors dominate while the fruit is lighter, clean, and straight forward. While this could be good with appropriate food, it does leave me wishing for a little more fruit.

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• 2007 Jacob Franklin Petite Sirah Hayne Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (7/9/2009)

  Nice bready notes appear on the nose along with rich ripe plum scents. The oak and somewhat delicate dark fruit rise to the fore quite quickly and are supported by some nice tannins. The wine is well integrated as well.

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• 2005 Elyse Pritchard Hill Appellation Cabernet Sauvignon Port 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  The nose is full of strong molasses accompanied by blackberries, and contains a hint of bright cherries as well. Cedar flavors hit the palate on the front end, and is quickly joined by deliscious cherry and blackberry flavors that linger. There is a bit of heat, but that's not too big of a deal for a port style wine. The wine is enjoyable, and I could see it aging well too.

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The tasting room is located up on the hillside and has a beautiful patio as well as a nicely finished room. I've enjoyed a couple of their wines before, but didn't have much luck in the tasting room. There were some good flavors, but there seemed to be some consistant heat as well.

• 2007 Miner Family Viognier Simpson Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Madera

  (7/9/2009)

  The nose has some light lemon scents, as well as fresh lettuce, which is a first for me. When tasted, there's some lighter acidity along with a hint of pears and cantelopes, but a bit of heat as well.

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• 2007 Miner Family Chardonnay Napa Valley 80 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  A bit of light apple scents appear on a nose that is otherwise dominated by oak. The oak is dominant and awkward on the palate as well. There is a nice apple flavor, but the acid is pretty low, and there's some heat as well.

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• 2008 Miner Family Sangiovese Mendocino Rosato 85 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  (7/9/2009)

  This wine has a simple nose with light strawberry scents rising out of the glass. The strawberries are light on the palate as well, and this wine strikes me as a "heavy" rose. You can tell that this was made with a beefy type of red grape, and I get a distinct note of leather on the palate, which I've never said about any wine aside from a strong red before. I would like to see a little more acid, but the wine is well integrated, and could very well appeal to someone who liked heartier sangiovese to begin with.

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• 2008 Miner Family Tempranillo 82 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills

  (7/9/2009)

  This tempranillo was made with grapes from the Sierra foothills. The nose is full of blackberries and portabello mushrooms. Interesting. The blackberries deliver on the palate along with some significant oak. The tannins and oak are a bit disjointed, and it really throws the experience off. Some time would almost certainly serve this well, to the point that I'm surprised they released this as is. I'd give it a year at least, and, once integrated, it could be a pretty nice wine.

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• 2006 Miner Family Cabernet Franc 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  Dark blackberry scents dominate the nose accompanied by some earthy notes that hint at some nice structure. Gentle tannins delivered nicely as I tasted this wine, and some bright raspberry flavors started out the experience before leading into the blackberries promised by the nose. As I continue with the wine, the tannins build up, and dry out the mouth quite a bit. 88+

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• 2005 Miner Family The Oracle 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/9/2009)

  The nose leaps out at you, and you know right away that you're in for a rich, heavy cab. Plums lurk in the nose along with some tannic notes and some alcohol. The wine is quite well integrated with delicate blackberries and some oak that plays well with the other flavors. The tannins are gentle, but still full and sustaned through the experience. Unfortunately, the heat noticed on the nose comes through on the palate as well, and with some drier oak flavors, really prevents this wine from delivering to its potential. Some time in bottle would likely help.

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• 2006 Miner Family Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (7/9/2009)

  Nice oak and blackberry on the nose. The flavors on the nose deliver when tasted along with some strong tannins that evolve nicely. The wine is pretty balanced, and the fruit is nice but there is a bit of a young, green note mixed in there as well.

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This producer has been a standing favorite of my friends for quite a while. I've enjoyed their chardonnay, and have heard good things about their reds in the past but had never tried one, so I was looking forward to the tasting. All the wines were solid, but the Proprietor Selection Merlot stood out to me, and the Joy blew my mind. The wine was excellent, but I still remember being stunned that it was 100% chardonnay. I can't wait to share it with other wine nerd friends!

