Provenance Vineyards, June 21, 2013

www.provenancevineyards.com

I have a genetic defect inherited from my grandmother:  I cannot resist a good sale.  And provenance was having a sale this particular week, so I had to drop in for a tasting (just like in the Far Side cartoon where a large-bodied woman clings for life to a lamp post as she is mercilessly sucked into a candy shop).  In this case, they had their 2008 To Kalon Cabernet marked down 40%, along with a few other deals.  After tasting this wonderful wine, I felt compelled to pick up a bottle.  They had the 2010 Hewitt available for preview at 30% off, so my friend bought one of those (and I get to cellar it).  They also had some of their new releases open which I was looking forward to trying.

Looking down a row of vines at Provenance Vineyards

One of the features of many wine clubs is that you get access to the wine before it goes into general distribution.  One of the drawbacks of this perk is that the wines are not usually open in the tasting room when you pick them up.  To my good fortune, there were a number of new releases and previews open the day of my visit.  From the Provenance menu, I selected the (on sale) 2008 Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by the 2009 Beckstoffer TK2 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2008 Three Palms Cabernet Sauvignon.  Of these, the 2009 TK2 was my favorite (and the most expensive).  Then I tried a three-vintage vertical of the Hewitt: 2007, 2008, and 2010, of which the 2007 remains my favorite (and my favorite of the day).


A full review was written already about Provenance Vineyards during my visit on February 8^th, 2012.

July 21, 2013 – Wine: 2003 Hestan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The only reason I know the name Hestan is because it is the winery (and winemaker) that hosts and produces Meyer Vineyards wines.  Upon discovering Meyer’s wines at a tasting, I searched the web and discovered the association with Hestan.  The price of the Hestan was always beyond my reach so I passed on the opportunity to try them.  Recently, while acquiring some half-bottles of amazing 2002 Cabernets, I was offered the chance to get this half-bottle as well (at a reasonable price).  After my experience with the Meyer, I was expecting a big, juicy, deep, and rich wine.  Instead, the wine was elegant, refined, deep but not rich, with a persistent finish.  I noted flavors of black raspberry, dark cherry, cranberry, mineral, dark chocolate, and leather.  This turned out to be a very impressive wine from what has been described as an irregular (and tannic) vintage.

Newton Vineyard, June 21, 2013

Winery - 7 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Spectacular views of mountain vineyards.  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.
www.newtonvineyard.com

For the last few years my friend has been prodding me to fit Newton into one of our tasting trips.  This time the cards lined up to make this all possible.  Because of their mountain-top location, advanced reservations are required.  And plan your time carefully, as they do not accept parties 15 minutes after the appointment time.  Also, allow about 10 minutes to drive from the town of Saint Helena up the slow, winding road to the winery and tasting room.  Once there, be sure to take a moment to take in the higher elevation view of the Saint Helena and Rutherford valley floor down below.  There aren’t many places where you get the combination of altitude and proximity to view the valley as you do from Newton Vineyards, and the view is breath-taking.

The entrance to the Newton Vineyards tasting room

When you arrive at the Newton Vineyards tasting room, you are greeted as soon as you step out of your car.  Part of your visit involves taking in certain vistas, including the winemaker’s office with a control-tower vantage point over the vineyards.  The building has been dressed up by installing a redwood lattice wall the length of the building, with portals for light and visibility and a number of vines and shrubs taking advantage of the trellis work.  Once inside, you quickly learn how the location for the tasting room was chosen – large picture windows in each room frame the mountain-slope vineyards just a few hundred yards/meters away.  The ample light casts a warm, open feeling across the two tasting rooms.  A large double-door separates the two to create two isolated tasting environments.  One salon is set up like a living room, while the salon where I tasted was set up like a dining room.  The hardwood floors provide a richly textured base for the room, with matching window framing.  The walls and ceiling are painted a shade of linen, with one red accent wall to wake you up.  This red color is brought into the room as color accents on furnishings and décor.  A sturdy trestle table with black leather-upholstered chairs occupies the center of the room, with tasters on one side treated to magnificent views out the picture window.  There is also a fascinating sculpture fashioned from wood planks into a graceful arc that doubles as a display for the recent vintage of wines.

