Dr. Wineaux Goes to Napa Valley

Tales of the April, 2016 trip to Wine's "Disneyland"

Here in words and pictures is the trip I took with my brother to Napa Valley in April, 2016. It took a while to get my notes together, typed up and in a sensible fashion. I hope you enjoy!

Day One               April 8, 2016

 I met up with my older brother in San Francisco and we drove up to the Napa Valley.  We made decent time and hit near closing time for most tasting rooms. Our first stop was one of my brother’s favorite places, Kathryn Hall winery.  Right on Highway 29, across from the Louis M Martini winery, a large Bunny sculpture, made out of chrome stands near the entrance.

I had never been to this winery – the building is two stories with a lot of glass, a big patio off to one side.

Here are the wines we sampled while at this location.

2012 Hall T Bar T Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Sonoma County                $60

Our 2012 “T Bar T Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet in color with aromas of wet stone, black cassis preserves, sweet tobacco, caramel and toast. The palate has flavors of ripe dark fruit with rich, structured tannins. Enjoy over the next decade.

I found the wine to be a very good Alexander Valley cab, with an expressive nose, good cab flavors and a good long finish. Drinkable now but much better in a couple years.

2012 Hall “Couer” Cabernet Sauvignon Napa County                               $75 Winery Exclusive

94 Points              International Wine Report

As it begins to open it delivers aromas of wild blackberry, nutmeg, pipe tobacco and crème de cassis. There are rich flavors of blackberry preserves, crème de cassis, anise and mocha in this full-bodied, layered Cabernet. This wine needs time for the tannins to soften and would be best to allow this impressive bottling at least another year in the bottle to mellow.

Nice Cabernet – interesting nose with expected flavors. Finished a touch hot, maybe the alcohol content (?). Pretty nice with a good finish.

2012 Hall “Ellies”Cabernet Sauvignon                                                                   $80

93 Points              Virginie Boone - Wine Enthusiast

Blended with a healthy dose (21%) of Merlot, this luxurious, velvety wine is named for co-owner Craig Hall’s mother. Blackberry jam, black pepper and a touch of thick tar mark the full-bodied deliciousness going on here, a totally pleasurable experience worth enjoying now, though it can be held through 2020.

Another good Cabernet(do they make any clunkers?) that gets a boost from the Merlot in the blend. Very drinkable now, but could hold a number of years.

2013 Hall 1873 Cabernet Sauvignon                                                                         $80

Top 100 Wine     94 Points - Wine Spectator

"Ultrarich, layered and tightly focused on a dense core of meaty blackberry, currant, loamy earth, anise, crushed rock and graphite notes. For all the flavor and depth, this features a persistent finish that folds in smoky, toasty oak, adding an extra dimension of texture, flavor and aroma. Drink now through 2028." - James Laube

A big wine – full nose with a big mouthful of juicy dark fruits, graphite and hints of herbaceous spice. Very long tannic finish – hang on to this one for a few years.

2012 Hall Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon                                           $125

95 Points International Wine Cellar

“The 2012 'Jack's Masterpiece' is another highly impressive Cabernet from Hall in this vintage. The wine is barrel selected from the choicest mountain fruit and it reflects beautifully in the wine. As this opens it releases striking aromas of ripe dark fruits, crème de cassis, mocha, sweet spices, Turkish coffee, anise and dill, which all take shape and mirror on the palate. This is extremely compelling, showing the intensity of this great vintage, but currently needing some additional bottle age to fully unwind. (Best 2018-2035).”

The Cabernets just keep rolling – another monolithic, deep wine, with lots of fruit and long finish with tannic overtones.

2013 Hall Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon                                          $160

96 Points Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

“Another of the artisan collection series, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District is another wine of great purity and expression. The wine has loads of intense blueberry and blackberry fruit, while licorice, graphite, spice box and pen ink are all present in this complex multi-dimensional wine. It is full-bodied, pure, rich and a tour de force in this great vintage. Drink it over the next 25-30 years.”

This was an exceptionally deep, powerful wine.  The tannins stand out but do not overwhelm the expression of the fruit flavors.

2013 Hall Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon                                                              $160

99 Points Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

“The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is exquisite. It has an impenetrable blue/black color to the rim, a gorgeous nose of incense, charcoal, mulberry and blackberry liqueur, a multi-layered texture, and terrific purity and length. Keep in mind this is a 2013, so it has at least 25-30 years of upside and would probably benefit from 4-5 years of additional bottle age. This is sensational.”

Another very well made wine – the tannins are much more restrained but the finish is very long.  Will hold up well but is approachable now.

 The picture is the Sculpture in front of the Winery – a big chrome leaping bunny!