• 2007 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/9/2009)

  This wine seems to be pretty consistent from year to year. The nose is dominated by buttery oak and smoke scents. I was expecting a bit more fruit, but the more austere side of things is interesting. On the palate, apples!! That's pretty nice! There's some nice acidity on the end, and the oak, while heavy as expected, is well integrated. 89+

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• 2005 Rombauer Vineyards Merlot Carneros 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/9/2009)

  When I smell this wine, I get lots of apples and raspberries along with some oak bark. Yes, it's a little more earthy than the typical oak scents. Blueberries and apples are all over the palate on this wine, and I really like the apple contribution to a merlot! There's a hint of minerality as well, and the tannins are pretty light. Acidity is light as well, and overall the wine doesn't have a lot of depth, but is entirely enjoyable.

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• 2005 Rombauer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak

  (7/9/2009)

  Rich brambles, blackberries, and oak make up this enjoyable nose. The blackberries come through on the palate in a lovely way and linger nicely along with a bit of oak and some nice tannic evolution. There's nothing terribly complex going on here, but the mouthfeel is really nice, and I enjoy the fruits and the length of the finish quite a bit.

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• 2004 Rombauer Vineyards Merlot Proprietor Selection 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/9/2009)

  Wow, meaty nose! This merlot has some nice dark plums, as one would expect in a merlot, but they're hanging out with some tomatoes and worcestershire sauce! I already want this with food, and I haven't even tasted it yet. On the palate, apples and plums appear as well as some nice acidity that runs down the sides of my mouth. The tannins develop well through the finish, and leave a mouth watering sensation just after each sip. This is a lovely merlot, and I can not wait to drink it up with a prime rib or heavy red pasta. 91+

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• 2006 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay Late Harvest Joy 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/9/2009)

  This wine blows me away with a nose full of rich apricots and lilac. I would probably get indignant if you poured this blind and you told me it wasn't a Sauternes. I'm stunned, and the experience continues through when tasted. Rich light peach flavors team up with brilliant lightness and acidity. This wine is just decadent as the juice flows across the palate. The finish lightens up, and the acidity runs out and wraps up the whole show. Killer. And for it to be 100% chardonnay makes this a mind blowing experience for me. Bravo. 93+

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Wow. This is one massive and opulent estate. The parking lot was huge and they had a lot of traffic when we arrived ~11am. The tasting room was crowded, and they barely had enough people pouring to keep up in the beginning. As we got moving, things settled down a bit, and given a minute to chat, the staff here was quite friendly as well. It was a great chance for me to taste some California pinot noir, which I'm not very experienced with. Also, I was excited to see a pinot meunier on the list, as I had never had one before! Nice wines and a fun place, but if you plan to go, I would advise against doing it at peak times. Cheers to them for making a range of pinots available for tasting!

• 2006 Domaine Chandon Chardonnay 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/10/2009)

  This wine is quite typical of a California chardonnay on the nose with some nice oak, apple scents, and a hint of under-ripe pear. The wine has a nice mouth feel, and the oak is dominant in the flavor profile. There is a nice bright acidity with a hint of lemons and nice red apples. The wine is integrated pretty well, and is enjoyable.

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• 2006 Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/10/2009)

  This wine was tasted immediately after opening in the tasting room. Light blueberries, oak, and a little heat show up on the nose. The wine has a nice light approach when tasted with some ripe raspberries and apples showing up on the mid palate. The acidity is nice, and all flavors linger for a bit. Enjoyable, but not exciting.

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• 2007 Domaine Chandon Pinot Meunier 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/10/2009)

  This has an interesting nose full of darker fruits with a hint of blood orange and forest floor. One could easily convince me that this was from Oregon by the nose. The wine is gentle overall, with the minerality being a dominant component of the taste. The acidity is very balanced and the fruit is tending more toward dark, dried cherries. There's a hint of oak, and the mouth-feel is enjoyable. 88+, but since it's a nice wine made out of an interesting varietal that you don't see every day, it gets some nerd points too. If you've never had pinot meunier, this would be a fun one to check out!

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• 2006 Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir La Riviere 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  Tasted immediately after the wine was opened. Nice strawberries and a hint of candy appear faintly in this very light nose along with a slight hint of hazelnut. The mouth feel on this is just lovely and reminds me of silk in contrast to the velvet like texture that usually grabs me. The strawberries are bright and coupled with darker cherries that wind their way out to an enjoyable and gentle finish.

