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| 2005 Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
Friday, August 29, 2014
July 17, 2014 – Wine: 2005 Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Wines evolve and go through good phases and locked-down phases. When this wine was young, it featured the
best attributes of the 2005 vintage:
tasty red fruits, plush tannins, and great balance. I would even recommend it to friends and
family looking for a Cabernet in this wine’s price-range. So, I clung to a few half-bottles and forgot
to open them. Tonight I opened the first
of two remaining bottles and was disappointed by how I seemed to have missed
the boat. Sure, many of my other 2005
Cabernets are starting to fade, but they still possess some of their original wow! factor that had attracted me
to the wines. But this wine has evolved
beyond that point to where it is simply a nice wine with nothing remarkable
about it. I did decant for an hour
before drinking, which should have helped (perhaps it needed more air
time). On the very even palette I
noticed red and black fruits backed by minerals, all tightly woven so that no
one flavor stood out. The balance was
great, but that’s about it. I wonder how
the last bottle will evolve.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
August 26, 2014 – Earthquake Aftermath Math
After a 6.0+ earthquake shook the greater Napa Valley early Sunday, the city
of Napa was not ready to accommodate visitors.
The power was knocked out, some water mains had broken, and each
aftershock threatened to knock loose more masonry work from the many brick
buildings. Not that Napa has recovered
100% from the quake, but it has done much of the cleanup and closed off the
dangerous parts around the heavily damaged buildings. To that end, the small businesses that depend
on the tourist trade for their survival are in need of you to return. If you were planning a trip to Napa Valley to
visit any of the wineries, you should continue with your plans. Call ahead to confirm each winery’s state of
business, but few wineries in the areas from Yountville and northward were
impacted beyond having to clean up broken stemware and the occasional lost
bottle of wine in the tasting room.
Wineries in the Stag’s Leap, Oak Knoll, and eastern Carneros districts
were more severely impacted, so be sure to call in advance of any visits to
those areas. Also, expect some traffic
delays heading south on Highway 29 leaving the city of Napa for the next few
days as bridge repairs are conducted.
Otherwise, enjoy this spectacular summer weather in Napa Valley.
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| Napa Valley wine regions impacted by the earthquake |
Sunday, August 24, 2014
August 24, 2014 – Earthquake Aftermath
After a 6.0+ earthquake shook the greater Napa Valley early today, the city
of Napa is overwhelmed by rescue and recovery efforts. If you are not already in Napa, you should
probably plan to avoid the area for the next two or three days. Likewise, the eastern half of the Carneros
area is closest to the epicenter and should be avoided. If you are staying North of the City of Napa
and looking to go wine tasting, consider a visit in the areas between
Yountville and Calistoga, where most of the valley’s wineries are located. You should call ahead before visiting any
winery or tasting room to learn whether the operation is open today.
If you are not already in the Napa Valley and were hoping to go wine tasting, select one of the many surrounding areas instead for the next couple of days. To the west of Napa Valley, you will find the Sonoma Valley which features a number of tasting rooms. Just to the north of Santa Rosa you’ll find the Russian River and Alexander Valley wine regions which host many dozens of tasting rooms. To the south, you’ll find the Livermore Valley in the East Bay, and the Santa Cruz Mountains in the South Bay. As with every disaster, if you do not need to be in the area, you can be most helpful by staying away while rescue and recovery efforts are underway. (Of course, if you have business in the area, call ahead to confirm plans or make new arrangements.)
Listen to KCBS radio (106.9 FM or 740 AM) for more earthquake information.
If you are not already in the Napa Valley and were hoping to go wine tasting, select one of the many surrounding areas instead for the next couple of days. To the west of Napa Valley, you will find the Sonoma Valley which features a number of tasting rooms. Just to the north of Santa Rosa you’ll find the Russian River and Alexander Valley wine regions which host many dozens of tasting rooms. To the south, you’ll find the Livermore Valley in the East Bay, and the Santa Cruz Mountains in the South Bay. As with every disaster, if you do not need to be in the area, you can be most helpful by staying away while rescue and recovery efforts are underway. (Of course, if you have business in the area, call ahead to confirm plans or make new arrangements.)
