Mumm Napa, May 26, 2013

Winery - 5 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Elegant patio tasting experience.  White and rosé sparkling wines.
www.mummnapa.com

I am not a big Champagne drinker (I have never had a full glass of it) so I haven't had much motivation to visit Mumm Napa and try their sparkling wines.  A friend visiting from Southern California over the weekend provided the motivation.  What better way to start an afternoon of wine-tasting than by sipping bubbly under clear skies and in perfect weather (73F degrees).  My guest found this very appealing so I was confident we were off to a good start.  Tasting during Memorial Day weekend can involve some crowds, as was the case with our visit.  (I later learned that a tour bus had arrived a little before us and had filled the place to capacity.). We were told that we would have to wait about 15 minutes to be seated, but were on our way to a well-shaded table in the sun in under ten minutes.  If you visit midweek, it should be easier to get a table up against the vineyard for the best possible view.  While Mumm does sell some snacks to accompany their bubbles, they do not allow picnicking at the winery, so plan your meals around this.

The main entrance to Mumm Napa

It’s clear that the folks at Mumm Napa intended for their guests to enjoy their sparkling wines outdoors.  The indoor tasting area is essentially a screened porch (with glass doors) providing a direct view of the vineyards while tasting indoors.  The ceiling is essentially the painted underside of the roofing materials, but is finished and painted in a way that you do not notice how minimal it is.  The floor is similarly minimal, essentially a finished concrete in a warm, neutral color.  The inside walls are painted a creamy buff color.  The overall feeling is that of sitting in a comfortable sun room.  The cashier’s room where you pay after enjoying your flights of bubbles has been decorated with more attention.  Large wooden cabinets display the bottles of wine for sale and provide dramatic contrast to the soft crème color on the walls and ceiling.  Here you will also find an assortment of wine-related goods for sale, including bottle stoppers and an assortment of chilling buckets.

The indoor tasting porch at Mumm Napa

Mumm Napa offers four different tasting flights.  As there were three of us (and with some apologies to our pourer), we ordered their three top flights (one each) so we could share and compare each of the wines.  So, in all, we tasted eight individual wines (one was repeated in two flights).  This sort of comparison is fascinating as you have an opportunity to compare and contrast the different influences of grape varietals (Chardonnay versus Pinot Noir) and aging (we compared the same wine from 2007 and 2008, and another from 2005 and 2006).  Of the eight wines we tasted, there were two quite remarkable wines that stood out: the 2005 DVX was outstanding for its balance, flavor, and subtle richness, while the Brut Reserve Rosé was the most flavorful and balanced.  I bought a bottle of the Brut Reserve Rosé to take home.

So many pretty bubbles - our flights at Mumm Napa

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery a 5 and the wines offered a 7.