Plans for next visits ( Larkmead, DryCreek and Russian River )

Returning back to Manhattan after spending a few days in Napa is mildly depressing. Noisy, craziness, dirty, stinky, gray and cold.
Compare this to Napa early in the morning in February :

Caymus Winery at 9am on Saturday

Driving back to Napa from St. Helena on Silverado Trail at 9:45am on Sunday morning

But I am already making plans for my next trip to the region. Maybe in April.

Friend of mine strongly recommended Larkmead winery.  https://www.larkmead.com/ . As they are also wine knowledgeable and have a certain passion for wine I took this very seriously. While checking their website I read the following about Larkmead:

"This  splendid estate situated in the heart of Napa Valley has enjoyed a reputation for high quality for well over a century. Tasting with Larkmead's proprietor Cam Baker demonstrated once again just what brilliant wines these can be."

~ Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, October 31, 2013

And after further research I read that they "sell" their wine based on allocation , which I assume is random. I was scared that it was another $1000 per bottle wine again. However I was very pleasantly surprised that it is priced around $80-100 per bottle.  My hopes are really up and I will certainly go visit it during my next trip. I really hope I will not be disappointed. Also I've been to Napa many times but I think it's time for me to go visit beyond Napa and Sonoma. I hope next trip I can take 2-3 days in Russian River Valley and Dry Creek. If only I knew when my next trip is...

WORST experience in Napa : Back Room wine store downtown Napa

Bad experiences happen but I think we reached a new level.

On the way back from Calistoga I stopped downtown Napa at the Back Room wine store at 1000 Main Street.

I was beyond disappointed by the experience there. They were serving at $5 a taste from a $60 bottle of wine with a Coravin. Is a $60 bottle of wine now so high end that it needs to be Coravined ? But the real shock was that the $60 wine was clearly corked. Wet cardboard nose, wet cardboard body and ... they kept serving it. I asked if they felt it was corked. They guy serving it clearly had no idea, he hadn't even tasted it !! Really ?? And what did he do ? Did he taste it then ? Nope. He declared it was fine.

Oh, I thought maybe as a wine store at least they will have supplies. I asked if they sold airplane packaging. Same guy then spent at least 5 minutes telling me  that checking wine on a plane is a no-no and it ALWAYS breaks. Did he ever fly on the plane ever ? Probably not. Somehow, miraculously, I've been flying with wines for more then 15 years and guess what ? NOT A SINGLE bottle ever broke. At least if their wines they had selected were any good or the people were interesting or knowledgeable.

Expensive tasting at $20 (tax was not included too !) . They probably need to change the team there.

Napa Valley 3rd trip day 2

Day 2

Day 2 of the 3rd trip to Napa was going to be very busy by design. I started at 9am and it’s still going as I write these lines.

1. Caymus winery

Started with my usual stop at Caymu’s winery. Made it there before it even opened. They renovated the front of the tasting room and it feels extremely calm and welcoming before the crowds arrived. Tried their Zin, Cab an more. They sold the Meiomi brand 3 months ago for $350m so unfortunately they do not make it anymore. Did try their $55 Belle Glos Pinot Noir which is the next level up from Meiomi. But one has to make a point that the $20 range Meiomi was so popular because it was good but certainly because it was priced right too. This should make people think that maybe instead of focusing on $110 bottles of wine most wineries should focus on $20 bottles of wine.
What really stood out for me was the $60 Merlot from their sister brand and Wagner family daughter Emmolo. I was so happy to find an amazing Merlot that stands out and in my eyes was my favorite wine in what I tasted there. Sideways did a disservice to the wine world by killing the Merlot. I really hope for more wine makers to make more Merlots so that we can get back the beautiful silky and velvety Merlots I had 10 years ago.

