Bay Area Redux - Anniversary trip 2019
Napa, Sonoma, and points in between
Tasted Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - Saturday, June 29, 2019 by tak4 with 279 views
Introduction
Because our last tasting trip to the Bay Area was complicated by all kinds of work-related distractions (in January 2019), we decided to try again. Of course, I started a new job three weeks ago so it wasn't totally unfettered oenophilia, but it was pretty great. It also coincided with our ten year wedding anniversary, so much sparkling wine was consumed (more on that later).
Anniversary was celebrated with lunch at the French Laundry. Always wanted to go there.
We learned a lot on this trip. I'll sprinkle some commentary in throughout.
Flight 1 - Mondavi (1 Note)
This started as sort of a goof, as we had some extra unallocated time before Mayacamas and Mondavi isn't really recognized as a fine wine destination these days. But it was most certainly worth going as we had never really experienced a full-scale commercial production and tasting operation like this. Plus, the To Kalon site is pretty amazing and the Mondavi operation is historically extremely important. This was emphasized by several people engaged in highly complex Instagram activity by the fountain in front.
A very nice gentleman named Mike did a great job with some blind tastings. For the most part the wines didn't resonate (so I didn't add tasting notes) but the Cabernet Reserve and the Stag's Leap Cabernet were quite good.
Flight 2 - Mayacamas (5 Notes)
Our host at Mayacamas was the gracious and elegant Tessa, who showed us around the grounds and took us in her ATV up to the top of the mountain for a tasting with an amazing view. It was a magnificent experience, though I started to realize that it's tough for me to properly taste wine outdoors.
It's clear that Mayacamas was devastated by the 2017 fires so really looking forward to seeing how they recover in the coming years. It sounds like the new ownership is highly committed to the operation, which should help a lot.
Flight 3 - Occidental (3 Notes)
This was really the tasting highlight of the trip. Occidental is way out by the coast, surrounded by basically, well, nothing. The change in terrain was notable. Our host was Mia, who was just fantastic. Super knowledgeable, highly professional, interesting personal history, and really nice! The Occidental facility itself is amazing - beautiful, modern, and a sight to behold. And the wines - well, I think these are my favorites right now.
Flight 4 - Aubert (4 Notes)
This was also an impressive facility, recently expanded. Our host was Phil, who was gracious, helpful, and knowledgable. We really enjoyed this tasting as the wines are elegant and beautifully crafted. It is very impressive what Aubert has done and we are looking forward to seeing (and tasting) more).
Flight 5 - Littorai (6 Notes)
Up a beautiful twisty road on what felt like Mount Olympus, our host Robin graciously guided us through the Littorai, philosophy, process, and wine. The steps in the biodynamic system were clearly explained and demonstrated, and we came away from it with a new appreciation for the commitment required of biodynamic winemakers. The tasting was outdoors, and I had a vicious allergy attack during it, so I am not totally sure I captured everything.
Closing
Here are some takeaways from our trip:
- I have real difficulty tasting wine outdoors. The smells (and possibly sounds and sights) of nature really impact my ability to unpack what's in the wine, not to mention the risk of allergies. So going forward we should try to taste inside.
- The story really matters. A great host who tells the tale nicely can change your perception of the wine. The more genuine, the better. We did really well on this trip from that perspective.
- I just cannot wrap my head around California sparkling wine. In my experience (albeit limited), it just doesn't have the complexity and interest factor of Champagne. Maybe that's not surprising, but I was hoping to find a domestic equivalent and the CA product is still lacking.
- "Modern" California Cabernet (i.e. made in the style popularized in the 1990s with jam, fruit, oak, etc) really does not resonate with me at all. I didn't include notes for most of them that I tasted along the way, because I hated pretty much all of them. Maybe I should try an exemplar of the style, but I don't want to spend $200 to figure it out.
My experience on this trip dispelled the myth that Napa is like a keg party for affluent adults. I was impressed by the sophistication and thoughtfulness of just about everything I saw and experienced. Can't wait to go back.
2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve To-Kalon Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
(6/26/2019)
Tasted along with several other Mondavi wines which just did not resonate (PNX, Momentum, and Maestro). This Cab reserve, on the other hand, was good - deep purple-crimson, with a vanilla-wood note on the nose. Cedar, blackberry. Firm tannins but good fruit structure and acid underneath. Needs a lot of time but good stuff.
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