Right next door was the Whitehall Lane winery. I am familiar with the winery but had never stopped in the tasting room before. They were very nice and we tried a variety of their products. Here are the ones we tried:

2014 Whitehall Lane Carneros Chardonnay                                                                         $36

Tasting Notes from the Winery "This chardonnay has attractive aromas of golden delicious apples, cinnamon, lime, nutmeg, cream soda, sultanas and a perception of chalky limestone minerality. It is rich and softly textured with a very long creamy finish. Its palate provides a full bodied wine with apricots, vanilla, lemon curd and toasted brioche with a hunt of almonds. Enjoyable now and through 2019 with proper cellaring."

The Chard had a nicely fruity nose – good southern Napa valley fruit with a nice balance; some butter and oak but a lot of green apple and tropical fruit. 1/3 of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation and it was aged in both oak and stainless steel. Very nice white wine.

2014 Whitehall Lane Pinot Noir Las Brisas Vineyard, Carneros                                       $50

Tasting Notes: The breezes (las brisas) blowing off the San Pablo Bay in Carneros make the Las Brisas  Vineyard ideal for growing Pinot Noir grapes. This succulent and ripe Pinot Noir is beautifully balanced with supple flavors of strawberry, cranberry and sweet oak. Its mild tannins offer a smooth, lasting finish

Leather and red fruit dominate the nose; moderate cherry flavors, rather light aftertaste. Fair enough Pinot.

2012 Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon                                                          $42

WE90  Wine Enthusiast - "With a healthy helping of Merlot, as well as Petit Verdot and Malbec, this Cab is soft and well integrated, high in acidity with layers of bright, just-picked raspberry. Lurking in the underbelly of its soul are elements of cedar and dried herb."

Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec

            Very good nose of red fruits and graphite. Broad mouthfeel; red and black fruits with hints of tar and cola – moderate finish and aftertaste. Very nice at this price.

2012 Leonardini Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon                                                                  $125

This 2012 Leonardini Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is inviting with notes of dark fruit and toasty oak. The flavor profile is focused and balanced with black berry, black cherry and polished tannins integrated through to its long, silky finish. Enjoyable today, this wine will continue to evolve through 2028.  Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Verdot

Very fruity nose – flavor had quite a bit of tannin along with the red fruits. Fairly nice balance, but would be better with a few years of bottle age.

2011 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve                                                          $100

WE92  Wine Enthusiast - "Sublime leather and a shake of black peppercorn provide a touch of intrigue to this wine that gets better in the glass as it goes. Elegant, balanced and displaying cool-vintage sparks of pencil shavings and cranberry, it is effortlessly spicy in clove, particularly on the finish. "

Lighter nose than the previous wine, good stone fruit flavors, black and red, nice length on the finish. Very drinkable right now, with mild tannins.

2009 Bel Forte   Petite Sirah Port Style                                                                                   $45

Belforte is a true port-style wine made from Petite Syrah grapes grown in Napa Valley. The name Belforte loosely translates to "beautiful fortified wine". During the fermentation process, the wine was fortified with exceptional high proof brandy to halt fermentation and give this flavorful wine a high degree of natural sweetness. The wine was aged in 12 oak barrels for 22 months.

This was a very nice, sticky sweet dessert wine with very bright fruit flavors. An enjoyable treat.

Dinner that evening was at Brix Restaurant.

                Dinner started with a “Special Drink” – an Espresso Martini – semi-sweet chocolate, liquor – not sweet, but very tasty.  Opened with a French Onion Soup. Nicely caramelized onions, deep rich beef broth and croutons with melted cheese. Very  nicely done.

                Cabernet braised short ribs followed – so soft they cut with a fork. Richly flavored beef short ribs served with cranberry beans and deep fried greens for crunch.  Absolutely wonderful, a great entrée – my brother had had a wonderful hangar steak.

                With dinner we had a bottle of 2010 Elyse Korte Ranch Zinfandel, Napa Valley, California.

Elyse sourced this 2010 Zinfandel form the Korte Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. Blended with just a splash (3%) of Petite Sirah, the wine spent 10 months in 20% new American oak before bottling. From the winery: "The 2010 Korte Ranch Zinfandel is deep purple in color with ripe red and black fruit aromas that draw you in from across the room, while subtle floral notes provide even more intrigue. The palate is lushly textured and gushes with blackberries, black cherries, plums, and hints of vanilla and nutmeg."

                A real nice Zinfandel, red fruit aromas followed by a broad mouthfeel of red and black fruits, with hints of spice and cherry cola. Wonderful meal to top off our first day of Napa Valley.

