Palmaz makes it 52 wineries in 2014!  On a beautiful early December day I experienced the most expensive of all of the tastings I have done this year at the beautiful Palmaz Vineyards founded by the inventor of the cardiac stent.  My friend Gayle was visiting from New York and arranged for a private tour and tasting at this high tech winery for a mere $60 per person.  The winery is built into the mountain which allows for the equivalent of an 18 story building that houses the approach of gravity flow wine making.  No wine is pumped from place to place — it all flows down from story to story and is monitored by Star Trek looking dashboards projected on the walls.

We did the grand tour then sat down in our private “salon” for a tasting of their various Cabernet Sauvignons (that start at a $120 retail and go up quickly from there) that were all lovely but will most likely never touch my lips again.  I did however splurge on their Muscat as I seem to be on a bit of a dessert wine kick and it was not out of this world expensive.  So Palmaz was #52!  And my favorite label design of all of the wines I’ve tried this year!

Did I skip #51?  NO!  Before we went to Palmaz we checked out the holiday open house and art show at Black Stallion.  While none of the wines were particularly memorable they were all very drinkable and each “station” had a taste paired with food.  My favorite was the 2012 Rockpile Zinfandell served with truffled lentils with bacon vinaigrette.

But why stop at 52 when you are driving by another winery on the way to a Christmas party?  Last stop for the year – Andretti.  Yes that Andretti made it in as #53.  Did a quick tasting yesterday of their Sangiovese and their very un-Merlot like Merlot!

 

So my new year’s resolution was kept and I got to try many great new wines along the way and see some of the most beautiful spots in the Napa Valley and more.  So what will I do with myself next year?

Cheers!

 

Carneros is an AVA in the southern part of Napa where Sonoma and Napa meet.  The area is known for Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays as it is a much cooler climate than most of the Napa Valley.  I drive through this area almost every weekend on my way to Napa but have rarely stopped to check things out.  With thirteen wineries participating in Holiday in Carneros I thought it would be a good day to get on track with my 52 weeks and try some places I’ve never even heard of before!

On my way in to the valley I stopped to register at Keating and pick up my wrist band and map.  While there I had to do a quick taste of their Malbec.

No time to linger as next on to meet my friend Kathy and our first stop at Larson Family Winery.  Lovely grounds with a gorgeous picnic area in the vineyard.  I especially liked their Three Lab Cab which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah named after the family dogs.

While not in the order of our travels we also checked out Ceja‘s new tasting room and their 2009 Pinot Noir and Homewood which had a very nice Viogner and Albarino.

One of my favorite stops of the day was Schug which is located up the laneway near the Carneros Deli where I have stopped for years coming and going from Sonoma and Napa.

Schug did a beautiful job with their Holiday in Carneros event that included olive oil tasting,  soup and artichoke dip from Kristine Schug and an extensive tasting of their wines.  They tasted their 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir which is aged in 20% neutral oak and their 2012 Carneros Pinot Noir aged in 30% new oak.  Their Carneros Pinot Noir is their “flagship” and quite nice at $30 a bottle.

The best find of the day was Peter Cellars.  Couldn’t resist when we saw the name on the map.  Had never heard of them but they just received a 90 on their 2010 Syrah!  We were greeted by Peter himself when we pulled up to the cute tasting room in a small barn behind their house in the vineyards.  All of their wines were lovely but I did walk away with a few bottles of the Syrah and really enjoyed their Pinot Noir and Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon.

So on a Sunday afternoon we were able to explore six new wineries which now brings me to Week #47 and 50 wineries!  Only two wineries to make my New Year’s resolution of 52 in 52!  Cheers!

Domaine Carneros on a Friday afternoon.  Enough said.

#44.

So back east at the beach house my friends Jody, Maureen and I were deemed “3 pak.” When one of us would show up without the others we were “1 pak” and so on…

This weekend Maureen and her parents came out for a visit and the “2 pak” covered 3 wineries that I’ve been wanting to try.

First up Robert Biale home of the Black Chicken Society (code name for the early casks). Known for their zinfandels they did not disappoint.  My favorites their 2012 Varozza Vineyard (St. Helena) and the 2012 Monte Rosso Vineyard (Moon Mountain).  They also made a delicious Petite Sirah.  I had to be reminded that a Petite Sirah is a cross-polinate of a syrah grape and a peloursin (no I don’t know what that is either).

Next on to James Cole just up the Silverado Trail.  Another small producer found through referrals from friends and the book Back Lane Wineries of Napa.  They had some lovely cabs and a very nice Malbec but I was completely sold on their 2013 Jaden Merlot Icewine and had to take a bottle home.  Not from Napa you say?  Correct from Canada where James’ brother lives.  Can’t wait to have this one on a special occasion with a yummy chocolate dessert!