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• 2005 Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir Les Collines 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  (7/10/2009)

  Tasted immediately after opening in the tasting room. The nose on this wine is quite nice with lots of strawberries, cherries, oak, and almond scents. The cherries are super ripe on the palate, and the few years of age on the wine show themselves already. There's a hint of spice, and a nice smooth texture as well as some gentle acidity at the end. The wine is clean and well integrated.

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• 2006 Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir L'Argile 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/10/2009)

  Tasted immediately after opening in the tasting room. Brighter cherries appear on this nose along with a bit of heat. The cherries show up on the palate as expected, and are kind of creamy. There are some oak based spices as well. The flavors are less well defined than in the other pinots I tasted here, but the wine is still clean and well made.

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We had lunch at Bistro Jeanty, and it was phenomenal. The wine was decent, but not exceptional. I made this a seperate "flight" just to talk up the dining experience. Our server was cheerful, excited about the food, and advised us well. The food was just incredible. We were all making exclamations of shock, excitement, and happiness throughout the meal. We tried a bunch of dishes we'd never had before and not a single one of them was a dissapointment. Bone marrow, creme brulee, and escargot really stood out. This place is worth going well out of your way to visit.

• 2006 Capiaux Cellars Pinot Noir Freestone Hill 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  Drank this wine with a fabulous lunch at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. The nose on this wine is full of dark blackberries and has a hint of oak. The fruit is dark on the palate as well, but over all, I would characterize this as a bright wine. There's lots of acidity, and some faint heat. The finish is a little short, but the wine is clean and good overall, just not too exciting.

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This was one of the houses I'd always associated with massive CA operations. That being said, I've enjoyed their wines consistanly as well, and their 02 Rutherford Cab was a big winner. They offer a LOT of wines for tasting. We decided to do single flights in the main tasting room, and then we went over to the reserve tasting room. Don't make the mistake of missing the reserve room if you stop by. It's certainly more expensive than the standard tastings, but the wines are easily worth it. The service was exceptional and in addition to tasting some killer wines, this was one of the most enjoyable stops of the trip for atmosphere and conversation as well. I'll be back every time I'm in the area. The Clone 337 was some impressive wine, and it was great to taste two vintages of the Georges, which is now firmly in my mind as a reliable higher end bottle. Big thanks BV!

• 2006 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  The wine has deep plum scents along with skins, stems, and a bit of heat. Nice plums and cherries show up on the palate along with some oak which plays itself out in both vanilla and spice. Overall, it's a little too tannic for my taste, but still a nice wine.

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• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/10/2009)

  The nose is rich and full bodied with ripe dark cherrie scents hovering over brooding oak and tannins. The cherry fruit is nice on the palate, and the acidity works well as the cherry flavors run down the sides of my mouth. The oak is evident, and the tannins are actually on the lighter side. There's a bit of heat evident, and it's not very well integrated now. I expect this to improve significantly with a couple years in bottle.

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• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Maestro Collection Beaulieu #2 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/10/2009)

  A tannic feel dominates the nose on this wine, which makes me nervous from the start. There is a hint of blackberry scent as well. To my pleasant surprise, the wine starts with gentle tannins that rise gradually and leave a lovely gentle touch on the finish. I'm still getting blackberry flavors 5s after the wine is gone. Blackberry and bramble flavors appear on the mid palate in a nice way. The complexity is minor, but it's there, and it works well. A bit of age could possibly improve this, but it's a nice drink now as well

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• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/10/2009)

  Plum and blackberry scents on the nose. Woah, this pinot is darker and more tannic than any Carneros pinot I've tried thus far. Additionally, the fruit flavors don't push through this monster either. Interesting and surprising, but not too enjoyable. One could make a joke about pinot made by cabernet folks, but I think that would unnecessarily disparage their cab skills.

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• 2004 Beaulieu Vineyard Maestro Collection Port 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  A nice nose here. Dates, raisins, and a hint of tobacco greet you when smelled. Note, I'm NOT struck by heat here, and for a port in this price point, I consider that significant. The fruit on the nose delivers and the whole package is well integrated and soft. And that's not all! The dried fruit flavors linger well on the palate! Totally enjoyable wine, and a huge QPR winner. Give it a try.

