Visiting Napa (Feb 13th - 17th)
Napa, CA
Tasted Thursday, February 13, 2014 - Monday, February 17, 2014 by RockinCabs with 620 views
Introduction
Visited Napa for Valentines Day / Presidents Weekend with BCharlieG and the wives. We were looking for a quiet weekend and mostly got a restful trip that was not overly scheduled.
Over the course of the three full days we were out there (east coast flights kill a lot of fly time) we made our way to five appointments and a variety of other tasting rooms and wineries. Most of the random stops were around Yountville due to our hotel location in that town for this trip. I was surprised on this particular trip the variety of wines and vintages being poured across the valley. While most wineries were pouring 2011 and 2010 vintage (Reds) there were quite a few tasting rooms using the Coravin to taste and offer for sale back vintage wines traditionally not available.
One general observation on the 2011 vintage. Lots of critics will complain about the green characteristics in the vintage, but the wineries that embraced the conditions, sorted severely and made a wine reflective of their property did pretty well. YES, they will be early drinking wines, but I would not listen to the drivel from Laube on this vintage. Just buy selectively to your tastes and you will be fine.
Flight 1 - Dinner at Ad Hoc (1 Note)
Started the weekend with a braised brisket, sauteed kale and a mushroom risotto at Ad Hoc. The experience here is always good and they provide a casual unrushed service that is great when you want a low key night.
Flight 2 - Carter / Envy Winery (1 Note)
Started the day at Carter/Envy. They pour a tremendous lineup and there are a lot of wines, so this will be a long visit for most people. The wines that were really showing well included Envy Reserve Sauv. Blanc 2012, Envy Petite Sirah 2011 and Carter Truchard Merlot 2007. The biggest surprise here was that they were pouring a back vintage Carter Tokalon from 2000 from Coravin.
If you are looking to buy the Carter releases here don't even bother. The 2011's were sold out within 2-weeks of release, but it is nice that they have a little bit of back vintage wine to sell.
I expect the popularity of the Coravin to grow as wineries see an uptick in the sale of library wines. This is a great way to access older wines and make library offerings as Mark Carter is doing in his tasting room.
Flight 3 - Kelly Fleming Winery (3 Notes)
If you have never visited this property it is a must see. The limestone caves and the custom built winery, kitchen and offices make this one of my favorite places to visit in napa. Attention to detail in each fixture, stone and piece of marble has a design element that is well thought out. Kelly Fleming makes a 100% musque clone sauvignon blanc from oakville that is tremendous, and the cabernet/blends are from estate fruit.
The attention to detail does not end in the design/construction. The tank room was custom built to include smaller fermentation tanks that fit key blocks of the vineyard. Similar tank setups have been developed at wineries like Ovid, Arkenstone and in France Cos d' Estournel has taken this to the ultimate level. Customization like this provides exceptional control over the final product and how each lot is finished.
Celia Welch ends her wine making stint with Kelly Fleming as of the 2012 vintage, but the good news is that Francoise Peschon will be joining as consulting winemaker going forward.
Flight 4 - Failla Wines (4 Notes)
The Failla experience is a change of pace as Ehrn Jordan really just uses the facility in Napa as his sales outpost and barrel cave. However these Sonoma Pinot's and Chardonnays are not to be missed.
Quality was once again great and it was nice to see the Napa property being planted. There is now some zinfandel at the winery that is being planned for a second label. This make sense as Ehrn used to work on the Turley wines as well.
Flight 5 - Dinner at Redd Yountville (1 Note)
This was a great dinner and the food was tremendous. As many times as we have been to Napa this was our first trip to Redd.
The chef here does wonders with duck because both the Confit in Bacon Broth and the Duck Breast entree were spot on perfect. The entree in particular had the best crust I have ever had on a seared duck breast. Other highlights included the Cod and Oxtail entree and the Maine Lobster Risotto.
Where Redd loses me a bit is with the stark white room. A slightly more lively dining atmosphere would be nice in this ultra modern styled restaurant.
Flight 6 - Beau Vigne Tasting Room (3 Notes)
Long gone are the days when the Beau Vigne team brought you up to the property on Soda Canyon road. In special cases they will, but only if you have been on the mailing list for a very long time.
The fast growing winery has a nearly fully subscribed mailing list these days, and limited supply in the tasting room. However, the prices remain fair considering what prices are for this style of high polish cabernet elsewhere in the valley.
Flight 7 - Cosentino Winery - Grand Cru Barrel Tasting (1 Note)
If you need a break from the riotously loud tasting rooms on Highway 29, book a barrel tasting experience at Cosentino. You walk into a busy scene at the winery, especially late in the day, but the barrel experience takes place in the racking room behind the main entrance to the winery. Great ambiance and a table that seats up to 10 greets you on the other side.
Although this is not really a "barrel tasting" in the traditional sense (the wines are mostly finished) it is nonetheless an interesting experience. Included currently are:
- 2012 Zinfandel (American Oak)
- 2012 Zinfandel (Hungarian, French & American Oak)
- 2012 Mixed Blacks (a interesting cross-breed vineyard)
- 2012 Rutherford Cabernet (Taransaud Barrel)
Other than this they will taste you on pretty much anything else that is in their portfolio.
Flight 11 - Cliff Lede Winery (3 Notes)
Closing
Yeah, Napa has become my go-to destination when I am losing my mind at the office.
2010 Neely Pinot Noir Spring Ridge Vineyard Hidden Block 89 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
(2/13/2014)
Nose: tart cherry, cranberry reduction, raspberry jam, all spice, pepper and clove. Earthy element quite prominent as well. Palate: initially a very hot wine but it settles with air. Tart berry, cherry on entry and rounded fruit with creamy texture and clove mid palate. Finish: spicy and tart berry almost like a mulled cranberry sauce.
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