Range: 1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Underground tasting room. Cabernet Sauvignon.
www.anomalyvineyards.com
This may be one of the smallest winery operations in Napa Valley that I have visited. The first time I visited, they gave me a tour of the winery building (both floors) and a brief history of the estate. Then they took me downstairs for the tasting. This time, neither the winery nor I had time for a tour, so we went straight for the tasting. Anomaly is such a small operation that they can only offer tasting appointments to members of their mailing list. It is easy to join the mailing list at their website. I am uncertain how long you can remain on the mailing list without making a purchase. (I really should test that, but the wines are irresistible.) Once on the list, you need to make an appointment to visit. This is typical for small, family-run wineries in the Napa Valley. If they had a typical tasting room open to the public, they would run out of wines pouring tastes for visitors without selling a bottle, so they have the need for this kind of control.
Anomaly Vineyards is not located on the main highway through Napa Valley, but rather is tucked away off a side road just southwest of St. Helena. The winery building rises up two stories from the surrounding vineyards, and is faced in beautiful stonework. The building is obviously only a few years old. The tiny building houses their operations, which should give you an idea about the limited quantities of wine they produce. What is above the ground is only half the story though. Climb down a flight of stairs, past a locked door to get to the tasting room. The tasting room can best be described as richly minimal. There is a handsome table in the middle of the room, halogen lighting throughout the room, and working barrels running down opposing walls. The walls and floor are all done in concrete, because this room is part of the winery operations. At the back end of the tasting room is a window to the temperature controlled wine library made of handsome wooden racks. Out the opposite wall is the main barrel storage room. The tasting experience is about as intimate as you can get without getting romantic.
The St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon is Anomaly Vineyard’s only wine. That they make any wine was purely by chance, but I’ll leave that story to the wine makers. They always pour the current release, which in this case was the 2009 vintage. Sometimes they will pour a prior vintage. On my previous visit, I was able to taste the 2005, 2006, and 2007. This time they poured the 2008 alongside the 2009. Both wines are quite nicely made, though the 2009 is more to my liking with its more prominent structure. Many people will prefer the 2008 with its elixir quality and sweet tannins. It is hard to go wrong with either vintage. (Just after visiting the winery, I opened a 2004 vintage – look for it on this blog.)
Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 6 and the wines offered as a 7. This is consistent with my previous two visits.
Check out my review of the 2004 Anomaly Cabernet Sauvignon later in the posts.
ReplyDelete