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• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  Fruity nose of strawberries and dark cherries. The tannins here are lovely and the dark cherry flavors show well. The wine is integrated nicely and is super clean and balanced. The fruit is great, and there's a hint of minerality on the wine as well. Very nice and interesting. Cheers.

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• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  Rich cherry scents leap out of the glass accompanied by spices and hints of pie crust and green pepper. Gentle blackberries and mineral flavors appear, and some nice tannic structure evolves and lasts through the finish. Some oak rises up near the finish, and it's a pretty nice effect. There are some good things going on here to be sure, but I think it needs some time to really get the flow of flavors moving the way they were intended to.

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• 2004 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/10/2009)

  Bright blackberry scents coupled with rhubarb tantalize the nose while smartly backed with just the right amount of vanilla from the oak. The fruit on this is just lovely! The cherry flavors are deep and dark, and the tannins are on the lighter side already. This wine has great cab flavor with a gentle touch and delicacy throughout the palate. Wow! I know it's not cheap, but if you're on the fence about this, you're cheating yourself if you don't try it.

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• 1995 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  The maturity wine is evident immediately on the nose. It's full of dried fruit, cherries mostly. The dried, mature, cherry flavors come through on the palate as well, and they evolve wonderfully along with tannins that work their way out to the edge of the palate. This wine is beautifully integrated and delivers a hint of brown sugar very late in the finish. Nice stuff.

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• 2004 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 4 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/10/2009)

  This nose is very straight forward with lighter oak and cab fruits. When tasted, the wine is full of juicy blackberries. Lovely tannins linger on the outside of the palate, and there is a nice oak contribution as well. The wine is pretty simple in its flavor profile, but it hits its target dead on.

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• 2004 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/10/2009)

  The wine smells like blackberries with lurking tobacco scents and some distinct minerality. The fruit is lighter on the palate, and yields quickly to some lovely oak. But then the fruit falls off very quickly, and the oak alone leaves you wanting something more. The wine is clean, but it doesn't finish too well. Maybe it just needs some time?

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• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Maestro Collection Beaulieu #1 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/10/2009)

  Rich cherry scents dominate the nose while dark soil scents make a smaller appearance. The wine touches down lightly and delivers a more plum like flavor when tasted. As I got into a couple sips, the tannins really fill the mouth and dry it out. If you're really into that, you'd enjoy this wine a lot

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This place is pretty organized, and groups visitors up for tasting flights. The wines were decent, the staff was friendly, and it's always cool to try two different vintages of the same wine side by side.

• 2008 Peju Province Winery French Colombard Carnival 86 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  (7/10/2009)

  The wine is clean on the nose with a hint of white grape skins. The white grapes, like the kind you get in the grocery store and eat by the handful as a child, and perhaps still as an adult, are the bulk of the flavor profile here. There's a hint of melon here, as well as some earth, but all the flavors are quite simple.

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• NV Peju Province Winery Province 85 Points

  USA, California

  (7/10/2009)

  This pink wine is a blend of 3 reds and 2 whites. The nose is bright, happy, and full of strawberries. There are some tannins on the palate, and some floral notes along with the strawberries. The wine is light and easy, but not all of the elements are beneficial to the experience.

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• 2005 Peju Province Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  The nose is lighter with simple cherry scents dominating. The wine delivers some nice smooth blackberry flavors and then some moderate but enjoyable tannins. The wine is straightforward and on the gentle side.

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• 2003 Peju Province Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  Nice cranberry scents appear on the nose here along with a hint of some lighter tannins. The cranberries deliver on the palate and the flavors and tannins evolve nicely. This is pretty straight forward, but entirely enjoyable wine.

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By the end of the day, we were pretty chatty, and this tasting room was full of people, friendly staff, and a great view as the evening began to set in. My friends and I felt that 06 wines tended to be on the hotter side, and I feel that we missed out on the best this producer has to offer due to this. As it stands, it was a nice tasting experience, but higher alcohol coupled with higher prices kept me from taking anything home.

