Provenance Vineyards, January 19, 2015

www.provenancevineyards.com

When trying to cut back on the wine you are consuming, it is probably best to avoid tasting at wineries where you are a wine club member.  Such was the case with this visit.  I had to stop at Provenance to pick up a wine order from a few weeks back, so the winery was hard to pass up.  As usually, I was recognized, greeted warmly by old staff (and treated well by the new person), and offered some very nice wines to try, including one that I had tasted two years prior at a special members-only event.  By the time that we left Provenance, I was grateful not to be driving, as I was starting to feel the effects of the day’s wine consumption.

Provenance Vineyards building as dusk settles.

I had intended to taste only three wines at Provenance, but as I was finishing my third pour, I was told that the 2009 Hewitt Double-Plus Cabernet Sauvignon was open and available to taste, which was a very rare opportunity.  How could I resist?  I started my tasting flight with the 2012 Cabernet Franc, followed by the 2010 Three Palms Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2010 Oakville To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon.  Next I was offered the 2009 Hewitt Double-Plus Cabernet Sauvignon.  As I was finishing that, I was told that the 2010 Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon was performing well right now.  The only problem was that this last wine faced a lot of potent competition, with the Hewitt Double-Plus being the star of the flight.  Impressive in its own right was the 2010 Oakville To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon, which was my second favorite.

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

 

Joseph Phelps Vineyards, January 19, 2015

Tasting Room - 4 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Outdoor tasting during construction.  Red and white wines.  Reservations required.www.josephphelps.com

After a quick lunch in Yountville, it was onto Joseph Phelps Vineyards where I was eager to taste their 2012 Cabernets.  I had not yet visited Joseph Phelps, and I probably picked the wrong time to visit.  The tasting room has been closed for several months while it undergoes extensive remodeling, so I will still have no idea how nice the tasting experience is there.  The other problem was that after so much mine from my prior two stops that day, the last thing I needed was another six-wine tasting flight, but that’s what we faced here.  I had surrendered my driving role to my friend after lunch because I was already starting to feel the extra alcohol in my system and felt it would be irresponsible to be driving.  Why did I choose to come to Joseph Phelps Vineyards then?  It was at my friend’s request that we visit here.  The good news is that the 2012 Cabernet was well worth the visit.  (Too bad that they were still pouring the 2011 Insignia.)

The temporary visitor center set up at Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Because of the renovation work underway on the main tasting room, Joseph Phelps has set up a small complex of temporary buildings for their visitors’ center.  And, because the weather was spectacular for mid-January (even for May), we enjoyed our wines outside on the patio under the filtered sunlight.  The visitor center is set up for check-in and making purchases.  An array of tables has been set up outside for tasting and education, while a few rooms are also available (for inclement weather?).  The tables all look across and empty field toward the hillside where the future tasting facilities will open.  Because Joseph Phelps Vineyards is off the main roads, you should plan an extra fifteen minutes for your visit (75 instead of 60) to allow for the extra travel, check-in, and extensive tasting flight.  You will also need to make reservations ahead of your visit.

The vineyard view at Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Our tasting flight started off with two white wines: a 2013 Sauvignon Blanc and a 2012 Chardonnay (which was the better of the two).  Then we moved onto the red wines.  Two 2012 Freestone Pinot Noirs where poured, with the second being a single-vineyard (Quarter Moon) offering.  Next came the anticipated 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by the 2011 Insignia proprietary blend.  The Cabernet Sauvignon outshone the Insignia, but this has more to do with the two vintages offered (2011 was a challenging year, while 2012 was wildly successful) than the production quality of these wines.

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 4 and the wines offered as a 7.  Look for the renovated tasting room to open in June.

Ma(i)sonry, January 19, 2015

www.maisonry.com

While traversing the valley with my wine-tasting buddy, Ma(i)sonry was selected as our second stop (of five).  Planning for visiting five wineries should have included the quantity of wine poured at the tasting, but I overlooked this aspect.  It turned out that each stop offered an abundance of wine to sample, especially Ma(i)sonry.  The good news was that I was able to try three wines that I was eager to taste, and we were able to compare 7 samples of Cabernets (well, one was mostly Merlot) and pick our favorites.  And, the Ma(I)sonry tasting room offers an art-filled look back in time with its historic stonework and eclectic mix of antiques.  This is a very relaxing environment for tasting wines.