Day 2                     April 9, 2016

                After getting coffee, we headed north up Highway 29 from the city of Napa. Running ahead of schedule, we decided to stop at the “Castle”, which opened earlier than some other wineries.

                Castello di Amorosa is an actual castle built from stone from Europe in the manner of ancient days.  All the ironwork including lamps, gates and door hardware was hand-forged by Italian Artisans. All doors and windows were made by Italian artisans and feature leaded glass in the windows. Over 200 containers of handmade bricks, tiles, doors, windows and furnishings were brought over from Europe.

                Medieval designs and construction methods were employed to create Castello; 30 years in the making – 15 years of actual construction. The Castello contains all the elements a medieval castle would have possessed – a moat, drawbridge, 5 towers, high defensive ramparts, courtyards and loggias, a deep well, a functioning church, stables, an outdoor oven, an apartment for the Nobles, a Great Hall and even a prison and torture chamber.

                The Castle opened to the public on April 9, 2007 and is owned by Dario Sattui.

                The castle has a self guided tour, with rooms of medieval items and signs indicating what would happen there.  Then you head downstairs to a large room with a big bar and assorted items for sale.  You pay for your tasting and here is what we decided to sample. All wines are Castello di Amorosa, unless noted.

2013 Pinot Noir Reserve, Anderson Valley, California                                                                     $49

A bright red opaque wine with nice berry flavor – black cherry – and nice acid balace to go with foods. A hint of tannins – a little light but a good example of the Anderson Valley, Pinots with more character than some other areas. Rated 90 by the Wine Enthusiast.

2012 Zinsaro Zinfandel, Russian River, California                                                                            $39

A moderate nose but flavors fell flat on the mid-palate. A little spice but not much – modest aftertaste – only fair, for a Russian River Zinfandel.

2012 Merlot, Napa valley, California                                                                                                  $42

Real nice nose of red fruit and floral nuances. Nicely balanced wine with red and black fruit flavors, good acidity and a pleasant aftertaste with modest tannins.

2011 Il Brigante, Napa Valley, California                                                                                             $36

A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 2% Zinfandel – a sort of American Super Tuscan. An unusual blend, but the Sangiovese dominates the nose. The flavor profile is unique – tannin and backbone from the Cabernet, hints of spice from the Zinfandel, body from the Sangiovese and leather from the Merlot. Acidity is well balanced – this is a big steak type wine.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California                                                                           $55

Nice big Cabernet nose – flavors of red and black fruits with leather and graphite in the blend. Long aftertaste with moderate tannins – a nice Napa Cabernet.

2011 La Castellana, Napa Valley, California                                                                                          $98

Super Tuscan Blend – 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese.

Nose has a lot of Sangiovese, despite it’s minimal appearance and the fruit in the flavor is modest – very mellow. Tannins are soft and the aftertaste limited. Not showing very well.

2011 El Barone Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California – Cazello Estate              $98

Real big Cabernet nose – a deep dark wine with black and red fruits and nuances of herbs and leather. Some tannins, although I would drink in 5 years – a nice cabernet in all.

2012 Butala Estate Reserve Cabernet, Napa Valley, California                                                        $145

A big nose of dark fruit and tobacco. The wine had a tannic grip with dark fruits and cigar box. Very long finish with the tannins hanging on. Big wine that will age well – fruit was sourced from the Coombsville area in Napa.

                Our attendant was Vincenzo, who was very Italian and a lot of fun.

                Our  appointment was at Vincent Arroyo Winery up in Calistoga (The Saratoga of California). A fairly small winery but renowned for making great Petite Sirah.

                The building is unassuming but the staff is very welcoming. Here is what we tasted at the winery.

2014 Chardonnay Napa Valley, California                                                                                            $28

Lightly oaked, this Chard had good fruit – citrus and peach and nice texture. Really nice and under $30.

2013 Melange Reserve, Napa Valley, California                                                                                 $19

A Sangiovese, Tempranillo and cabernet Sauvignon blend – had a soft red color with nice red fruit flavors. Very rounded mouthfeel, good acidity – a real food wine.

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                              $40

Broad nose – tannic grip with dark red/black fruits, some graphite and cedar. Rael big flavor, long finish with tannic overtones – drinkable but best in five years.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley, California                                                              $55

Wine spent three years in the barrel – hints of herbs in the nose with the fruit. Less tanninic than the 2013 but very nicely rounded with a long finish. Very nice wine drinking good now and in five years.

2013 Petite Sirah Estate Bottles, Napa Valley, California                                                                   $35

Great dark color;flavors of red berry and black fruits, nice acidity. Very nice example of this grape (wine).

