Napa Quick Trip 2026

Observations

Napa Valley was empty, even for low season.

Enormous tasting fees are stupidly out of touch in this economy. Hotels are starting to get it, pricing has come back down to earth.

Vines being pulled everywhere.

Fruit left hanging everywhere. Fruit flies are a problem as a result.

A reckoning is coming for those without strong DTC. High tasting fees do not encourage sustainable DTC, it’s a death spiral, unless you’re after IG influencers with clicks.

The distribution market is in an awful state. Credit is drying up.

I tasted some ‘23s that were completely shut down last August. I tasted two of those same wines (Roy Piper Cabernet and William & Mary Shifflett Ranch Cabernet) right out of the bottle on this trip and they were completely different — quite good, very drinkable, even if still young. Changed my mind on approachability of the Napa ‘23s, but I’m still laying them down.

Great winemakers with great fruit made great wines in 2022, most are elegant and approachable early. The ‘22s are a great choice for a restaurant buy because most don’t need a decant to drink well.

@sfwinelover1 was kind enough to invite us to a tasting with his local wine group that included @rnjbond and many others. Steve and Felicia from Palisades Canyon were also in attendance and poured their wines as well.

There were no bad wines, I’m guessing we opened 40+ bottles, and we got to meet a bunch of great people. My palate is my palate, so apologies to all those great wines that did not make my “Very Best of Great” list in no particular order.

2008 Bollinger RD Champagne
1997 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace
2005 Araujo Eisele
2005 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 890 'Selección Especial'
2020 Carmes Haut Brion
2022 Palisades Canyon Petite Sirah

No notes

Zach was a knowledge and wonderful host for us at the Favia estate in Coombsville, beautiful property with a nice quaint tasting area. Had I not been driving, there likely would have been more opportunities here ;)

• 2022 Favia Cerro Sur 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/11/2026)

  Coravin pour, 2 hr in the glass before drinking. CS/CF/M blend from Rancho Chimiles IIRC. Red cherry and intense floral nose, red fruit and cedar on the palate. Leaner than past years, yet still clocks in at 15%. I think AG got this one spot on.

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• 2022 Favia La Magdalena 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (1/11/2026)

  Coravin pour, 2 hr in the glass before drinking. Spice and cinnamon along with earthy undertones on the nose. CF/CS blend from Oakville Ranch. Darker fruit and cedar on the somewhat muted palate. This needs time sideways. Leaner than past years, yet still clocks in at 15%.

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• 2022 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville

  (1/11/2026)

  Coravin pour, 2 hr in the glass before drinking. CS from multiple Coombsville vineyards. Acidic red fruits and dried fruits. This was Mrs GT’s favorite until the ‘21 Untitled showed up.

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• 2019 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (1/11/2026)

  Coravin pour, 2 hr in the glass before drinking. CS from Oakville Ranch. Deepest, darkest and most textured. of the wines until the Untitled was poured late. Asian spice, dried mixed fruit and lovely mix of fresh crushed red raspberry, black raspberry and blackberry, Red cherry and intense floral nose, more red fruit and cedar on the palate.

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• 2021 Favia Untitled Coombsville 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville

  (1/11/2026)

  Late Coravin pour, so did not have air time, but improved over 30 min of drinking. This is a single barrel selection from Nathan Coombs fruit.
  
  Deep dark black purple. Inky, but a bright mirror-like surface tension. High pitched perfume nose, floral notes, crushed berries and spice notes on the nose. Blackberry and dark cherry palate. Still some oak and tannins to be resolved with age. Hides 15% AC well. I loved this wine, it reminded me of what the best of Coombsville can produce in the hands of great winemakers.

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@sfwinelover1 and I decided to put two ‘13 Cab Franc blends up against each other over dinner at Bottega.

• 2013 Ovid Hexameter

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (1/11/2026)

  PnP and improved over a 2 hr dinner. Muted early, but nice florals on the nose emerged as we drank. Mineral undertone, red fruit, bittersweet chocolate on the nose, cocoa powder on the back of the palate, and fresh bay leaf. I think this still has room to run up a few points with another 5 yrs.
  
  No score as this needed air it didn’t get. Lay down for a couple of years or try 3+ hrs of air.

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• 2013 Dalla Valle Maya

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (1/11/2026)

  PnP and improved over 2 hr dinner. Big, powerful, cherry, red raspberry. Still in its youth, maybe some improvement with additional age.
  
  No score as this needed air it didn’t get. Lay down for a couple of years or try 3+ hrs of air.

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The man himself was too kind in hosting us in the cellar. Before we made it to the upcoming releases, we were able to get a glimpse into the future:

2019 Judge Syrah-not a Syrah fan, but clearly a well made wine.

2024 La Paz (New) - Barrel sample. A co-ferment of CS/CF/M from a Sonoma vineyard. Red fruited, structured but has the bones to be really good with age. We opened with this and it set a high bar for the rest. Will buy when it is eventually released.