Inside the tasting salon at Newton Vineyards

The tasting is performed as an intimate lecture, with some interactions for questions and comments.  I find this style of presentation is great for a first visit, but on subsequent visits it becomes a little annoying and actually discourages me from making plans to return.  Still, the point of the visit is to taste the wines, and the wines have to compete with the spectacular views for attention.  The good news is that the wines accomplished just that.  We started with the 2010 Knights Valley Chardonnay, followed by the (spectacular) 2010 Merlot, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, and ended with a high-end Bordeaux-style blend, the 2009 The Puzzle.  While The Puzzle was my favorite, when you factor in the price, the Merlot was the real winner in the lineup.

Functional wooden sculpture at Newton Vineyards tasting room

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 7 and the wines offered as a 7.

July 17, 2013 – Wine: 2007 Duckhorn Merlot

I really enjoy a well-made Merlot, but thanks to aggressive editing of the movie Sideways, where the character’s disdain for Merlot is left in but the reason behind it was edited out, finding a good Merlot has been a bit of an effort this past decade.  It’s worth noting that the scene where the character associates Merlot with the emotional baggage of his divorce was the one cut and would likely have spared this great wine’s fate.  There are a few remarkable Merlots produced in Napa Valley, most notably those from Newton, Provenance, Shafer, Whitehall Lane, and this wine from Duckhorn.  Duckhorn’s apparent focus is on elegance and expressing Merlot’s best characteristics.  After about an hour open, this wine had a nice nose, with a balanced palette featuring raspberry, blackberry, dark cherry, minerals, and baking spices.  This was my last half-bottle of 2007 Duckhorn, but I am looking forward to the 2009’s.

2009 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

Elizabeth Spencer Wines, June 21, 2013

www.elizabethspencerwines.com

It was time again for a wine club shipment pick-up, and my friend was able to enjoy his first visit to the tasting room as a wine club member since signing up last fall.  Our experience at Trefethen lasted a little longer than we had anticipated and our next visit required a bit of extra driving and a timely arrival, so we were a little pressed for time here.  Rather than enjoy our tasting out on the patio, we decided to hang around the tasting bar inside the cozy tasting room.  Something about the repeating patterns in the floor-to-ceiling wine racks and the surrounding brickwork gets my symmetry juices going and I feel in my element there.  (I have a background in mathematics and computers.)

The cozy tasting room at Elizabeth Spencer Wines.

During my previous visit, I picked up the 2009 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon for my friend.  This time the pickup consisted of the 2009 Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon, which was not on the tasting menu.  I opted to try the 2010 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, the 2010 Pinot Noir, and the 2009 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, which was my friend’s favorite.  He was eager to taste this wine and was thoroughly pleased with it.  I next asked for a taste of the 2009 Special Cuvee Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which was my favorite.  This last wine is developing quite nicely, so we each brought home a few half-bottles.

A full review was written already about Elizabeth Spencer Wines during my visit on November 2^nd, 2012.

July 16, 2013 – Wine: 2005 Meyer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

I know I have already posted twice about this wine, but I cannot emphasize enough what a terrific value this wine is.  Priced $38 to $45 when released (for 750ml), this wine delivers substance that wines costing more lack.  What you might get from a more expensive wine would be either elegance and restraint or depth.  This wine is fruit-driven, lush, balanced, and nearly rich on the palette.  The fruit flavors remain fairly vintage-typical, with raspberry, dark cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, minerals, and notes of leather on the palette, with a persistent finish.  With this wine, it has been a struggle between opening every delicious bottle and having the patience to allow the wine to evolve over a few years.  By acquiring more than a case of half-bottles, I’ve been able to do a little of both with joy.

Trefethen Family Vineyards, June 21, 2013

Winery - 7 / Wines - 6
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Well-preserved old woodwork.  Cabernet Sauvignon blends, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
www.trefethen.com

The only time I have visited Trefethen wines was on one of my first trips to Napa Valley.  When my friend suggested we visit there, I was eager to see how the place might have changed.  Trefethen is one of the first of the larger wineries you come upon as you drive north out of the city of Napa along the main highway (CA-29).  Located at the corner of Oak Knoll Avenue, you need to drive nearly a half mile down the avenue to get to the winery’s driveway on the left, and then drive another ¾ mile down their driveway to get to the parking lot.  From the outside of the building, not much at Trefethen has changed.  Once inside I found a new tasting experience.