2013 Petite Sirah, Rattlesnake Acres, Napa Valley, California                                                           $50

A Barrel sample – very dark color; hints of vanilla on the nose followed by deep dark berry flavors. Tannins support the wine, giving it good structure – really nice juice.

Vinnie was our tour guide – he was relatively new, but was fun. We met Vincent Arroyo in the barrel room – seemed nice. We were considered “barrel worthy” with our endless wine chatter – that is the Rattlesnake vineyard taste we had.

Chateau Montelena

                The historic winery from the Tasting of 1976 – still owned by the same people. Some contend they have been coasting on the laurels, but they have made a little comeback, in terms of quality wines.

                We paid our fee and went to the second room back to a bar for our tasting. Here is what we sampled:

2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, California                                                                                $35

Not a great color, nice nose of citrus fruits. Flavors were peach and grapefruit with a little undertone of spice. A wine begging for seafood.

2013 Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California                                                                                        $58

Very pretty color with a green apple aroma. Good acidity, green apple and tropical citrus flavors – a touch sharp at times. Would be better in a year, to mellow and meld the flavors. 

2013 Zinfandel, Calistoga, California                                                                                   $39

Moderate nose; good flavors of red fruit and hints of spice – Surprisingly long finish.

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California                                                          $58

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc

Pleasant nose – good cabernet flavors, black and red fruit, some cedar and graphite and no green pepper. Good rounded mouthfeel and a moderate finish with tannins. Would be better in two years.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled, Napa Valley, California                                 $58

98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petite Verdot – Deep, dark color with a nose that seemed a little closed-in. Lots of deep black fruits, graphite and cola – very long finish with tannic support. Drinkable now but would hold up 5 – 10 years.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled, Napa Valley, California                               $175

Full nose of red and black fruits. Full mouthfeel with the red and black berries, oak , cola and hints of cedar. Very long finish with little tannins remaining. Nice bottle ready to drink.

Freemark Abbey

Our next stop was a Freemark Abbey, down the road (Hiway 29) from our last stop.

We bought and split the Cabernet Collection Tasting. Here are the wines:

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard, Napa Valley, California                                   $100      

Deep, dark color and a nose redolent of red berry fruit. A full flavored wine with red and black fruits, oak and hints of cigar box and cedar. Good long aftertaste, though the tannins were light. Very nice and only 13.5% alcohol.

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard, Napa Valley, California                                 $130

Dark color, and an expressive nose of red berries. Full mouthfeel with red fruits, graphite and cigar box. This vintage has no Petite Verdot in it. Nice long finish with some tannins – nice bottle to enjoy now.

 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Josephine Vineyard, Napa Valley, California                                   $120

Good nose of red berry – flavors of black fruits and berries and nuances of black pepper. Somewhat shorter finish but still nice – tannins moderate.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche’ Vineyard, Napa Valley, California                                        $125

Deep color – moderate nose, somewhat closed in. Flavors of black fruits, tobacco, tannins and oak. Tannins keep it from being fully expressive, needs about 5 years bottle age to blossom.

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche’ Vineyard, Napa Valley, California                                      $140

Full nose of red and black berry – broad mouthfeel with an elegant long finish. Red berries, tobacco and graphite dominate the palate. Less tannins than the 2004 Sycamore – a wine to open tonight.

Next stop the always fun Heitz Wine Cellars. They don’t charge for tastings! (as of my visit there). Here is what we tasted:

2014 Chardonnay Napa Valley, California                                                                                             $26

Modest nose – nice flavors of grapefruit and pear along with some oak. Moderate aftertaste, but really pretty tasty.

2012 Zinfandel Ink Grade Vineyard Napa Valley, California                                                                         $26.50

Floral, raspberry and anise hints in the nose.  Modest red berry and black cherry fruit with just hints of spice. Broad mouthfeel with a moderate finish.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                      $52

Moderate nose of red berries. Flavor profile of red and black berries, cigar box and tobacco – with a nice long finish. Moderate tannins hold the wine in check.

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Napa Valley, California                                                        $85

Wonderful nose of dust, violets, red berries and cedar. Broad mouthfeel of red fruit, cedar and tobacco (hints of graphite around the edges). Tannins mostly gone, drinking very well right now.

1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard Napa Valley, California                                      $NA

Expressive nose of tobacco and red berry. Flavors of red fruits, tobacco, briar and that hint of eucalyptus. Long finish with no tannins – drinking very well for it’s age.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard Napa Valley, California                                       $225

Aroma of red fruit and eucalyptus – flavor had a tannic grip with red and black fruits, tobacco and cedar. A very long tannic finish – wine needs bottle time to mellow out.