Listen to KCBS radio (106.9 FM or 740 AM) for more earthquake information.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Provenance Vineyards, July 15, 2014
www.provenancevineyards.com
Between my wine club pick-up and a case of Carneros Merlot that I acquired on sale, I had quite a bit of wine to take home from Provenance, so I ended my travels here. A great number of changes are underway outside the Provenance winery building, with the construction of a new patio area for folks to pass the time in the spectacular weather that often besets Napa Valley. For now, the main lawn is gone, and half of the parking lot is closed off for the construction work. A few architectural drawings in the tasting room reveal different plans for the patio area, but they all boil down to a number of sitting areas with some lush greenery in-between them. There was also mention of repainting the exterior as part of the project. I am looking forward to the new patio, and I hope they keep the exterior color as is. This color makes it one of the easiest landmarks to point out to visitors looking for a great place to stop and taste.
For my tasting, I decided to revisit
some old favorites. I started with the
2010 Barrel Select Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. Then I tried the 2009 To Kalon Cabernet
Sauvignon, the 2009 Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon (which had been open for a day),
and ended with the 2011 Sleeping Lady Cabernet Sauvignon. Of these, the To Kalon Cabernet is shining
beautifully and remains my favorite wine at the tasting bar. I will miss it once it drops off the tasting
menu.
A full review was written already about Provenance Vineyards during my visit on February 8th, 2012.
Between my wine club pick-up and a case of Carneros Merlot that I acquired on sale, I had quite a bit of wine to take home from Provenance, so I ended my travels here. A great number of changes are underway outside the Provenance winery building, with the construction of a new patio area for folks to pass the time in the spectacular weather that often besets Napa Valley. For now, the main lawn is gone, and half of the parking lot is closed off for the construction work. A few architectural drawings in the tasting room reveal different plans for the patio area, but they all boil down to a number of sitting areas with some lush greenery in-between them. There was also mention of repainting the exterior as part of the project. I am looking forward to the new patio, and I hope they keep the exterior color as is. This color makes it one of the easiest landmarks to point out to visitors looking for a great place to stop and taste.
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| Some of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes growing at Provenance Vineyards |
A full review was written already about Provenance Vineyards during my visit on February 8th, 2012.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
July 12, 2014 – Wine: 2003 Saint Clement Oroppas
Whether you buy just two bottles or a few cases of any wine, you will
eventually be faced with opening the last bottle. When it is a wine that lacks inspiration,
it’s almost a relief to open the last bottle.
But, when a wine brings as much pleasure as this one has, it’s always
with mixed emotions that you open the last bottle. You know you are in for a great evening of
wine enjoyment, but you also know that you won’t ever enjoy this wine (from
this vintage) again (unless you polished off a case within the first six months
of its release). Back in 2008 the winery
cleared out the last few cases of half-bottles of 2003 Oroppas at 50% off, so I
got a case each of 2002 and 2003 for myself.
During the first three years, the 2002 was my favorite of the two
vintages, but today, the 2003 has outshined the best that the 2002 had
accomplished. Tonight, this wine was
elegant, nearly rich in the mid-palette, wonderfully balanced, and truly tasty
with flavors of red cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, ripe tomatoes, black
pepper, and minerals. After such a
wonderful wine, I am now sad that I won’t get to enjoy it again, at least not
from a half-bottle. (I have a magnum in
the basement, but that will taste very differently when I finally open it.)