2024 Game Farm —we tasted both components, old vine and young vines, and then an off the cuff winemaker blend. Can’t wait to see how these components come together in the final blend.

Next release coming this Spring 2026 for the 2019s. The 2011 at the end was a nice bonus.

• 2019 Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside blocks C. Corbett Family Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  PnP. This was a quintessential St. Helena cabernet, delicious black fruit, nice structure and mouthfeel. Unlike many of Tynan’s offerings, this has the ability to be opened sooner on the aging curve. I’ll be a buyer.

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• 2019 Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  PnP and drank half the bottle with Chris and others in the cellar. Big and structured though far more tame than earlier renditions. Red and black fruit on a mineral tannic structure. Reminded me of a young 2012. Will buy.
  
  Took the other half of the bottle with us and revisited later in the day, surprise, surprise, it continued to improve, the young structure pulling back a bit and letting more fruit come forward. What a great effort here.
  
  Too bad this vineyard is no mas.

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• 2011 Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  First vintage for this wine but never formally released. Consistent with my prior note, good things did indeed await!
  
  While many people spit on this vintage, Chris made a really great wine that has come into its prime drinking window.
  
  Dark fruit, bell pepper (complimentary), touch of earthiness on the nose. An elegant palate with more dark fruit, complimentary black olive.

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Our second visit and still the most awesome visit in Napa. No frills, no bullshit, just a great lunch by Gabe breaking up 4 hrs of great wine and BS. Jasud is still better than words can advertise, the Mariana’s is a really great add to the Beta stable.

• 2021 Beta Chardonnay Placida Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (1/14/2026)

  Still not a chard person, but this was a clearly well made chard. Lovely glycerin mouthfeel, lemon curd, restrained acid. Even Mrs GT liked it.

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• 2022 Jasud Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  (1/14/2026)

  From bottle.
  
  PnP. This has settled in nicely and put on some weight since my last tasting. My prior note is still spot on. Less concentrated than the others, this had an elegance mouthfeel with no hard edges and glided effortlessly across the palate.
  
  Restrained red and blackish fruit marching along a complimentary mountain tannic structure. This went well with and without lunch.
  
  There is such a purity in the fruit profile that makes these wines so good. I can only imagine how good this will be with age.
  
  My favorite of the visit.

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• 2023 Jasud Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  (1/14/2026)

  Barrel Sample. Recently sulfured so was somewhat muted compared to my prior tasting. My prior note is still spot on for the specifics.
  
  More concentrated than the ‘22 but even being somewhat muted we could still get a feel for what this is going to be like. Like the ‘22 this glided elegantly across the palate with red and blackish fruit held up by a firm tannic structure.
  
  There is such a purity in the fruit profile that makes these wines so good. No score today.

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• 2024 Jasud Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  (1/14/2026)

  Barrel Sample. Recently sulfured so was somewhat muted.
  
  This showed vintage effects of increased heat during the growing season. A little more boisterous. Similar profile and mouthfeel as the ‘22 and ‘23, but the fruit components were ‘amped’ a notch or two in a complimentary way. Purity of fruit, both red and blackish.
  
  What a great effort! No score today.

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• 2025 Jasud Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  (1/14/2026)

  Barrel Sample. The ‘25 had not been recently sulfured and was showing beautifully.
  
  This was my second favorite wine of the tasting.
  
  For me, this was a stunner. While the ‘22 has started to gain complexity in bottle, the ‘25 was just pure and precise. Again, consistency on the profile —red and blackish fruit.
  
  This sample reminded me of my first sips of Jasud during our last visit—it just put a smile on my face.

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• 2018 Beta Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Moon Mountain District

  (1/14/2026)

  PnP and to be completely honest, I had my reservations given past experience with PnP and Montecillo.
  
  The tannins have started to back off and this bottle showed a nice red fruit profile supported by a finer tannic backbone.
  
  I will give one of mine a test drive soon at home, but I am going with a shortish air time 1-2 hrs to see what it does.

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• 2022 Beta Cabernet Sauvignon Mariana's 95 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  (1/14/2026)

  PnP and very drinkable from the start. Red fruit, spice, blood orange, loved the Santa Cruz terroir showing through. Tannic structure in place but not overbearing. This just fit my palate, and I thought this was up there in quality, but not quite the same, as the ‘22 Jasud. I’m a buyer here.

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Roy was kind enough to join us for dinner at Bouchon and provide a re-do on his 2023 Cabernet. The Buccella stole the show, the food was grand, the gossip flowing, and Roy’s wine stopped the conversation.

• 2010 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Katrina Eileen 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  Dinner opener. Stunning, just stunning!
  