NV Ink Grade Port                                                                                                                                $35

Made from mostly Petite Sirah, it had a big sweet fruit nose – flavors of bright red, sweet berry with a tar undertone. A mouth-filler” – very nice little dessert wine.

We trooped over to Louis M Martini – they were renovating the old tasting room and had a set up in a large barrel room. Here is what we had:

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                     $38

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 % Petite Verdot and others –good cab nose of red fruit and herbs.  Flavors of dark fruit, herbs and leather with a long finish and moderate tannins.

2012 Cellar 254 Meritage Napa Valley, California                                                                       $65

Real big nose of red berries and red fruits. Big flavor of red and black fruits, anise and leather. Long finish with finesse tannins – Very nice wine.

2013 Gnarly Vine Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma, California                              $60

Nice nose of red jammy fruit. Flavor profile of Raspberry jam and blackberries with hints of spice and smoke. Modest aftertaste – high alcohol content of 16.2%.

2013 Petite Sirah Napa Valley, California                                                                                        $55

Nice nose of black berries, dirt and herbs. Dark fruit flavor with plum and an undertone of tar on modest tannins. Good finish – nice example of the varietal.

NV Petite Sirah Port, Napa Valley, California                       

Sweet but not cloying, nice full mouthfeel – very pleasant dessert wine. Better with the chocolate truffle they served with it.

Next Stop – Franciscan Vineyards.

Here is the line up from Franciscan – hang with me, there is quite a bit. If I don’t specify, the wine is Franciscan, the other label is Mt Veeder – I’ll try to indicate that.

2013 Chardonnay Cuvee Sauvage, Napa Valley, California                                                                  $40

Wonderful vanilla scented nose; full flavors of green apple, citrus and pear. Very nice with a long finish for a white wine.

2013 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Franc , Napa Valley, California                                                                  $65

Good nose of violets and red fruits; flavors of red fruits with hints of tar and tobacco. Modest finish with little tannins.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, California                                                                                      $65

Pleasant nose of red berries. Flavors of red berry and red fruits with spices, cardamom and nutmeg. Moderate aftertaste with nuances of cherry cola and sage. Very interesting.

2013 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California                                                          $44

Pleasing nose of red fruits and hints of caramel. Flavors of red fruits and various herbs – nice aftertaste with moderate tannins.

2013 Petite Verdot Reserve, Napa Valley, California                                                                            $65

Vibrant nose of flowers and red berries. Flavors of cassis, floral overtones and red fruits – modest aftertaste with little tannic structure.

2012 Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1550, Napa Valley, California                              $65

Pleasing nose of dark fruit and berries. Flavors of dark fruits, leather and some white pepper – very long finish with structured tannins.        

2012 Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon Rosenquist                                                                               $100

Unusual nose of red fruit and coffee. Full flavors of black fruits, cherry, coffee, tobacco and herbs. Nice lengthy finish.

2012 Stylus Napa Valley, California                                                                                                       $110

Moderate nose of red berry and red fruits. Flavors very upfront with red berry, tobacco and undtertones of tar. Nice finish with moderate tannins.

2012 Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve                                                                                   $100

Nice nose of red fruits; flavors of red and black berries, hints of tar, graphite and dust. Pleasing lengthy finish with moderate tannins.

On to our final stop of the day before going to dinner. We call it “Micky’s”, better known of Grgich Hills Winery.  Tony is a member of their wine club. Here is what we tasted:

2012 Petite Verdot, Yountville, California                                                                                           $NA

Somewhat closed nose with some red fruit and floral hints. The flavor was broad, with red fruits, floral tones and dusty herbs with a nice lengthy finish. Tannins stay in the background and the wine is well balanced.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                         $90

A pleasing nose of red/black fruits, with a beautiful color. Flavors of red and black fruits, tobacco and pencil shavings – a long finish with supporting tannins.

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                          $90

Nice fruit on the nose; broad flavors of red and black fruits, tobacco and cigar box. Long finish with moderate tannins

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville, California                                                                             $175

Nice red fruits on the aroma; well balanced red and black fruits and cigar box flavors. Nice balance, very drinkable, but could hold about another 4-5 years. Very elegant finish.

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                          $90

Good nose of red fruits; flavors of red and black fruit, cigar box and herbal notes. Nice finish with modest tannins.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                          $90

Pleasing nose of red fruit; Nice flavors of red and black fruits but much less cedar/cigar box then the others. Decent finish, but not nearly as broad as the others.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville, California                                                                              $135

Nosed was somewhat closed – some red fruit. Flavors of red and black fruit, tobacco and tar – decent finish, but a bit more tannic.