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Corison Winery, July 15, 2014
www.corison.com
It was time again to pick up my wine club shipment at Corison winery. This time my pickup consisted of two bottles of the 2010 Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. While I was looking forward to tasting this wine, I would leave disappointed because they did not have enough bottles left to pour in the tasting room. I guess I will simply have to be surprised by this wine. Walking down the driveway to the Corison Winery building it was obvious that some major renovation work was underway on the old farmhouse there. I asked one of the workers who shared with me that the plan is to turn this into a new guest house. My first thought was that they would move the tasting operations out of the cellar and into the new house, but that will not be the case. I still get to taste among the barrels at Corison.
Because I behaved myself at the prior stop, I was able to enjoy more of the wines being poured at Corison. I had not tasted the Helios Cabernet Franc since the delicious 2007 vintage, so I started off with a taste of the 2010 vintage. Next, they had several back vintages of the Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon open, so I was able to try each of the 2001, 2004, and 2005 vintages, along with the 2010. Lastly, they poured the 2008 Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which is developing both elegance and richness. Of these wines, my favorite was the 2001 vintage (and usually is), followed closely by the 2004 and 2005. I should probably open one of the 2005’s I’m holding onto in my cellar. Needless to say, my disappointment from not trying the 2010 Kronos faded quickly.
A full review was written already about Corison Winery during my visit on April 6th, 2012.
It was time again to pick up my wine club shipment at Corison winery. This time my pickup consisted of two bottles of the 2010 Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. While I was looking forward to tasting this wine, I would leave disappointed because they did not have enough bottles left to pour in the tasting room. I guess I will simply have to be surprised by this wine. Walking down the driveway to the Corison Winery building it was obvious that some major renovation work was underway on the old farmhouse there. I asked one of the workers who shared with me that the plan is to turn this into a new guest house. My first thought was that they would move the tasting operations out of the cellar and into the new house, but that will not be the case. I still get to taste among the barrels at Corison.
 |
| The Corison farm house under renovation |
Because I behaved myself at the prior stop, I was able to enjoy more of the wines being poured at Corison. I had not tasted the Helios Cabernet Franc since the delicious 2007 vintage, so I started off with a taste of the 2010 vintage. Next, they had several back vintages of the Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon open, so I was able to try each of the 2001, 2004, and 2005 vintages, along with the 2010. Lastly, they poured the 2008 Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which is developing both elegance and richness. Of these wines, my favorite was the 2001 vintage (and usually is), followed closely by the 2004 and 2005. I should probably open one of the 2005’s I’m holding onto in my cellar. Needless to say, my disappointment from not trying the 2010 Kronos faded quickly.
A full review was written already about Corison Winery during my visit on April 6th, 2012.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
July 5, 2014 – Wine: Moet et Chandon Imperial Champagne
I had friends over for a backyard barbeque.
My friends all wanted beer with their grilled tacos, but I’m not a fan
of beer. Then I remembered a
quarter-bottle (187ml) of Champagne that I had in the basement and I tossed it
into the freezer for a few minutes. I am
starting to acquire a taste for Champagne (especially blanc de noirs), and I
thought this cold bubbly would suit the late summer afternoon quite well (and
pair nicely with the Tilapia tacos). The
first thing that surprised me was that an actual cork was used, not some
plastic twist-off molded in the shape of a traditional cork. The second thing that surprised me was the
taste. All these years I have found
Champagne/sparkling wine not to my liking because I had always tasted the
inexpensive, highly-acidic and off balance bubbly that others had bought. Now I am starting to discover that I do enjoy
the well-made bubblies, especially this Champagne, with its superb balance,
great acidity, and notes of fruit that shine elegantly through the brisk
palette. I originally bought this on a
whim, and now I’ve been trying to remember where I bought it so I can buy some
more.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Milat Estate Winery, July 15, 2014
Winery - 5 / Wines - 5
Range: 1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Closed tasting room. Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel, and Cabernet.
www.milat.com
For nearly a decade I have been driving past the charming Milat Estate Winery tasting room and operations on the main highway without stopping in. The winery is the next-door neighbor to Corison Winery, where I am a wine club member, so you know how often I have been just steps away from this place. Today I decided to plan a visit here. I parked at Corison (my next stop) and walked over to Milat. (Trying to get from Milat to Corison by car in the afternoon is nearly impossible because of traffic.) As luck would have it, a sign outside announced a 50%-off case sale, so I was eager to try the wines. Once inside, a chat with the proprietor soon revealed that the wine was being cleared out before closing operations on August 1, 2014. I was quite disappointed that I had not come in sooner, but more than happy to take advantage of the 50%-off sale. The challenge would then be finding my way back to the car with a full case of wine.