Trefethen Family Vineyards

 From Highway 29, you notice a cluster of tall trees surrounded by vineyards.  This makes the Trefethen winery easy to spot.  Parking in front of the winery operations, you find yourself in front of a three-story winery operations building constructed largely of wood.  In front of the main doors lies a patio for enjoying a bit of sunshine after your tasting, with a large, bowl-shaped fountain and pool welcoming guests as they arrive.  The impeccable maintenance of the exterior belies the age of this building.  Once indoors, old redwood timbers that have been at work supporting winery equipment in the upper floors for over 120 years show their real age.  This old wood is nearly black in some places, though it is evident where restoration work has sanded back a layer over the last few decades.  Once inside, a receptionist greats you and offers you a choice of two tasting experiences.  To the left is a barrel room with glass walls (to help stabilize the temperature of the wines as they age).  The floor is finished in a handsome, rich maroon paint, and a few leather chairs have been chosen to bring the color upwards into the room.  Despite the numerous windows in the building, there is not much natural light, which adds a sense of romance to the atmosphere inside.  Inside the tasting area are two tasting bars and a number of tables for a sit-down flight of wines.

Inside the reception area at Trefethen Family Vineyards

To be able to experience more of the wines that Trefethen offers, my friend and I decided to choose distinct tasting flights.  He opted for the reserve flight, while I opted for the estate flight.  This allowed us to share each wine to get a broader impression of their winemaking style (which favors medium-bodied elegance over mass and power).  I started with the 2011 Chardonnay, followed by the 2010 Pinot Noir, the 2010 Cabernet Franc, the 2010 Dragon Tooth (a Malbec blend), the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (from a Magnum bottle), and the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.  My favorite of all of these was the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon for its development and depth, though the Chardonnay illustrates that 2011 is a great vintage for this grape.


Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 7 and the wines offered as a 6.

August 14, 2013 – Early Harvest Underway

There is one feature that you notice right off as you drive up American Canyon on Highway 12 leading into Napa Valley.  As the white grapes near maturity, the vines are covered with plastic netting to keep birds away from the ripening fruit dangling just inches below.  Today I was driving along this route half-expecting to see the netting, but it was absent.  But then, so was the fruit.  Later, pulling into the Provenance driveway, I noticed that the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon vines had all been harvested too.  It would seem that most of the white grapes in the valley have already been harvested, which is remarkably early for as many years as I have been coming here (since 2005).  There have been reports in the local news about the harvest being two weeks ahead of schedule and the vineyard managers need to be careful not to over ripen the fruit this year.  On the plus side, I sampled a few red grapes from different locations and the flavors are already wonderful.  I just hope the acidity is there to make these wines perfect.  Dismissing any unforeseen hail storms (check the 2012 Burgundy harvest and just recently in 2013), I’ll bet that 2013 turns out to be another excellent vintage in Napa Valley.

July 8, 2013 – Two wines from the 2005 vintage

It was my turn to select wines for dinner and I wanted to introduce my friend to two of the more notable Napa Valley Cabernets from this praised vintage.  The first wine I selected was a wine made of Cabernet Sauvignon, while the second was a blend of the classic Bordeaux varietals.  Both wines were served from half-bottles with no decanting – the second wine did have the cork pulled about an hour before pouring it.  The outcome of this tasting is that I have even greater confidence in the strength and quality of the wines made in this vintage.

2005 Hollywood and Vine Cabernet Sauvignon

I first discovered this winery’s Cabernet while sampling from the 2001 vintage.  Back in 2006, that wine was memorable for its richness and its over-the-top tannins.  Basically, the wine was begging for ten years of cellaring before having its cork pulled.  When I found these half-bottles of 2005, I was informed by the wine shop owner that the winery had brought in a consultant and “fixed” the problem with the tannins.  I opened the first bottle in 2009 and found it readily enjoyable.  (My guests were upset that I had brought only a half-bottle for dinner before the symphony.)  Tonight, this wine exhibited balance and power, though it was the lighter-bodied of the two wines.  On the palette I noted both black and red fruits, with black cherry, black licorice, red currant, dark chocolate, and balanced minerals.