  PnP and this was ready to roll. Red and black fruit menagerie all across the palate, perfume and Asian spice on the nose.
  
  I loved this wine and so did everyone else, gone before we knew it.

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• 2023 Roy Piper Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  Opened and aired out while we drank the Buccella at dinner, 60 minutes maybe.
  
  Wow! What a difference 6 months has made for the wine. Far more open and expressive than my last experience.
  
  Moulds showing through nicely. Dark fruit, a touch of spice. Even with a tired palate, this showed really well. I would not hesitate to give one a test drive with proper airtime, though the long term potential is amazing. This is the best young Piper I’ve had by a long shot.

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DJ was kind enough to meet us at the Winery and show off Keplinger’s latest efforts. The ‘23s are going to be great.

• 2022 Keplinger Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (1/14/2026)

  Coravin pour. A soft elegant version of Vine Hill Ranch, red fruited, balanced, earth/mineral undertones, nicely integrated tannin and oak. My favorite of the tasting.

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• 2023 Keplinger Cabernet Sauvignon RBK

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (1/14/2026)

  Coravin pour. Big wine with impeding tannins at the moment that overpowered everything. Red and black fruit, consistent with Oakville Ranch, will eventually show through, but the tannins were parching the palate even after the tasting. Consistent with the inclusion of a higher amount of CF, the nose on the RBK nose was much more giving. I think this has great bones and a lot potential once it settles down in bottle.

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• 2023 Keplinger Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (1/14/2026)

  Coravin pour. Big wine with impeding tannins at the moment that overpowered everything. Red and black fruit, consistent with Oakville Ranch, will eventually show through, but the tannins were parching the palate even after the tasting. The OVR was less giving on the nose.
  
  I think this has potential once it settles down in bottle or has extended airtime.

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• 2023 Coronet Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

  (1/14/2026)

  From a 750, not sure how long opened. This is really starting to come around. Very consistent with my December note on the profile, but a touch more tannic, likely from less airtime.

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A lot of CFB BS’ing and a little news from the Napa underground punctuated by a redo of Will’s 2023 Shifflet Ranch, which was outstanding.

• 2023 William & Mary Cabernet Sauvignon Shifflett Ranch 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

  (1/14/2026)

  Wow! What a difference 6 months has made for the wine. Far more open and expressive than my last experience. Allegedly, the bottle shock wore off just a few weeks after I had tasted in August 2025.
  
  Still tannic and some oak in play, but this was a great showing, even Mrs GT wowed on this one. If you like the Shifflett profile, this is your wine, dark fruit, balanced, what I like to call boisterous elegance in play. The darkest and most expressive young Shifflett from Will I’ve had.
  
  What an effort!

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After many failed attempts we finally made it up to the Realm Houyi site on Pritchard Hill, up there with Ovid and Colgin. Once again, Rikki was our gracious host who provided a completely different tasting experience from our last one in April 2025.

Gorgeous views on an abnormally warm afternoon in January. The ‘trophy case’ at the entrance sparked lively conversation, and after a quick tour of the former Nine Suns facility, onto the Realm wines.

The 2022 Ocean Crossing had the most interesting story and ended up being our favorite. A little birdie says the 2023 Heavenly Questions will turn heads, but understand there won’t be a lot of it to go around.

• 2024 Realm Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Fidelio 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  This is always a singular expression of SB from Coombsville and it’s great in its own right. It’s not in my wheelhouse, but I could pick this out blind anytime.

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• 2022 Realm Cellars The Tempest 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  Restrained and elegant Merlot blend, this was my second favorite of the tasting. Red fruit dominant at the moment, but lots of potential for complexity as it ages. This is a ‘22 that will surprise a lot of people in five years after it integrates completely. Really glad I bought and got to see some early evolution on this one.

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• 2022 Realm Cellars Houyi Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (1/14/2026)

  Houyi is always one of my favorites and this was no different. Pritchard Hill at its finest, showing the ‘22 vintage elegance with all the markers of the red volcanic soil terroir. This particular bottle was a little muted, not showing as much as the April 2025 tasting. I have no worries on this one.

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• 2022 Realm Cellars x Conseillante Ocean Crossing 96 Points

  Mixed, USA/France

  (1/14/2026)

  Interesting BDX - Napa blend. 55% Pomerol Merlot (which itself contains a bit of CF) and 45% Pritchard Hill Cabernet (which it too has a bit of CF).
  
  It pains me to say it because I hate the price point, but this was an outstanding wine and worthy of whatever praise it might receive. Elegant, balanced, lovely nose, nice mix of red and dark fruit, BDX and Pritchard Hill are still arguing like siblings in the bottle, but they’ll figure it out!
  
  Lay down 5 years and try again.
  
  Love the wine, hate the price.

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I finally limited my daily tastings, what a difference.