The Milat tasting room is reminiscent of the way that tasting rooms were before the limo-scene conquered Napa Valley. Neither rustic nor refined, the inside is nicely appointed with ample woodwork. A few large windows allow ample light inside, though they do not give the best view of the vineyards just beyond the parking lot. The exterior of the winery is what makes this place shine. The front features a large gabled wall finished with planking painted a neutral tone. In the center is a beautiful rounded double-door that is done in a deep, natural finish (redwood?) that makes the front of the winery pop from the street. The scale of the winery building reflects the scale of the winemaking operations – on the small side, but nicely styled. My talk with the winemaker revealed that the new operators of the place plan to reopen with a larger, more modern tasting experience for their remote vineyards. I’ll let you know more as I learn it.
Being a small operation, there are only a handful of wines available to taste. I skipped the off-dry Chenin Blanc and moved onto the red wines. I started with the 2012 Pine Station red blend, which is a blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Next I tried the 2012 Zinfandel, which is a more restrained style of Zinfandel. Lastly, I sampled the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. There is also a port wine available, but I passed on that too. (I knew Corison would be pouring a number of great wines and I wanted to hold out for their wines.) I ended up buying a case of the Zinfandel. At the price, I will have some terrific wines to bring to parties.
Based on this experience, I would rate the winery a 5 and the wines a 5. It is too bad that by now they have closed up shop.
Range: 1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Closed tasting room. Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel, and Cabernet.
www.milat.com
For nearly a decade I have been driving past the charming Milat Estate Winery tasting room and operations on the main highway without stopping in. The winery is the next-door neighbor to Corison Winery, where I am a wine club member, so you know how often I have been just steps away from this place. Today I decided to plan a visit here. I parked at Corison (my next stop) and walked over to Milat. (Trying to get from Milat to Corison by car in the afternoon is nearly impossible because of traffic.) As luck would have it, a sign outside announced a 50%-off case sale, so I was eager to try the wines. Once inside, a chat with the proprietor soon revealed that the wine was being cleared out before closing operations on August 1, 2014. I was quite disappointed that I had not come in sooner, but more than happy to take advantage of the 50%-off sale. The challenge would then be finding my way back to the car with a full case of wine.
 |
| The doors to the Milat Estate Winery operations building seen from the highway. |
The Milat tasting room is reminiscent of the way that tasting rooms were before the limo-scene conquered Napa Valley. Neither rustic nor refined, the inside is nicely appointed with ample woodwork. A few large windows allow ample light inside, though they do not give the best view of the vineyards just beyond the parking lot. The exterior of the winery is what makes this place shine. The front features a large gabled wall finished with planking painted a neutral tone. In the center is a beautiful rounded double-door that is done in a deep, natural finish (redwood?) that makes the front of the winery pop from the street. The scale of the winery building reflects the scale of the winemaking operations – on the small side, but nicely styled. My talk with the winemaker revealed that the new operators of the place plan to reopen with a larger, more modern tasting experience for their remote vineyards. I’ll let you know more as I learn it.
 |
| The Milat Vineyards sign welcomes visitors, but sadly is no longer applicable. |
Being a small operation, there are only a handful of wines available to taste. I skipped the off-dry Chenin Blanc and moved onto the red wines. I started with the 2012 Pine Station red blend, which is a blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Next I tried the 2012 Zinfandel, which is a more restrained style of Zinfandel. Lastly, I sampled the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. There is also a port wine available, but I passed on that too. (I knew Corison would be pouring a number of great wines and I wanted to hold out for their wines.) I ended up buying a case of the Zinfandel. At the price, I will have some terrific wines to bring to parties.