A generous mix of art and antiquities upstairs at Ma(I)sonry in Yountville

Each pour at Ma(i)sonry is about two ounces, which is double the size offered in most tasting flights.  My friend and I shared each pour from our two flights.  We started with the 2012 Blackbird Arise, which is remarkable for its flavor and structure.  Next came the 2010 Coup de Foudre Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by the 2012 Lail Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2012 Pahlmeyer Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2012 Pahlmeyer Red, the 2012 Tor Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and ending with the 2010 Juslyn spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  The clear champion of this lineup is also the most expensive, namely the Pahlmeyer Red.  The Blackbird Arise was clearly the second favorite, and it was at the bottom of the price range.  (I ended up buying both.)

Looking past the old cut stone surrounding the windows to the tasting gardens at Ma(i)sonry

 

A full review was written already about Ma(i)sonry during my visit on May 14th, 2013.

Robert Biale Vineyards, January 19, 2015

www.robertbialevineyards.com

My wine-tasting buddy and I had this holiday off, so we decided to spend the day in Napa Valley.  His idea was to start earlier so we could squeeze in one additional winery visit.  I also had pick-ups at three places and he had a pick-up at one, so in all it was a busy afternoon.  Since we would be starting earlier, I wanted to start at someplace on the southern side of the valley, in Oak Knoll.  He had never been to Robert Biale, and I was eager to try their 2012 wines, so we planned our trip to start there.  I took some beautiful pictures of the foggy fields with the mustard starting to open and bloom – and deleted the files by mistake when I tried to copy them to my laptop (the file names collided).  Although I was disappointed, it does afford me another reason to return to Robert Biale, especially during the fog.

The Robert Biale black chicken points the way to the tasting room

In order to visit five wineries today, I would need to keep track of my pours and limit myself.  Of course, once the winery staff recognize your appreciation for their craft, they start to bring out their favorite bottles (not on the tasting menu) for you to try.  In this case, rather than four samples, we were treated to six.  But that’s OK, because I can simply curtail later at the next stops.  (Right!)  We started off with the 2012 Black Chicken Zinfandel, followed by the 2012 Varozza Zinfandel, the 2012 Old Kraft Zinfandel, the 2012 Pagani Zinfandel, the 2011 Old Crane Ranch, and ended with the 2011Thomann Station Petite Sirah.  The Pagani piqued my interests because Ridge Winery also makes a Zinfandel from the Pagani vineyard.  Of these, my favorite was the 2012 Varozza for its balance and elegance, while the Pagani was a close second.

A full review was written already about Robert Biale Vineyards during my visit on March 1st, 2013.

Charles Krug Winery, November 24, 2014

Tasting Room - 7 / Wines - 6
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
European-styled winery just north of Saint Helena.  Variety of reds and whites.
www.charleskrug.com
 
I was told about Charles Krug Winery during a visit back in 2008 to Rudd Oakville Estate.  The fellow hosting my small-group tasting had suggested Charles Krug as a good place to visit.  Later, I would notice Charles Krug’s property as I would drive north past Saint Helena, but I did not pass it on every trip.  So, when it came time to visit on this trip, I had trouble remembering where it was located.  Because I have switched to using the Silverado Trail and Deer Park Road to bypass the Saint Helena traffic, I have not been passing the Charles Krug estate.  As I would seldom travel north of Freemark Abbey’s tasting room, my sometimes unreliable memory had me believe that the tasting room was north of Freemark Abbey, when in truth the winery is located just south of Deer Park Road, across from the Culinary Institute.  (Ah, that’s it!  I was distracted by the thought of food every time I drove by.)

The old-world style of the Charles Krug winery building

The Charles Krug winery operations building houses the tasting room and is set back from the main road a short distance.  You’ll walk a bit further from the parking lot, past the gardening structures and around the side of the building to find the entrance.  The winery operations building has an old-world European feel to it, with tall walls, small, arched, brick-lined openings for windows, cornerstones running up each corner, and a gabled roof with dormer windows popping out.  Inside, the tasting area is set up in a large open space.  Unlike the tasting room at Ehler’s Estate, where the floor is divided (buy sofas and tables alone) into nine tasting areas, there are just two tasting bars at Charles Krug.  The vast middle of the room is mostly vacant except for a small cluster of tables near one of the bars.  Behind the main tasting bar they have installed a tall bottle rack much like the handsome backlit rack at Etude, although the rack here is stocked with dummy bottles all bearing the same label (a reference to 1861).  The floors and walls are all unfinished concrete, with some woodwork added to soften the feel.  The overall feel of the operations building is blended nicely with a few visual comforts to create an interesting (albeit dim) tasting room.