• 2008 Alpha Omega Sauvignon Blanc 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  This wine has a full nose with lots of grapefruit, floral notes, honey, and freshly cut grass. On the palate, the wine is pretty simple with honey and a hint of white grape skins. The acid is on the lighter side making the wine an easy drinker.

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• 2006 Alpha Omega Chardonnay 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  All kinds of oaky butter on the nose here, as well as a hint of cured meats. The oak is all over the palate as well, and is more butter flavored than vanilla. The acid is light, and, while powerful, the oak is smooth, but I want more fruit.

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• 2006 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  The nose here has lighter blackberries, and some red bell pepper notes. The blackberries deliver nicely on the beginning, but they fade quickly to empty oak and tannins drying out the mouth at the end. Some time would probably help out with this.

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• 2006 Alpha Omega Proprietary Red 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  Blackberry jam and a hint of some nice oak on the nose. The wine tastes of lovely, dark blackberries and rhubarb on the front with some nice oak that appears later. On the finish though, the tannins go crazy, beat up my palate, and leave it in a ditch, dry as can be. Holy smoke! Some good things going on, but if I had one of these, I wouldn't touch it for another 5 years. If you're the kind that likes crazy tannins, you'd probably really enjoy this as the fruit is pretty solid.

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• 2008 Alpha Omega Rosé 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  The nose here is super clean with cherries and apples playing their part. There's apple all over the palate here, and some nice dark fruits on the middle. There's a hint of heat that hurts it a bit on the end, but the fruit makes it enjoyable drinking. 87+

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• 2006 Alpha Omega Era 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  The beautiful dark colors of this wine strike me right away. The nose is full of blackberries, apples, smoke, and bacon. Yes, bacon. The blackberry flavors bloom nicely on the mid palate and the tannins evolve very well through the entire experience. There's a significant wave of heat near the finish, but then some lovely blackberry flavors linger for a good amount of time. Solid wine, but too spendy.

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• 2006 Alpha Omega Late Harvest Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/10/2009)

  This wine is 70% sauv blanc and 30% semillon. Cool blend. The nose is lovely with grapefruit and other citrus notes dominating and honey layered with peaches hanging out underneath. The wine is clean and crisp on the palate with a hint of lemon. Nectarine flavors appear in the middle and run out well to the end mixing in with more honeyed flavors that really shine on the finish. The mid palate fruit is excellent. The wine is very sweet, especially late in the experience.

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We had had the good fortune of tasting one of the Reserve Cabs at a tasting recently, so we were all excited to visit this producer. Being Saturday, everything was busier, and that made the experience feel a little rushed, but everyone was quite friendly. The Reserve Cab totally delivered to my expectations, and I really dig it when I get two solid experiences out of wine. Consistency is big! And, while $85 is up there in the general sense, I feel like it represents solid QPR for reserve level cabs in the immediate area.

• NV Frank Family Vineyards Blanc de Blancs 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  Straightforward nose of apples and lavender on this sparkler. Apple flavors and acidity come through right away and linger fora while. Simple, but some nice easy drinking. 88+

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• NV Frank Family Vineyards Rouge Carneros 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/11/2009)

  This sparkling wine shows the red fruit on the nose with scents of raspberry to complement the apple scents. When tasted, this is simple and easy with some honey flavors mixing in with the raspberries. The bubbles in this seem a little finer than in the blanc de blanc.

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• 2006 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Napa Valley 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  Light apple fruits appear on this simple nose. The wine is very straight forward with a bit of well integrated oak, but almost nothing interesting is going on here.

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• 2006 Frank Family Vineyards Zinfandel 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  The wine has a nice fruity nose with plums, blackberries, and a hint of rhubarb showing up. I like hints of rhubarb in my reds. The fruit is significantly lighter than expected, but still enjoyable. The structure is well done in respect to both the tannins and acidity. The wine is decently balanced, but I think in a year or two it would come together much more nicely.

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• 2005 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  Bright blackberry scents mingle with green tree branches and a bit of smoke on the nose. The wine is nicely integrated. The structure isn't too complex but is still quite enjoyable and the full blackberry flavors are very nice.

