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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2007 and 2010 (based on 22 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.3 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 3 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Bill1100 on 12/5/2011 & rated 90 points: This bottle was better than the one we tasted back in September, 2011. No crystallization in this bottle. See note posted 9/12/2011 (1292 views) | | | Tasted by Bill1100 on 9/12/2011 & rated 90 points: I bought this wine in April, 2008. I liked it then, loved it now. Most of the oak is gone, and while it has that buttery flavor common to many Napa Chardonnays, it was fruity yet mild, but had enough going for it to be wonderful with cedar-plank grilled salmon. There was some crystallization/sediment in the bottom of the bottle, but it filtered out easily enough. I wish this particular vintage was still available at the Castello di Amorosa - I'd certainly buy more. (1207 views) | | | Tasted by DenisLee on 9/30/2007 & rated 88 points: Too oaky (1500 views) |
| Castello di Amorosa Producer website
Rising above the hills in the Napa Valley is Castello di Amorosa, which translates to the “castle of love” in Italian. Castello di Amorosa, an authentically-styled, 13th century Tuscan castle winery complete with high walls and five defensive towers and over 30 acres of estate vineyards. It was built over a 14-year period by Dario Sattui, a fourth generation winemaker and owner of V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, California.
The Wall Street Journal cited Castello di Amorosa as a “must-see destination,” and more recently, the Contra Costa Times included Castello Amorosa as one of the top destination wineries in the country.
After decades of research, planning and studying medieval castles in Italy and Europe, Sattui commenced building in 1994. The Castello evolved to include 121,000 square feet, 107 rooms, (of which 95 are used for winemaking or wine storage) 8,000 tons of hand-squared stone, 8 levels (4 above ground, 4 below) 900 linear feet of caves, a great hall with two-story Italian frescoes, defensive fortifications, ramparts, a drawbridge and a moat. Reminiscent of old world castles, the Castello also has a dungeon and torture chamber, secret passage ways, courtyards, loggias, a church and stables. Even an outdoor oven for making breads. Finally, at 12,000 square feet, the wine barrel room is, perhaps, the single most impressive barrel room in the U.S. and is constructed with ancient Roman cross-vaulted ceilings.
The Castello, however, is merely a backdrop to showcase some of the Napa Valley’s best wines. The vineyards surrounding the Castello are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Primitivo and Sangiovese grapes which produce low yields and intensely flavored wines. The internationally acclaimed wines are primarily Italian varieties that pair well with foods from around the world. Currently producing 25,000 cases per year, the Castello’s wines are sold only at the winery, directly to the consumer. Guided tours, food and wine pairings, blending seminars and walking vineyard tours which include a private tasting are available by appointment and wine tasting needs no appointment.
Castello di Amorosa is located at 4045 Highway 29, just 5.5 miles north of St. Helena on the left.
Chardonnay The Chardonnay GrapeUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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