The mix of concrete, wood, and interesting items inside the Charles Krug tasting room

 
I opted for the basic tasting flight, but dropped one of the white wines in favor of another red wine.  I started with the 2012 Carneros Chardonnay and followed with the 2012 Carneros Pinot Noir.  Next was the 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet.  I ended my flight with the 2012 Zinfandel, which was added to my flight.  Of these wines, I enjoyed the Zinfandel the most, but I would prefer not to be drinking 16.7% alcohol in my wine.  (The highest Zinfandel I have ever tasted was 17% and was delicious.)

The wine rack wall inside Charles Krug winery

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

Twomey Cellars, Napa Valley, November 24, 2014

Tasting Room - 6 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Quiet tasting room south of Calistoga.  Pinot Noirs and Merlot.
www.twomey.com

When I first discovered Twomey Cellars, they had a Merlot and a Sauvignon Blanc that they poured.  It wasn’t until a while later that I discovered they also make some fantastic Pinot Noir wines from four different wine-growing regions in California.  While the Calistoga tasting room is nice in its own right, it cannot compare to the magnificence of the Russian River tasting room that they also operate.  Luckily, the same wines are poured in both places.  If you are a fan of Pinot Noir (a Pinotphile?), there are only a few options for you in Napa Valley, and even fewer that offer a lineup of Pinot Noir sourced from the best regions in the state of California.  Here at Twomey, you have the opportunity to compare Pinot Noir grown in the Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley, along the Sonoma Coast, and Santa Maria to the south.  You may have to return a few times to experience them all, but they often have two or more open so you can compare them side-by-side.

The cozy tasting room at Twomey Cellars in Calistoga

The Twomey Calistoga tasting room is done in an elegant farm-house style, with large patio surrounding the building like a veranda would.  The exterior of the building, including the framing around the doors and windows, is all white.  The simple gabled roof is a medium gray that lends a richness to the white.  There is a garden with a fountain off to one side where you can take in the fall color.  Inside, the tasting room is modest, though nicely appointed.  A curved tasting counter occupies one side of the tasting room, while a large window exposes some of the cellar operations to guests.  There is also a wine archive which has large windows for peering in and is framed in rich woodwork.  The dark gray floor tiles offset the white walls nicely and tie in the woodwork nicely.  Subdued natural light makes its way inside through a few windows, but there is no direct sunlight because of the porch overhang and the northern orientation of the room.  There are a few tasteful items for sale, including some women’s clothing accessories.

The wine library inside the Twomey Calistoga tasting room

On this visit, I was fortunate to be able to compare three of Twomey’s Pinot Noirs.  (Often you are limited to just two.)  I started with the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, which shows that 2013 will be nearly as good a vintage for this grape as it was in 2012, albeit a crisper palette for the 2013’s.  This was followed by the three 2012 Pinot Noirs:  Anderson Valley, Bien Nacido (Santa Maria), and Russia River Valley.  Of these, the Anderson Valley Pinot was performing the best.  (The Russian River Valley Pinot may be starting to shut down.)  Finally, I enjoyed the 2010 Merlot.  While the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir was my favorite this time, the 2010 Merlot was remarkable in its own right.

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 visit.

Saint Clement Vineyards, November 24, 2014

www.stclement.com

I had two motivations for my prompt return to Napa Valley this week.  First off, I was eager to try out my new SLR on the fall color in Napa Valley before any more weather stripped the foliage from the vines.  Second, I had a pickup at Saint Clement that I had missed by two days during my prior visit.  As I pulled into the valley from the south, I could see that I was nearly too late to capture any decent photographs of the area.  But, the further north I traveled, I soon learned that the weather had been a little more forgiving up this way.  I managed to capture a number of great shots.  (The geek in me took pictures with my point-and-shoot to compare with those from the SLR.)  And, my wine club shipment was ready for pickup as anticipated.  Had I delayed my trip any longer, I might have had to pay shipping so they could get my wine out from underfoot.

Some repurposed wine barrels at the winemaker's studio at Saint Clement Vineyards.

The weather was warm for late November so I opted to try some white wines with my flight.  I started with the new 2013 Bale Lane Sauvignon Blanc (which needs a little time to sweeten and integrate, but shows good promise).  Next I enjoyed the 2012 Abbots Vineyard Chardonnay.  Then it was on to the reds, starting with the 2011 Oroppas, then the 2011 Johanna (a red blend in my pickup), and lastly the 2010 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  Of these, the Johanna was my favorite, but I picked up a bottle each of the Chardonnay, the Oroppas, and the 2010 Star Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

A full review was written already about Saint Clement Vineyards during my visit on May 12^th, 2012.