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• 2005 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Rutherford 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/11/2009)

  Lovely blackberry scents mix in with baked goods on the nose. It doesn't smell like pie crust so much as a range of pastries. Quite nice. This wine is lovely when tasted and ready for drinking right now! The berries deliver with lush dark flavors filling the mouth. There is plenty of oak, but it's integrated brilliantly. The tannins deliver a slow and gentle evolution, and there's a spritz of minerality on the mid palate just before the finish settles in. Wonderful wine and priced well relative to the local competition. 92+

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This is another famous name, and they were nice enough to seat and pour for us even though we didn't have an appointment. However, my palate clearly does not line up with that of the current wine maker. Add upper tier pricing, and this became forgettable.

• 2006 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Estate Grown 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  Full on plum scents on the nose as well as noticable heat. This is a heavier merlot with quite a bit of structure. The dark fruits appear, with a bit of citrus, but the flavors are not very intense. It seems to be a little disjointed.

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• 2008 Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  Some acidity and white grape skins on the nose with a faint grassy hint that's somewhat typical of the varietal. The wine is very light on the palate. There's a hint of honey, and a pretty low amount of acidity. Easy drinking, but not much to experience.

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• 2006 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Three Palms Vineyard 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  The nose here is pretty nice. I'm smelling blackberries mixed with darker clove-like spices. The wine starts out nicely with some blackberry and a hint of blueberry, but they don't hold out very well. The tannins are lighter than I'd prefer, and there's some bitterness at the end, which really surprises me considering the light tannins, but dominates the experience.

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• 2005 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  Some nice blackberries and raspberries wrapped up in leather show up on the nose. The fruits show up on the palate. While there isn't a lot of complexity, all of the elements you expect appear, and show decently.

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• 2005 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Patzimaro Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  The nose on this wine reminds me of a blackberry pie, crust and all, with a hint of lemon squeezed over the top. That actually sounds kind of tasty! There's a nice integration of the oak and fruit flavors on the front and mid palate. The acid at the end is a little disjointed and that messes things up, even though the tannins contribute a nice sensation. Maybe some more time would bring this together, but I'm not feeling it now.

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This visit was made on the advice of David Speer, a local Sommelier and retailer that we're friends with. Coupled with Domaine Chandon, this rounded out a great introduction to California Pinot, all without even making it to Carneros or the Russian River! This producer is also biodynamic, and served a plate of snacks to pair specifically with each of the tastings. They were all nice, and the gouda with the cab franc was brilliant! More friendly folks and enjoyable wine!

• 2008 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Gris 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/11/2009)

  This has a nose of pears with undertones of honey and violets. There are some nice acids on the palate, and the wine is clean over all with a hint of honey on the finish. Not terribly exciting, but some nice wine.

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• 2005 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir Vandal Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/11/2009)

  This wine has a fun nose with raspberries wrapped up around little hints of mint and rhubarb. The wine is clean and enjoyable right from the start with the raspberries and rhubarb coming into play quickly. The acidity is nice as well, and it leaves a mellow tangy sensation right down the middle of the palate as it leads into a shorter finish.

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• 2005 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Cabernet Franc Vandal Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/11/2009)

  Dark, ripe, plum scents dominate this nose and are supported by some oaky vanilla hints. Unfortunately, there's a bit of heat evident as well. When tasted, there are some nice fruit flavors and tannins that evolve pretty well. It starts out with blackberry flavors on the front end. Then, some solid acidity takes hold and clears out the palate to allow you to experience some lighter tannins evolving on the finish. Nice. Brilliantly paired with some gouda cheese at the tasting room. 91+ with this cheese, what an excellent compliment.

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• 2005 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Marcien 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/11/2009)

  Blackberries are the primary notes on the nose. They're joined by a bit of red apple and some interesting pine needle scents. Some lovely cherry flavors greet you immediately when the wine is tasted. It transitions cleanly to more fruit flavors on the mid palate. On the finish, the tanins roar into place and are a bit unruly while the blackberry flavors continue to linger. This will almost certainly improve with a little time in bottle for those tannins to settle down and integrate a bit.

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• 2006 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir Los Carneros 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/11/2009)

  Rich strawberry scents layered with a hint of caramel make up the nose on this wine. It's got a nice, smooth, mouth feel from start to finish. This is a lighter pinot over all, with gentle strawberry flavors playing across the palate throughout the experience. There's a bit of heat, but it's not too distracting.