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California                                                                              $90

Full nose of red fruits; Flavors mostly red fruit, cherry cola, underlying dusty herbs and tobacco. Good finish but not very long; Balanced acidity – a bottle ready to go now or fairly soon.

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville, California                                                                               $150

An unusual nose of red fruits and herb – like oregano and sage; Flavors of red and black fruits, tobacco and herbs.  Nice finish with some tannins – bottle would hold up for a few more years.

From here, we went to an early dinner reservation at Bottega Napa Valley. We were unable to get anything except early or late. But I’m glad we got one!

“Bottega is an Italian word for an artist’s workshop, a place where a skilled craftsman practices and perfects his trade. Here, Chef Michael Chiarello shares the culmination of his life’s work in the kitchen, bringing together the best of Italy and Napa Valley in one unforgettable dining experience through traditional family recipes prepared with an inspired California twist.” (From the web site)

 Appetizer “POLENTA UNDER GLASS”

 Caramelized wild mushrooms with balsamic game sauce and a parmigiano frico

A dish served in a glass container with excellent polenta and mushrooms with a great balsamic reduction sauce. The dish was very rich and satisfying.

Pasta Course – RICOTTA GNOCCHI DELLA NONNA

 Ricotta “pillows” with old hen tomato sauce,  and Pecorino Romano 

They melt in your mouth – simply marvelous.

Wine – a glass of Montepulcino (Italian). Nice berry nose, well balanced wine with fruit and bracing acidity. Excellent accompaniment.

Main Course – POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA SUL MATTONE

 Calabrian marinated chicken “Under a Brick” with roasted Italian peppers and cipollini onions 

A split chicken, cooked under a weight with crispy skin and tender juicy meat with roasted peppers and onions adding flavor and textures. Outstanding dish – not a boring chicken dish.

The next day (April 10, 2016) – we started early at Nickel and Nickel – where my brother is a member of their club.

Named for John C. Sullenger, who purchased the land in 1865 and established the farmstead in the 1880s, the 2,800 square-foot Sullenger House is a handsome farmhouse with charming Queen Anne details, built around 1884. Abandoned and neglected for more than two decades, the home was restored in 2002 and provides a warm and friendly welcome to our winery guests.

The tasting starts with a splendid tour and a glass of chilled chardonnay. Our tour guide was a life-long resident of Napa Valley – at least as old or older than myself – named Walt Bell. He chatted with us about the changes in the valley, about picking grapes in his youth. He worked at a now closed restaurant in the valley for years, met many of the old time winemakers and their children.

From the parlor, you head outdoors – one vineyard is right against the Opus One vineyrad, next door - Prime real estate.  Then past a long pool to an old barn – one brought in from back east and dating from the 1700’s.

Gleason Barn     Originally built circa 1770 in Meriden, New Hampshire by the Gleason family, the 3,000 square-foot pre-Revolutionary War-era hay barn was spared demolition in 2001. After two years spent dismantling the barn, designing blueprints, restoring and saving the wood beams, the barn was shipped in pieces to Nickel & Nickel and was reconstructed at our winery in 2003 to house offices and a laboratory for the winemaking staff.

The next stop is the fermentation barns – new buildings on the estate, but where the real work is done.  They have a massive press that is complete state-of-the-art; Stainless steel vats and lots of oak barrels. There was also a nice cork display, where the cork comes from on the tree and how it is handled and made. (Would have been a good picture-Doh).

The tasting happens in the Dining room of the Sullenger House – they set up 4 glasses with Cabernet poured and ready to go. They also offer some wonderful snack items – breadsticks, 3 cheeses; Piave from Italy, Beemster Classic from the Netherlands and Midnight Moon from Cypress Grove Chevre in California.  The entire tasting is very classy, but not stuffy. Here are the wines:

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Hayne vineyard, St Helena, California                              $115

A nice nose of red berry and cassis. Broad flavors of red berry, blackberry and dusty herbs. Long finish with mild tannins.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Quarry Vineyard, Rutherford, California                           $115

The nose has hints of red pepper in it; Flavors of red fruits, pencil shavings, tobacco and dusty herbs. Heavier tannins than the previous wine.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Copper Streak Vineyard, Stags Leap, California                $115

The nose is like cherry cola – almost sweet. Flavors of red fruit, cherry cola with overtomes of tobacco and tar. Nice finish with moderate tannins.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard, Oakville, California                                $115

Modest nose of red fruit; flavors of red and blackberry, plum and tobacco. Nice but less dimensions than the other wines on the table. Modest finish with light tannins.