January 12, 2015 – Revisiting Fall Color

My most recent trip to Napa Valley was on November 24, 2014, and while I captured some amazing autumn color, it is clear that I missed the peak colors by several days.  The weekend before my visit had seen some heavy rains and strong winds that stripped the wines of some of their beautiful foliage.  Still, what remained shimmered and gleamed in the brilliant afternoon sun.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from my afternoon there.  I hope they help to warm you as the trees and vines now lie naked awaiting Spring’s next dress rehearsal and bud-break.

Along the Silverado Trail just north of the Yountville Cross

The view from the balcony at Miner Family Winery in Oakville

Behind the offices at Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards

The driveway leading to Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards

Conn Valley Road near Howell Mountain Road (looking south-west)

At Charles Krug Winery in Saint Helena

Elizabeth Spencer – October 20, 2014

www.elizabethspencerwines.com

We ended our trip to Napa Valley at Elizabeth Spencer’s tasting room in Rutherford.  I wanted to finish our trip relaxing in the late afternoon sun on the patio there enjoying their lovely reds.  And, since Elizabeth Spencer makes a broad selection of whites, my travel companions were quite pleased too.  The patio is very relaxing in comfortable weather such as we were enjoying, and it was just warm enough for my guests to enjoy their white wines, yet cool enough for my reds.  This turned out to be a lovely way to wrap up our winery visits.

The bottle I bought is near the upper left on the racks at Elizabeth Spencer.

I began my flight with a taste of the GPS blend, which is a (secret) mixture of red grapes grown along the northern California coast.  Next I tried the 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which I have thoroughly enjoyed every time I have tasted it.  I followed that with the 2010 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2010 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, which was my favorite of this flight.  (During my last visit, the Rutherford Cabernet was my favorite.)  I decided that I enjoyed the Rutherford Cabernet enough to warrant bringing home a bottle for a special occasion sometime in the next five to ten years.

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

Provenance Vineyards – October 20, 2014

www.provenancevineyards.com

I like to take people to Provenance Vineyards to show off the quality of their wines.  Folks who enjoy white wines often take a liking to one of the three Sauvignon Blanc wines they make there.  And for those that enjoy red wines, there is a good variety, including some outstanding Merlots.  Lately I have found myself encouraging people to try the 2010 Three Palms Merlot because I was so impressed by it.  More often than not, the folks I encourage end up taking a liking to this wine too.  I also stopped by to pick up my September wine club shipment.  But after learning what was being shipped, I opted to replace my shipment (too many Malbecs) with other wines, which required that I contact the wine-club representative (who had already left for the day because of illness).  I guess I’ll just have to come back again to get my wines.

The completed tasting patio at Provenance Vineyards

I worked my way through the new releases of some of my favorite Cabernets that Provenance offers.  I started with the 2010 Three Palms Cabernet Sauvignon, which is still young and a little reserved (but showing promise).  I next tasted one of my favorites, the 2010 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select, followed by the 2010 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon 2 (aka TK2), and the 2012 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  Of these, the TK2 Cabernet was my favorite, but the Barrel Select Cabernet is the best value.

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

Saint Clement Vineyards, October 20, 2014

www.stclement.com

Next stop on the agenda was Saint Clement, after stopping to pick up some sandwiches at Ranch Market Too in Yountville.  My hope was to sit under the oaks on the patio and enjoy our lunch as we tasted wine in this glorious weather we were enjoying.  But, when we arrived at Saint Clement, they directed us to the next level above the patio, set out a red table cloth across the picnic table, and gave us a private, sunny tasting experience overlooking Napa Valley.  My guests really enjoyed picnicking with our delicious sandwiches, our spectacular view, and our wine tasting selections.  It was during this visit that I learned that the tasting room at Saint Clement will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning November 1, 2014.  This will impact when I can come to pick up my wine club shipments as I prefer mid-week visits.

The fine picnic tables at Saint Clement Vineyards

Before taking our wines out to the picnic table, I was poured a taste of one of the wines in my wine-club shipment, the 2011 Johanna red blend.  Then, at the table, I tasted the 2009 Napa Valley Merlot, the 2011 Oroppas, the 2010 Steinhauer Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2010 Armstrong Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon.  Of all these wines, the Steinhauer Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon stood out as my favorite.  The interesting thing is that during my last visit, this same wine was less impressive, a little thinner, and shorter finishing.  It is amazing how much a wine can develop in just a month or two.  My guests enjoyed the 2012 Abbott’s Vineyard Chardonnay so I bought a bottle to take home with us.