2005 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

When you see a bottle of wine rated 96 points (by the Wine Advocate), you have to wonder what it’s like.  So, I eventually bought three half-bottles from my local wine shop.  The half-bottles just sat on the store shelf for months.  Finally, my curiosity moved me to pull the cork on one, and I was impressed with the wine - absolutely wonderful!  When I returned to pick up a few more bottles, they were sold out.  It would seem that someone else had opened a bottle at the same time I did and scooped them up just ahead of me.  I found a few more bottles through another retailer and have my happy supply now.  Tonight I opened this wine and it was unarguably the favorite of the evening.  Immediately, you notice this wine’s potent nose.  On the palette,  the texture is juicy and plush, with notes of black raspberry, cranberry, dark cherry, black licorice, and subtle mineral, all delivered in perfect balance with a persistent richness on the mid-palette.

Provenance Vineyards, May 26, 2013

www.provenancevineyards.com

We wrapped up our trip at Provence Vineyards.  To help keep costs down for the three of us out wine tasting, I tried to visit the places where I am a wine club member and the tasting fee is waived.  Since Provenance allows its wine club members to build their own flights of wine, I was able to share my tastes with my companion and try more wines than if I had been there alone.  Another reason I wanted to visit Provenance was to check out their Memorial Day Cellar Sale.  (By the time we arrived, they had sold out of the wine that I had been interested in ... It must have been good.)

We shared all of our pours, and I was able to taste the following wines:

2012 Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc
2011 Estate Sauvignon Blanc
2010 Malbec
2009 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Oakville TK2 Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (my favorite)
2007 Three Palms Merlot

Finally, I was treated to a fascinating vertical of Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon: 2004, 2007, and 2009.  The 2007 remains my favorite of the wines I tried today, though my overall favorite is the 2002 vintage.


A full review was written already about Provenance Vineyards during my visit on February 8^th, 2012.

July 6, 2013 – Wine: 2005 Saint Clement Oroppas

This wine embodies the delicious red fruits of its vintage while avoiding the unbalanced minerality that developed in so many other Cabernets from the 2005 vintage.  2005 was heralded as a terrific vintage for Napa Valley, both in quality and in quantity.  2005 was also the first vintage for the new winemaker at Saint Clement.  Having studied under the departing winemaker, Danielle Cyrot endeavored to carry on the signature style of the Oroppas wine.  I recall tasting this when it was young and recognizing its potential (and its need to be cellared a short while).  At one point I thought that I had lost two of my bottles of this wine, but found them a couple of years later while exploring the special wooden box buried beneath several other cases of wine in my basement.  Tonight I opened one and was delighted with how this wine has evolved.  Smooth, lightly textured, and beautifully fruited with notes of raspberry, cranberry, dark chocolate, red currant, and subtle minerals.  While not the powerhouse that the 2001 and 2002 developed into, this wine makes up for that in its near elegance and clean fruit.

2005 St. Clement Oroppas

Freemark Abbey Winery, May 26, 2013

www.freemarkabbey.com

I had a wine club pickup waiting for me at Freemark Abbey, so this became our next stop.  I had been waiting for months to check out the members' tasting room and the conditions finally lined up to let this happen.  When we arrived at the winery, there was a falafel truck parked behind some cones in the parking lot, and a band was playing behind the winery.  When I asked about this inside, I was told that they had a food truck event with a number of vendors that was just wrapping up, which I then remembered reading about in my e-mail.  (I had forgotten about the event because I was planning to visit Napa Valley the week before, but changed my plans at the last minute to accommodate my guest.). I was also looking forward to tasting the wines in my wine club pickup to get an idea about cellaring needs.

Inside the Member's tasting room at Freemark Abbey

The Freemark Abbey members’ tasting room is quite the contrast from the historic main tasting room.  In stark contrast, the member’s tasting room is clearly contemporary construction, with nods to the historic building’s design and construction.  There is an open-beamed ceiling echoing that in the main tasting room.  A fireplace dominates the room and creates a cozy tasting area for enjoying indoors.  The tasting bar is made of a rich dark oak and features a black stone countertop.  A large wooden wine rack provides the backdrop for the tasting bar and is topped with a crown molding.  Plenty of natural light enters the tasting room from the large windows on three of the walls, each trimmed handsomely in woodwork.  Several seating areas allow you to take your pours and enjoy them sitting down if you prefer not to stand at the bar.  Just off the back is an open deck with a view overlooking the winery’s event lawn.  The lush landscaping filters the sunlight and lends a sort of coolness to the warm afternoon sun.