2013 Enroute Pinot Noir, Napa Valley                                                                                $60

Opened at the end of the tasting, this is a new label from the winery to make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wine had a bright cherry nose – good flavors of cherry, spices and herbs. Nice little Pinot Noir.

We wondered over to Silver Oak, Napa Valley for a little taste.

The Iconic tower is a sign of the Silver Oak winery. Here is what we sampled.

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California                                     $100

The nose was somewhat closed – hints of black cherry. Flavor had earthiness, black cherry, herbs and cola with moderate tannins. Finish had good length, with only moderate tannic grip. 90% Cbarenet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petite Verdot.

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, Sonoma, California                                              $100

Pleasing nose of red fruit and vanilla. Nice broad flavors of red berries, cherry cola – seemed almost a little “chewy”; tannins retained some grip over the fruit. Moderate finish with some tannic grip. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petite Verdot and.5% Malbec.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California                                      $100

Pleasant nose of red berry and sage. Full flavors of red berry, cherry cola and hints of earthiness. Tannin fairly soft but still a still a big wine.

Note of interest – they use American oak, not French for their barrel aging.

Next stop, PlumpJack – a nice little stop next to the Rudd Estate.

We drank wines from PlumpJack and two “sister” wineries, Odette and Cade.

2013 Adaptation by Odette Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California                                 $30

A big nose of green apple and citrus fruit; Full flavors of green apple, creamy citrus and even orange undertones. Nice finish – a real surprising white wine.

2013 Adaptation by Odette Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California                                 $50

Good nose of red and black berry; flavors of blackberry, cassis, cherry cola and hints of tar and tobacco. Moderate finish with mild tannins

2013 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California                                                  $80

95 Points from RP – big nose of red fruits and berries; flavors of red berry, cola, pencil shavings and graphite. Long finish with moderate tannins.  77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petite Verdot, 9% Malbec.

2013 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, California                                            $100

94 points from RP – Bright nose of red berry and tobacco; smooth flavors of red and black fruit, cedar box and graphite. Very long finish with some significant tannins- but not too gripped with them Very nice bottle

2013 Plumpjack Merlot, Napa Valley, California                                                                    $50

An intense nose of wax, red berry and herbs; smooth and full mouthfeel of cherry cola, red fruits and cedar. Moderate finish but not many tannins.

2013 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, California                                               $120

Nose was somewhat closed- some red berry; Big flavors of red berries, cherry and graphite. Good tannic backbone to provide a long finish.

2013 Plumpjack Syrah, Napa Valley, California                                                                     $60

93 points from WS – modest nose of toast and briar fruit; Flavor profile of red berries, briar, smoke, tobacco – almost gamey – but very jammy. Modest finish without much tannin.

We scooted over to Rutherford Hill, a Terlato property since 1996. My first stop at this site.

We each did a flight from the red wine list, except for the opening glass.

2013 Terlato Pinot Grigio, Sonoma County, California                                              $24

From the Russian River area – pleasant crisp nose of pineapple; good acidity and balance with tropical fruit and a hint of lemon on the finsh.

2011 Rutherford Hill Merlot, Cask Reserve Napa Valley, California                             $85

Pleasing nose of red bery and cherry cola; Flavors of red berries, cherry cola and hints of tar. Long finish with a tannic backbone. Has 8% Malbec to up the flavors.

2010 Terlato Merlot Angels Peak, Napa Valley, California                                                $56

Good nose of red fruits; flavors of cherry cola and black berries with a nice finish with little tannins. 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot

2012 Rutherford Hill Merlot Rutherford, California                                                              $58

Nice nose of red fruit and cola; Flavors of dusty berries, cherry cola and modest tannins on a long finish.

2010 Terlato Devils Peak, Napa Valley, California                                                                $68

Pleasant nose of red beryy and sour cherry; Soft, smooth mouthfeel of black berries, mocha and floral hints. Long finish with light tannins. 71% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

2012 Rutherford Hill Petite Verdot, Napa Valley, California                                          $62

Modest nose of red berry and cherry; Flavors of red berries and multiple herbs – sage, basil. Moderate finish with very light tannins.