A full review was written already about Saint Clement Vineyards during my visit on May 12^th, 2012.

Hess Collection Winery, October 20, 2014

www.hesscollection.com

Whenever I am entertaining new visitors to Napa Valley, I like to start off my visit at Hess Collection.  Visually, this winery has so much to offer.  Starting with the long walk past the coy pond, into the three-story modern addition to the original stone winery building housing the tasting room, to the two floors of quality art work occupying the top two floors of the addition, this winery is an eyeful of treats.  Today I was entertaining a special guest from Mexico, so we started here.  Unfortunately, the stylish tasting room in the old stone winery was cordoned off, and we were directed to the third floor to taste in the art gallery.  It would seem that Hess’ stonework was one of the victims of the earthquake last August.  I was told that the masonry had shifted and was in need of engineering work, but the winery expected to be able to repair the damage.  (I also heard that Trefethen’s operations building had suffered damage in the same earthquake.)

One of my favorite pieces on display at Hess Collection

The good news about the wine is that the majority of it survived the earthquake.  Because there were four of us tasting today, we decided each to choose our own wines from the lengthy tasting menu and share our favorites.  (That’s why I have more than four wines listed.)  I started off with the 2012 Artezin Zinfandel Esola, and moved onto the 2011 Petite Syrah, the 2010 Auction Lot 11 blend, the 2010 Block 19 blend, and the 2012 Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon.  But my favorite wine was the sip I had of the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, which was the nicest of the white wines we would taste this day.

A full review was written already about Hess Collection during my visit on May 12^th, 2012.

Elizabeth Spencer Wines, August 11, 2014

www.elizabethspencerwines.com

My second stop of the day was Elizabeth Spencer.  The main reason for my visit here was to pick up my friend’s wine club shipment.  Luckily, they checked the status of his account first and determined that his credit card information needed to be updated.  My friend was tied up for the next thirty minutes, so I decided to take advantage of the fact that Elizabeth Spencer stays open until 6:00pm during the summer months and rescheduled my stop here.  Off I flew to my next winery so I could return later, allowing my friend to make arrangements for his billing in the meantime.  I returned after visiting the next two wineries on my agenda and enjoyed a relaxing tasting here.  Aside from the wines and the charming architecture of this place, the late hours are another big reason I like Elizabeth Spencer.  When something goes wrong with your timetable, it’s nice to have the flexibility to rearrange a few visits.

The wine-rack wall inside Elizabeth Spencer's tasting room

After the generosity of pours at the previous two wineries I visited, I needed to scale back my wine tasting at Elizabeth Spencer.  I opted for just two pours, but ended up with three.  I started with the 2011 Russian River Chardonnay, which has a nice minerality to it.  Next, I asked for two red recommendations and was poured their top two Cabernets:  the 2010 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2010 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon.  Of these three wines, the Rutherford Cabernet was my favorite, but even with the wine-club discount, it is just beyond my financial reach.  (Maybe I’ll try to get an invite when my friend opens his bottle.)

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

Provenance Vineyards, August 11, 2014

www.provenancevineyards.com

Here is one nice feature about buying wine from a winery …  Provenance put one of the single-vineyard Merlots (a 2007) on sale for 50% off, making it the perfect wine for entertaining.  The first bottle I uncork failed to please my guests, and only a few sips were ever taken.  Sure enough, the wine had developed badly.  The wine was not corked, but it had a certain bitter quality that made it undrinkable.  (In fact, the ounce that I tried ended up giving me a headache the next day.)  After all the bottles I have opened from Provenance, this was the first off bottle.  So, I called the winery, they brought in a replacement bottle from the warehouse, and held it for me to pick up at my convenience.  (That’s the nice feature.)  So, today I was picking up that bottle.  I had another opportunity to check out the garden reconfiguration going on, and it looks like it will be nice when it’s done.

The new front yard at Provenance Vineyards is well underway.

For my tasting flight, I decided to start with the 2013 Rose of Malbec, since it was included in my last shipment.  Next I moved onto the 2011 Winemaker’s Reserve and the 2010 Three Palms Merlot, which is showing very nicely right now.  Following that I was able to compare the 2009 Three Palms Cabernet Sauvignon to the 2009 To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon.  Finally, I could not resist an opportunity to try the now rare 2004 Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon, which was special.  Of these, the 2009 To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon was my favorite, followed closely by the 2010 Three Palms Merlot.