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These guys anchored the trip because they are kind enough to stay open later than most. How fortunate we made a point of swinging by! Despite being crowded, the staff here were super friendly and we had a great time chatting and tasting some wines. They had some unique flavors in their reds, and most of their wines exhibited great integration, which I'd like to see more of from everyone. It always makes me happy to be able to give nice people sincere and honest complements on good wines.

• 2008 Provenance Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/11/2009)

  Kind of a cool nose here, with some bright honeycomb and floral scents that remind me a lot of semillon based wines. Some juicy red apple flavors surprised me when I tasted this, and the honey comes through as well. The acid is a bit awkward for some reason though.

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• 2005 Provenance Vineyards Merlot Beckstoffer Las Amigas Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (7/11/2009)

  This nose carries some sweeter blackberry scents right a way along with some tannic scents that lean a bit towards green, but hint at some solid structure lurking in the glass. Right from the start, the fruit and oak are obviously well integrated with some enjoyable blackberry flavors right out of the gate. There is some nice acidity on the end as well, but I feel that the wine will be better after a bit of time in bottle to let the enjoyable flavors integrate and complement each other a little better. 88+

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• 2006 Provenance Vineyards Merlot Three Palms Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/11/2009)

  There is some great fruit on this nose. It greets you right away with blackberries and apples along with something that reminds me of baked sugar. It's like the sugar you sprinkle across a pie crust or cookies before baking, and when you pull it from the oven it's sweet, carmelized, and mingled with whatever you were baking. I'm excited about the future of this wine. There are some very nice fruit flavors present starting out with great blackberry flavors right out of the gate. The fruit transitions to apple flavors late on the mid palate and on the finish some nice tannins and tobacco flavors rise to the fore. The wine is enjoyable now, but as the flavors start to integrate more and the transitions round out, there's potential for some really excellent drinking.

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• 2005 Provenance Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (7/11/2009)

  This cab has a soft, dark nose with currant fruits all mixed up in coffee and chocolate scents. The wine is already nicely integrated on the front end, and delivers the interesting combination of flavors hinted at by the nose. Everything is clean across the mid palate, and the chocolate flavors linger throughout the enjoyable finish. I want to cook a pot roast with this wine bigtime. There's a lot of potential here for some awesome food pairings. I think a reduction with venison or some other heavier game meat could also be fantastic.

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• 2005 Provenance Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/11/2009)

  The nose on this cab has some nice chocloate scents, some vanilla from the oak, and a bit of heat. This wine was made with 100% new French oak. Bright cherry fruit hits you right away on the front, and has a lovely evolution from this to the richer mid palate. This wine is well integrated, and this seems to be a typical characteristic of this producer. The tannins fill out nicely on the back end, but the heat shows up a bit too. This will probably settle a bit with time.

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• 2005 Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (7/11/2009)

  When poured, the darkness of the wine struck me immediately. The nose delivers dark cherries and leather scents, and plays along well with what the colors suggest. Bright cherries show up immediately when tasted, and the flavors work their way out to the sides of the tongue while acidity lingers in the middle. A hint of apple flavors show up on the mid palate and some light chocolate flavors appear on the finish. The tannins provide a pleasant dry texture to wrap everything up. Distinct evolution of multiple flavors and some nice integration make this a solid wine!

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At the end, we all discovered that 3 full days of drinking heavy red wine is a lot! The experience was great, and the only hesitation I would voice about a visit to Napa is to try and avoid the weekend. Saturday was really the only day there were many crowds, and tastings are almost always more enjoyable with less people on hand. Tasting fees were, with the exception of some of the SUPER high end stuff which we didn't visit, very similar to Oregon. I was surprised by this, and it made me realize why some of my older friends are frustrated with the current fees locally. The atmosphere was almost always welcoming and friendly, and, with a little bit of patience, getting from one place to the next wasn't bad at all. And finally, to all of you nerds reading this, bring your tasting notes when you go out anywhere! We heard time and time again from tasting room staff that they get so many swarms of people looking for nothing more than a novel way to get buzzed that they're always happy to pour for someone who's really there to appreciate the craft.

Top 3 for the weekend are the Rombauer Joy, BV Clone 337, and Grgich Yountville Selection. I had the most fun at Grgich, BV, and Provenance.