And one more for good measure!  We brought our box of chocolate truffles to Luna. Luna was the first in Napa to plant pinot grigio but I found theirs to be a bit too fruity for my taste.  They are also known for their Sangiovese but I preferred their 2011 Bordeaux-style blend.  Perfect with a few birthday chocolates!  The celebrations continue!

Cheers!

#43 at week #43!  Just 9 wineries to go by the end of December!

October 18 was Homecoming Day back in Williamsburg, VA at my alma mater.  I haven’t made the trip back to William & Mary for a number of years.  This year I was able to celebrate the day (and our October birthdays) with Emily Early Kehrberg!  We started the day with lunch at The Pear downtown on the Napa waterfront on this stunning day fall day (albeit 77 degrees outside!).

I’ve been wanting to go to Pina for awhile.  Everyone keeps raving about their cabs.  So we headed up the Silverado Trail but as we passed Baldacci we both commented we had been wanting to check them out.  Quick turn in to the drive and we were standing in the tasting room.  Didn’t have a reservation but like many of the lovely smaller wineries if they are not too busy and you show up “poof” you have a reservation!  One of the Baldacci sons took us through their tasting starting with their 2012 Gewurtraminer and then their 2011 Pinot Noir both from Carneros (the cooler region in southern Napa).  But it is the cabs that wineries in the Stags Leap district are known for so we were looking forward to the 2010 Black Label Stags Leap Estate Vineyard.  This will be a good one in a few years.  Couldn’t help but wonder if there was any relation to my high school friend Todd Baldacci as Chris in the tasting room told us his great grandmother was from Virginia!

Back in the car and up the road to our destination Pina!  The tasting room is a tiny space in the barrel room.  Totally unassuming home for these amazing cabs!  Janie in the tasting room and their intern who we nicknamed “Crush” kept us entertained as we started with their 2012 Oak Knoll Chardonnay.  Liked it as it was not overpowering oak (I am a girl who prefers steel).  We went on to the 2012 Cahoots which is a blend of all of their single vineyard cabs that didn’t make it into the single vineyard wines (good value at $45).  Each one was better and better from the 2011 Yountville Wolff Vineyard to the 2010 Rutherford Firehouse to our favorite 2011 D’Adamo from Atlas Peak.  They do not sell wholesale and are found at very few restaurants so make the trek to Rutherford and you will not be disappointed!

#40 at Week #42!  Cheers!

I am woefully behind.  Have not posted since July and it is October!  Sometimes it just takes a few out of town visitors to kick start everything with a fab weekend of wine!  It certainly felt like summer with temps almost hitting 100 in Napa this weekend so my NY visitors Jim and Gayle were in for quite an experience.

The weekend started with a visit to Chappellet.  What a treat as Jim is a member and we were treated to a very special tasting which included access to their members meadow that overlooks Lake Hennessy.   We brought a picnic lunch and were treated to tastings of their blends like Cultivation and Las Piedras (amazing Bordeaux style) as well as the outstanding Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon.  We learned later in the weekend that Chappellet has trademarked Pritchard Hill and is the only winery that can use the name!

We then went on to the Ehlers Estate harvest party!  What a beautiful spot with lovely food, a band, bocce and a fun photo booth.  The highlight was the name the blind tasting when we were standing there and started speaking to the guy next to us to see what he thought.  He said they probably wouldn’t let him try as he might get it wrong!  Well of course he was the winemaker!  My favorite wine of the night was their Petit Verdot which is described as a “full-bodied gem of a red wine that satisfies like a powerful Cabernet, while sporting a completely different swagger.”

Sunday started with a visit to Venge.  A recommendation from a friend and it was a great one!  I had just tried their Scout’s Honor at a restaurant in Napa just a week ago.  It is an amazing value from this small family producer of just 7500 cases.  My favorites on this stop their Penny Lane Vineyard Sangiovese – a great wine for Italian food made in the ripasso style where in this case the pressed sangiovese juice is poured over the skins of Charbono.  I also had to go home with their Late Harvest Zin as finding a nice dessert wine is always a treat.  Great visit and our host Regina was amazing!

Last stop Ma(i)sonry where I’ve been before but got to try some new wines this visit.  This is such an amazing place to bring guests as it is a beautiful space filled with interesting art and their style is to learn about what you like and help you select what to taste!  This trip my favorite taste was the 2012 Rock Cuvee Cooper Grenache from Tor Kenward Family Wines.  I’m new to Grenache so it was great to try this one and their Tuck Beckstoffer Melee Grenache.  We also learned from our host Brian that one barrel is enough to make 250 bottles!  What a great way to end the weekend before heading out to a lovely meal at Oenotri in downtown Napa.

Doing it tough on week #40 at 33 wines / wineries!

Added bonus this week — I have two wineries from a few months back that need to be updated Reid Family‘s August 2 MS Fundraiser…

And a really great new winery in Napa called St. Claire Brown where I attended a Women for Wine Sense function and got to try their amazing rose!

