Napa 2024

Napa Valley, CA
Tasted Monday, August 26, 2024 - Thursday, August 29, 2024 by sean7711 with 148 views

Introduction

First trip back to the Valley since 2022. Brought along another couple and as usual made a ton of visits - some new, some old. Overall impressions will be provided but given I am a few weeks delayed my tasting notes will be abbreviated.

Flight 1 - Almacerro (2 Notes)

Excellent tasting from Lindsay. Got to go around the winery on the ATV, met Matilda the winemaker. Woody is always the best highlight of visiting this off the radar beautiful property on Howell Mountain.

Wines Tasted:
2017 Cabernet
2018 Cabernet
2019 Cabernet
2019 Proprietary Red

  • 2017 Almacerro Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    (8/26/2024)

    NR for now. Lindsay was kind enough to open this up for our group in advance of the release the other day. It was PnP so I think struggled a bit compared to the current lineup which had been decanted and opened up in advance. However, I was able to take the rest of the bottle back to the hotel with me and it did open up over the next 2-3 days. I would still hold this one for another 5+ years before trying since it has the stuffing to last.

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  • 2019 Almacerro Proprietary Red Blend 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    (8/26/2024)

    Awesome wine, probably my favorite of the tasting (2017, 2018, 2019 Cabernet vertical). Roughly 1/3 CS, 1/3 CF, 1/3 ME. Really open for business with a decant. Bought a magnum to see how this ages and also a bottle to go that we enjoyed at Mustard's that night.

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Flight 2 - Cornell (1 Note)

Another amazing tasting with Luke at the property. 3rd time here. I thought the 2018 Cabernet was very open for business, 2021 still needs time but the wines will only get better over time.

Wines Tasted:
2017 Cabernet
2018 Cabernet
2021 Cabernet
2021 Courtship

  • 2021 Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Courtship 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    (8/27/2024)

    I loved this wine. I thought it was incredibly open for business tasting at the Cornell property with Luke. Highly recommended visit - although a long trip from valley floor!

    Tasting alongside a vertical of 17, 18, 21 Estate Cab. Those obviously were excellent, but I thought the QPR here at $95/bottle was very good. This winery continues to get better vintage by vintage.

    51% cab, 33% merlot, 10% malbec, 6% PV

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Flight 3 - Rivers Marie (1 Note)

Good chard, good pinot. Cabs were a bit tight but will get better with time.

Wines Tasted:
2022 Bearwallow Chardonnay
2021 Summa Pinot
2022 Joy Road Pinot
2021 Calistoga Cab
2021 Panek Cab

Flight 4 - Trespass

Tasted with Donny at Venge Winery. No formal notes. The 2019 Rendezvous was the highlight for all our party. Some of these alcohols were pushing 16.9%!

Wines Tasted:
2019 Cab
2019 Rendezvous
2019 Mischief
2019 Petite Verlot
2019 Mayhem
2019 Intrigue

Flight 5 - Memento Mori (1 Note)

New estate in Calistoga, right next to Checkerboard. Loved the estate visit and possibly one of my favorite. I cannot wait to taste the 2023 Estate cab from the new property as the grapes were being sold to Harlan prior to the sale. This is a winery doing things the right way and I look forward to the next chapter.

Wines Tasted:
2022 Estate
2021 Estate
2018 Estate
2021 Vida Valiente The Movement

  • 2022 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (8/28/2024)

    Echo the notes below. Great effort in a so called down vintage. This one really jumped out of the glass for me. I think this will drink very well early on, possibly enter a shut down, then continue to shine at ages 8-10.

    Tasting through 2022s in the Valley through this trip, I wasn't as disappointed in what I tasted relative to everything I had heard from critics or others. Is it 2016, 2018 or 2019, or even 2021? No, but many producers created fantastic wine despite weather difficulties.

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Flight 6 - Vice Versa

Tasted at Patrice and Samantha's residence as the winery was not yet available (expected to open in November). Initially when I booked back in January they were hoping to have the winery open. I cannot wait to see the winery when we come back next.

VV is another winery that has big things ahead of it. They recently got all of Schrader's BTK blocks after the Schrader sale to Constellation created some bad blood with Andy B. They are talking about making their own version of Old sparky magnum in the coming years that will be exciting to taste.

No formal notes here but all the wines were excellent. the 2021 spinning plates surprisingly needed some more time. I have 6 bottles and will wait to open one.

Wines Tasted:
2021 Beckstoffer To Kalon
2021 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane
2021 Spinning Plates
2021 Mysterons
2021 Magnificent 7

Flight 7 - Fait Main

One of my favorites in the valley. Benoit is doing it right and keeping prices reasonable (a relative word, of course). I think his NV cab is one of the better deals in Napa. His single vineyards could be priced way higher and he's a master of his craft.

Wines Tasted:

2022 Napa Valley Cab
2022 Missouri Hopper
2022 Las Piedras
2022 Tierra Roja

Flight 8 - Vida Valiente

Got the full experience tasting through the entire portfolio at the old Memento tasting room in downtown Napa. Another exciting new winery to visit in a few years when we return. The 2021 Estate cab was a highlight - expensive no doubt but extremely satisfying.

Wines Tasted:

2021 Estate Cab
2021 High Ranch
2021 Beckstoffer To Kalon
2021 The Movement
2022 Estate Cab
2022 Graveside

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