2010 Terlato Cardinals Peak, Napa Valley, California                                                            $67

Mild nose of red fruits and Italian herbs; flavors of red berry, tea and herbs – long finish with moderate tannins. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petite Verdot

2010 Rutherford Hill Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley, California                                           $52

Nice nose of red berry and red fruits; flavors of cola, blackberry, black fruits and herbal notes. Long finish with moderate tannins. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Syrah

2010 Rutherford Hill Merlot,  Atlas Peak, California                                                              $54

A jammy blackberry nose; flavors of dark berries, tar, herbs and baking spices. Long finish with moderate tannins. 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

2012 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California                              $62

Bright nose of red berries; Flavors of cherry cola, red fruit, cedar and graphite. Long, lingering finish with a moderate tannic backbone. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petite Verdot

2012 Rutherford Hill Episode, Napa Valley, California                                                      $185

Big cabernet nose of red and black fruits with hints of tar; Big flavors of red berry and black fruits, graphite, cedar and hints of tar. Real long finish with bracing tannins. Hide this baby away for 7 – 10 years – way too young to enjoy now. 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc

Our next stop was at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, the one made famous by the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Since 2008, when they had a big barn for a tasting room and toured you around the site, they had built a beautiful new tasting room. We hadn’t asked for a tour, but went for a tasting.

Here is what we sampled:

2014 Chardonnay Arcadia, Napa Valley, California                                                           $34

Good nose of lemon, verbena and other citrus aromas; Flavors of citrus, green apple, pear and no oak. A very long finish, a great wine for seafood.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Vineyard, Napa Valley, California                                    $145

Big nose of red berries; Flavors of mocha and blackberry in a very filling way. Long finish with supporting tannins.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon SLV Vineyard, Napa Valley, California                                      $145

Big nose of red and black berry with cherry cola overtones; Full flavors of cherry cola, tobacco and cedar box. Very long finish with smooth tannins.

A picture inside the building.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23, Napa Valley, California                                      $275

50% from Fay Vineyard and 50% from SLV. Very inviting nose of red and black fruits; flavors of red berry, blueberry and a little graphite. Extreme long finish with a moderate tannin kick.

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Apologue, Napa Valley, California                               $115

Full nose of red fruit and baking spices – think cinnamon and cardamom; Flavors of blackberry, cassis and tobacco. Long finish with finessed tannins. This was the last wine from the section of Fay vineyard that was torn out for the Visitor center.

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Hillside, Napa Valley, California                                   $115

Good nose of red fruit and herbs; flavors of red berries, sage and some baking spice. Long finish with light tannins.

Statue outside of Stag’s Leap.

From Stag’s Leap we moved over to Chimney Rock.  This was another new winery for me. It is also another Terlato property.

2013 Sauvignon Gris, Napa Valley, California                                                           $NA

Bright nose of grapefruit and baking spices; flavors similar to sauvignon blanc but with an odd spice flavor, like allspice. Nice finish, clean – a very good seafood wine.

2012 Elevage Red wine, Napa Valley, California                                                          $110

57% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Verdot, and others

Pleasant nose of red fruits; full flavors of red fruits and berries and cloves with a nice finish with woven tannins. Good acidity to go with food.

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap District, Napa Valley, California                    $82

88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% other

Nice nose of cherry, red fruits and vanilla; full flavors of red fruits. Finish ended a little short but moderate tannins.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California                                                 $88

Big nose of red fruits and floral tones. Flavors of cola, red berries and tobacco. Long finish with quite a bit of tannins.

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Ganymede SLV, Napa Valley, California                       $145

Big nose of red fruits and lavender; Full flavors of red fruits, berries and herbs. Very long finish with woven tannins.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap District, Napa Valley, California                    $NA

Great nose of red fruits and baking spices; full flavor of cherry, cola and light herbs. Long finish with soft tannins – drinking very well right now.

Our last stop was at Domain Chandon. We each had a glass of NV Yountville Sparkling wine. Yeasty nose with brioche; Flavors of brioche, hints of lemon and lime. Very clean and satisfying.

Dinner that night was at Ad Hoc Restaurant, where meals are prix fee served family style. Another of the Keller restaurants – one I can afford and enjoy.

Opening – a salad with beets and a lemon poppy seed dressing. A little spicy and tangy but very flavorful and good.

I enjoyed a glass of Truchard Syrah – nose was a little short, but the flavors of raspberry and red fruit with a bit of spice was nice. Hints of tar on the finish.

Entrée – Smoked pork belly, Polenta cakes, eggplant and brocolini. Delectable pok belly with hot polenta cakes – very tasty. The vege’s were buttery, crispy and very good.

Cheese Course – Different cheese with fig compote and drop biscuits. Very tasty – but I forgot what the cheese were.

Dessert – Ice cream sundaes with sauces – Hot fudge, Strawberry and butterscotch.

Dessert wine – Sherry Val Despino – was very good with the sundaes.

Picture of Opus One with fog descending.

Hope you enjoyed the trip - I sure did.  Until next time, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines! Salut!