Based on this experience, I would rate the winery a 5 and the wines a 5. It is too bad that by now they have closed up shop.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
June 27, 2014 – Wine: 2005 Hewitt Cabernet
When this wine was released, I quickly recognized its quality. I would tell folks at the Provenance tasting
bar that it was one of my favorite vintages of Hewitt, second to the 2002
vintage. Even in comparison to the 2007
vintage, which has been my favorite since the 2005 dropped off the tasting
menu, I prefer the red fruits offered up on the palette by this wine. So, I purchased six bottles of the 2005
Hewitt the year it was released and tucked them all away, waiting for a special
occasion. Then I started counting the
number of “special occasions” that I have each year where I have a reason to
open a wine like this and decided to stop waiting. Tonight, this wine was spectacular, featuring
great balance, terrific structure and amazing complexity. The palette features plenty of red berries,
supported by pencil lead and minerals.
Now I need to resist the temptation to open the remaining five bottles
before the year ends so I can experience this long-lived wine as it evolves.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Elizabeth Spencer Wines, July 15, 2014
www.elizabethspencerwines.com
It was time for a return trip to Napa Valley to pick up an assortment of wine-club shipments, both for me and my friend. This stop is for the latter. I had picked up a sandwich in Yountville and brought it with me to Elizabeth Spencer. I sat outdoors in the glorious weather at a small table and enjoyed my turkey sandwich paired with a number of Elizabeth Spencer’s wines. I find turkey to be such a flavorful and versatile meat that it pairs with nearly anything but the most delicate of dry wines. And the Elizabeth Spencer patio made for a delightful al-fresco dining experience, although I would be reluctant to attempt this on a busier day of the week. I am less comfortable munching on a sandwich in front of crowds that have no food with them and so choose to do this only when there is very little company.
To pair with my sandwich, the tasting room folks served up some great wines. I started with a dry 2012 Chenin Blanc, which surprised me a little. Next was the 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and the Sonoma Coast Syrah, both from the same part of the Sonoma Coast. I thought I would end my flight with the 2010 Special Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, but the generous folks at the tasting room followed this with a pour of their 2005 Howell Mountain Merlot, which was really quite nice. Of these, my favorite was the 2010 Special Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon for its flavors and structure.
A full review was written already about Elizabeth Spencer Wines during my visit on November 2nd, 2012.
It was time for a return trip to Napa Valley to pick up an assortment of wine-club shipments, both for me and my friend. This stop is for the latter. I had picked up a sandwich in Yountville and brought it with me to Elizabeth Spencer. I sat outdoors in the glorious weather at a small table and enjoyed my turkey sandwich paired with a number of Elizabeth Spencer’s wines. I find turkey to be such a flavorful and versatile meat that it pairs with nearly anything but the most delicate of dry wines. And the Elizabeth Spencer patio made for a delightful al-fresco dining experience, although I would be reluctant to attempt this on a busier day of the week. I am less comfortable munching on a sandwich in front of crowds that have no food with them and so choose to do this only when there is very little company.
 |
| The elegant patio at Elizabeth Spencer Wines |
To pair with my sandwich, the tasting room folks served up some great wines. I started with a dry 2012 Chenin Blanc, which surprised me a little. Next was the 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and the Sonoma Coast Syrah, both from the same part of the Sonoma Coast. I thought I would end my flight with the 2010 Special Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, but the generous folks at the tasting room followed this with a pour of their 2005 Howell Mountain Merlot, which was really quite nice. Of these, my favorite was the 2010 Special Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon for its flavors and structure.
A full review was written already about Elizabeth Spencer Wines during my visit on November 2nd, 2012.
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