2. Honig winery

After Caymus , very close, continued with Honig. I had had it in the past at the winery and it was certainly good but having a Cab bottle only a few months ago in New York made me want to go back and revisit. Happy I did so. Their Sauvignon Blank stands out. But what really attracted my attention was their single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rafael Vineyard from 2002. They apparently had 18 bottles when I got there. 16 after I left. This really points out that wine aging is really very important and I think people do not put enough emphasis on drinking 10+ year old wines. They really are much different. A little patience please 

3. Rombauer winery

The team at Honig advised me to visit Rombauer which I quickly did. And I am so happy I did so. Overall I think it is the winery where the prices are the most reasonable and the best ratio of price to value with outstanding quality. They had 4 Zins which are different and similar and wonderful and an experience and all prices in the $30-$43 per bottle. What a treat! And of course they are known for their Chardonnay, worth a visit. They do have some $90 wines but I really did not see the point when their Zins are so interesting, priced right, wonderful and exhibit such a variety in aromas and tannic structure. I will be back 

4. Frank Family winery

And based on Honig’s team advice I also went to Frank’s family vineyards, advertised as similar to Rombauer. It was certainly interesting. Their Chardonnays are a nice middle ground between French and buttery. Their Pinot Noir stood out, their $50 Cab Sauv and most important what really was unique for me was their 100% Petit Sirah which I could taste …and buy. The Petit Sirah is a 2012 and I hope that by aging it another 10 years I will be able to hopefully match the 2002 100% Petit Sirah from Crocker Starr I bought the last time I was in Napa. These are however $60 vs the $120 (from memory) I got at Crocker. I’ll let you know how this turns out, if I am patient enough to wait 10 years for it.

5. Lava winery

After lunch continued with Lava winery in Saratoga. The atmosphere was really fun and really laid back. It was really busy as well. Some interesting grapes and for me the Petite Sirah really stood out. However the prices , at $58 per bottle without offering any possible discounts seemed really steep for the location and winery type. I was expecting more $30-40.


6. Tulocay winery : best small winery and value around.

What a gem ! I found it by randomly calling wineries on Google maps. After making an appointment with Bill, it turned out when I showed up that he was also the wine maker. He has been making Tulocay wines since 1975. Fearless he had started back then, at age of 30, without knowing anything and not knowing he knew nothing. And 50 years of experience in making wine shows. For very reasonable prices ($30-$35 for most of their wines) you can taste some of the best wines I've have in Napa. Different people and different taste. I really like wines with character and aromas and they are spot on ! They are probably coming close to the best I've had and hardly any wines I ever tried around Napa beat them. Bill opened some 2002 Syrah and the body was really extraordinary. They only have about 15 cases left and at about $35 a bottle I think it's an amazing deal.

I also had the pleasure to meet Brie, Bill's daughter who is slowly taking over and transitioning the wine making. She is right now 1/2 time assistant wine maker at a different winery and 1/2 time at Tulocay.

Tulocay makes right now about 1000 cases per year in about 5 flavors, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir ( which is like a Carneros Pinot Noir), Zinfandel, Carbet Sauvignon and Syrah. So there isn't much to start with . Apparently their Zin is their most popular wine. But their 2010 Zin was sold out and they didn't make any in 2011 to 2013. The 2014 is still in the bottle. So I didn't even get to try any.

I signed up the for wine club to make sure I get their wines as they ship them. At $200 per year I definitively think their wine club is the best deal around.

p.s. After getting home I checked their website and guess what ? Their Zin got the Platinum medal at the World Wide Championship with 98 points. And you know what ? They didn't mention it even once while I was there for a few hours. Best kept secrete in town. 

Napa Valley 3rd trip day 1

Exciting to be in Napa for a 3^rd visit. It’s been quite busy and a really active visit. And it’s not even over yet

1.      1. Luna Winery

I first stopped at Luna Winery just at the entrance of Oak Knoll. Italian inspiration. They stood out for growing Sangiovese grapes imported from Itality in Napa. Left with some Classico Sangiovese.