Thanks to the generous wine pours at the previous stop and the abundance of bubbly at our first stop, we decided to limit our pours to just three wines.  We started with the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, which was perfect for sipping on the members’ deck just outside.  We followed this by the wine in my pickup, the 2009 Josephine Cabernet Sauvignon.  We ended with the 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon because I wanted to compare this against my memory of the 2009 Cabernet.  My clear favorite was the Josephine for its clean fruit and richness.


A full review was written already about Freemark Abbey during my visit on December 28^th, 2012.

June 30, 2013 – Wine: 2005 Chateau Le Pape Pessac-Leognan

I bought this half-bottle back in 2008 and tucked this away until tonight.  The price was very reasonable so I bought it blindly – an inexpensive Bordeaux from an acclaimed vintage was an easy “buy” decision.  I decided it was time to open this wine, so tonight the cork came out.  I was pressed for time (who schedules a conference call at 10:00pm on a Sunday?) and so I began tasting this wine shortly after opening.  The nose was prominent on this wine, and the palette was initially fruit-forward (yet well balanced) with flavors of blackberry, pencil lead, pomegranate, black currant, and dark chocolate.  After about an hour open, the minerals asserted themselves, along with tobacco, pushing the fruits into the back seat.  Then I had to dash off.  (sad-face emoticon here)

2005 Chateau Le Pape

Elizabeth Spencer Wines, May 26, 2013

www.elizabethspencerwines.com

My coworker had a wine club package waiting to be picked up at Elizabeth Spencer, so I nobly offered to pick it up for him.  Elizabeth Spencer has a comfortable patio area for wine tasting which makes it an ideal place to visit when the weather is as spectacular as it was this day.  My guest had friends in the area and they were able to join us for a few minutes at Elizabeth Spencer for a quick crossing of the paths.  We took our first three pours indoors before heading outside to the patio, at which point the others caught up with us.  The patio is laid out nicely and easily accommodates five or six small groups without imposing on each other.  The staff was very a accommodating and brought our extra guests a glass before we could even think to ask for it.  As a treat, the winery was celebrating an anniversary and was pouring a number of their wines from the 2006 vintage out of magnum bottles, which is rare to be able to experience.

The private patio at Elizabeth Spencer Wines

We began our tasting experience with the 2010 Chardonnay served from a standard 750ml bottle.  The next three wines were poured from the library magnums that were opened specially for this tasting event:  the 2006 Chardonnay, the 2006 Pinot Noir, and the 2006 Syrah.  Lastly, we tasted the 2009 Mount Veeder Cabernet (750ml), which was included in my coworker’s pickup.  Of these wines, the 2006 Syrah was my favorite as it was in an excellent phase of its development, with the 2009 Cabernet a close second.


A full review was written already about Elizabeth Spencer Wines during my visit on November 2^nd, 2012.

June 28, 2013 – Wine: 2009 Provenance Sauvignon Blanc

I don’t drink much white wine.  Red wines appeal to me more, but when the temperature is still hovering above 87 degrees after work, I want something cold.  I had placed this bottle in the refrigerator about a month ago in anticipation of warm weather and was rewarded for that effort tonight.  If you want a crisp, lightweight Sauvignon Blanc, open it as soon as you buy and chill it.  Otherwise, hold onto the bottle for about two to three years and you will allow it to soften and develop its “dessert” characteristics (think Crème Brule).  As expected, you find lime and grapefruit on the palette, but this is balanced nicely with a slight sweetness on the finish, suggesting a caramelized dessert like Crème Brule, as well as an oatmeal quality that I enjoy.  While not crisp, this nicely aged Sauvignon Blanc was wonderfully smooth and weighty – a sort of Cabernet-drinker’s white wine.  My favorite vintage of this wine so far has been the 2005, but this nicely aged vintage was a close second.  I am looking forward to my 2012’s though, as all the 2012 Sauvignon Blancs that I have tasted have been wonderful.