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

Saint Clement Vineyards, August 11, 2014

www.stclement.com

Saint Clement was patiently holding onto my July wine-club shipment, so the primary motivation for my trip today was to relieve them of my shipment.  (I had until the 23^rd before they would ship it and charge me extra.)  When I arrived at the winery, it seemed as though I was the only guest.  Even so, I was directed up to the winemaker’s studio to conduct my club-member tasting, which was great for me because it meant another tasting under the oaks that gently shade the patio there.  There is an indoor tasting option at the studio for when Goldilocks would be unhappy (“too hot” or “too cold”), but Goldilocks was nowhere to be found on this beautiful summer afternoon.  Always looking for creative ways to make use of old wine barrels, a small display had been set up with some summer flowers in a small vase on the old barrel to soften the atmosphere there.

The late afternoon view from the Saint Clement patio

My club pickup included the 2011 Napa Valley Merlot and the 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so I was eager to try these wines.  I was convinced to start with a sample of the 2012 Abbott’s Vineyard Chardonnay.  I followed this by the 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (which I won’t be giving away) and the 2011 Oroppas blend.  Then I tried the two mountain Cabernets, the 2010 Steinhauer Ranch (Howell Mountain) and the 2010 Armstrong Ranch (Diamond Mountain).  I have long been a fan of the Howell Mountain Cabernet from here and this was again my favorite wine of the lineup.  (Of course, I went home with a bottle of the 2010 Rutherford Cabernet, which is drinking wonderfully now.)  I guess I’ll have to try the 2011 Merlot on my next visit.

A full review was written already about Saint Clement Vineyards during my visit on May 12^th, 2012.

Cuvaison Winery, August 11, 2014

Winery - 8 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Exceptional autumn views.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Cabernet.
www.cuvaison.com

My sister was the one who first convinced me to visit Cuvaison winery.  As a fan of bubbly wines, she had been visiting Domain Carneros and spotted the entrance to Cuvaison while leaving.  She immediately joined Cuvaison’s wine club and invited me to come along.  I ended up bringing home a number of her wine-club shipments for her during my visits to Napa Valley.  Then, her finances changed and she dropped her wine club membership.  Years have elapsed since then, so I decided it was time for a return visit.  Being in Carneros, Cuvaison’s vineyards tend to cling to the last of the morning’s fog, and today the skies were just beginning to clear as I arrived at noon.  The weather and the setting combined to give me a glorious experience there, with spectacular views, very agreeable weather, beautiful architecture, and tasty wines.

The Cuvaison Winery Carneros tasting room

To get to Cuvaison from Napa, you will drive west on Highway 121 and then turn left onto Duhig Road.  (Domain Carneros should be visible before the turn.)  The driveway entrance to Cuvaison is well marked, directly across from Domain Carnero’s entrance.  You will drive about ¼ mile up a driveway to get to the tasting room.  The tasting room and operations buildings are done in a modern style with redwood integrated into the sides, large windows overlooking the vineyards below, and exposed metalwork.  Inside, the modern elegance continues the woodwork throughout the interior of the tasting room.  A number of tasting tables have been set up around a large rack of wine bottles in the center of the room.  Most of the room’s floor-to-ceiling window panels swivel 90-degrees to bring the beautiful weather indoors (or shut out the bad stuff).  Tasters are welcome to sit outdoors under the extended roof or exposed to the afternoon sun.  I chose to sit indoors as there were already a number of guests outside.

Inside the tasting room at Cuvaison Winery

My tasting flight started out with small plans but grew as I talked with the sales associate.  I started off with the 2012 Kite Tail Vineyard Chardonnay, and followed that by the 2012 Estate Pinot Noir.  Next, the sales associate convinced me to try the 2011 Mariafeld Pinot Noir.  Next on the tasting menu was a Syrah that I never got to.  Upon learning that I enjoy elegant Zinfandels, she poured for me the two Zinfandels from their Brandlin label, the 2012 Estate Zinfandel and the 2012 Bald Mountain Zinfandel.  I finished with the 2011 Brandlin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  I ended up bringing home a bottle of the 2012 Estate Zinfandel.

The vineyard view from the Cuvaison Winery tasting room

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery an 8 and the wines a 7.  This is consistent with my prior visits.

 

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.



Some of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes growing at Provenance Vineyards

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 8^th, 2012.

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.

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 6^th, 2012.

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 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.