Plus the very tasty Davis Bynum Pinot Noir tasting at the wine garden at the Russian River Blues Festival.

But wait there is more!  Last weekend Kathy, Mike and I hit two of the Napa Oxbow area tasting rooms with a visit to Waterstone that had a tasty Zin and a really fun visit to Herold.  What is fun about Herold?  The guys in their tasting room, the music and the cheeky wines.  How can you resist the “Joy Flight” with wines like Flux and Dropout (an Albarino that went home with me)?  A tasting room with a party atmosphere!

 

So that brings us to #38 at week 40.  More work to do in October!

In the interest trying new things this weekend I checkout out the Home Winemakers Classic held at Charles Krug winery. It was a beautiful outdoor event held as a Benefit for the Dry Creek-Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department Inc.  Firemen and wine!

There were a number of good wines but there is no point in talking about them or describing them as neither you or I will ever get a chance to drink them.  These are all made by home producers who may make as little as three cases.  They come on this day to share and that is it.

So I’ll share a few of my favorites and their creative labels.  Maybe I’ll get to try them again next year!  Oh and I’ll throw in a picture of a fireman for good measure since we were there to support the cause!

Cheers for #31 on week #29!

 

I have no idea how many wines I tasted yesterday.  I started out the day so organized taking a picture of every label that I tasted but by noon (yes noon) it was too much to keep track of so I’ll just highlight a few of the rosés and leave the rest for another day.  It was A Taste of Napa held as part of the Festival Del Sole at the old Copia building.

My favorite wine of the day was the Isabel Mondavi Deep Rosé.  A rosé made from cabernet sauvignon from the Mondavi family.  I must stop at the winery and pick up a few bottles of this great value $20 wine today as they are moving from the tasting room and don’t have a new spot yet!

My second favorite rosé was from Cairdean Vineyards.  Never heard of them?  Neither had I!  They are in St. Helena where the old outlet mall used to be.  With 62% cab it was another rosé that had a lot more flavor and structure than most.  I can’t wait to check out their tasting room, restaurant and more of their wines!

Too many wines to count at Taste of Napa so we’ll call this #30 on week #28!  Cheers!

Today we topped off the long weekend with a visit to two wineries in St. Helena.  First stop Duckhorn.

Another beautiful winery on the Napa Neighbors program!  We had a seat on their lovely porch and tasted five wines from Duckhorn:  2013 Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Merlot, 2011 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, 2011 Rector Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and my favorite the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.  My very fave of the day was from their Goldeneye label a 2010 Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley.

Second stop Benessere Vineyards the real reason we made the trek up valley. Of note was their 2013 Rosato — a Sangiovese rose left on the skins for 6-10 hours and their 2009 Sangiovese.  While tasting their “Phenomenon” blend I learned that a Super Tuscan uses Italian varietals along with grapes that are not indigenous to Italy like the 54% Cabernet Sauvignon in Benessere’s wine (along with 35% Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah).

The weekend started with a Provenance tasting at our 4th of July evening out at Napa Valley General store.  The Provenance Sauvignon Blanc became a quick favorite and I opened another bottle at lunch poolside the very next day!

Saturday we went to Robert Mondavi for their concert series to hear Big Bad Voodoo Daddy!  Can’t believe this was my first time at this iconic winery.  Margrit Mondavi, who founded the Mondavi summer music festival in 1969, welcomed the crowd and went on about how handsome the band was!  So cute!  And yes we had a bottle of their Fume Blanc – perfect on a hot summer night in Napa!

Week #27 wineries #26-29!  Half way through the year and on track!

 

 

 

Sometimes when you are behind on your new year’s resolution you have to work extra hard.  Re-commit.  Put your mind to it.  And sometimes instead of going to the winery you have to let the winery come to you.  Today was Diageo day where I had the pleasure of trying seven fabulous wines that are owned by or being imported by Diageo.

Three from the Rolland Collection:  Campo Alegre Rueda, Campo Alegre and Campo Eliseo

Two roses from Minuty: M Rose and Prestige Rose.

A Chalone 2011 Pinot Noir and a Rosenblum Zinfandel.

First let me say I think Rosenblum may have been my first Zin way back when I moved to the SF bay area the first time.  And Chalone I remember from the days of people talking about their legendary stockholder parties.  All were great to taste but for me today it was about the rose and Tempranillo.

The Minuty roses were beautiful.  I especially liked the one in the cute little skittle bottle — the one with the corset shape.  Pretty amazing these wines are from an area near St. Tropez.  Must make a point to get to this winery some day!

My other favorite for the day was the Campo Eliseo Toro 2009.  I would not have picked it for a Tempranillo as it was a bit heavier than most I have tried and definitely more raisin-y.   Old vines from Toro in Spain.  Thank you Diageo for bringing it to the U.S.!

So on this Sunday of week #26 I am adding wineries #23 – 25.  Exhausting work but somebody had got to do it!

Cheers!