2.      

      2. Reynolds Winery

After driving a little further ended up on the right at Reynold’s winery. The team there was especially nice and you can taste outside and indoors. They really stood out for their darker and boldier Pinot Noir. But what was really special was their Quote blend made without sulfites but with an Ozone ( O3) process. Very fruity and flavorful. Also really liked their 100% Petit Verdot which tasted surprisingly like a really nice Cabernet Sauvignon.

3.      3. Grgich Hills Winery

After a nice lunch at Rutherford Grill, as usual, moved on to Grgich Hills winery not far from the restaurant on the left. It is on the main road and very popular. The owner is of Croatian origin and they have a nice board showing Napa’s wine history. Nice wines but a little pricey. Left with a 100% Petit Verdot from here too, mostly as an educational wine showing the tannins power in a Petit Verdot while keeping the wine still very pleasant.

4.     

     4. Heitz Winery

Continued with the Heitz Winery. I had a bottle of their Cabernet Sauvignon in Capital Grill at a very reasonable price and really wanted to try their collection. Was not disappointed. They had some 1998 Cab single vineyard which had a unique minty nose and body. The mint aroma I had never had before especially in a red wine could potentially come from a lot of eucalyptus trees around the vineyard. And what stood out for me was also their port made with the original port grapes , a whole mix of 5 or so grapes, from Portugal. Not cheap, but they do make ½ bottles and their 750ml bottles are still reasonable. Maybe a trip to Port in Portugal is worth it.

5.      C5. Corasin Winery

Finished with a unique visit at Corasin winery. It is on reservation only but I was exceptionally welcomed in by Nolan who also opened up their wine collection for a taste. They have a TINY, and by that I mean TINY offering and the entire vineyard is in the back of the winery. They are known for pickcing their grapes early in the season. And you couldn’t tell from the wine color. Unique wines worth the experience but certainly on the expensive side. 

Saratoga Wine Trail

While visiting Mountain View in Silicon Valley and having a free afternoon I wandered if there were any vineyards around.

I was not surprised to find tens of vineyards within 30 minute drive in the mountains to the west of Silicon Valley.

Put apart the wonderful scenic drive I had time to visit 2 vineyards. And guess what ? I found the wines to be really outstanding , especially from Picchetti !! Absolutely worth a trip !

1. Cooper-Garrod Estate (http://cgv.com/)

Cooper Garrod had a very warm welcome and gave the feeling of a family run vineyard. The patriarch of the family, also named George, when he retired from being a NASA test pilot planted 0.5 acres of Cab Sauv in 1972. And that retirement hobby turned into today's winery which is also paired with a horse riding ranch.

I tasted their entire line up. And I personally really liked their blends.
They have Pinot Noir, Cabernet France, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. And they create blends adding also at Viognier and Merlot to them.

I personally liked the Syrah/Viognier blend, their Bordeaux blend and their Cab Sauv blend.

In general all their wines are relatively light, even for a Cab Sauv or Cab Franc, with light fruits.

2. Picchetti Winery (http://www.picchetti.com/)

Picchetti looks from the outside as a family farm. However as soon as you walk in the wine tasting room it really gives you the feeling of a business where you go to the register to pay for your tasting 1st before anything else happens.

Without being too put back by the big black registers, the team there was also very friendly. However their wines are spot on for my taste. They are not cheap with their flag star wines around $60, their best selections around $45 a bottle and their entry level around $30.
They source their grapes from different locations in addition of what is grown locally which allows them to have a nice selection.

And I had quite some interesting ones. The wine maker here really enjoys heavy bold strong wines. They go regularly in the 15% alcohol easily.

I cared a lot for their Pinot Noir with grapes from Carneros which made me think more of a Cab Sauv then a traditional Pinot Noir.
 
The white Viognier was interesting.

Their Cabernet Franc's nose was spot on as I liked them however the body was just the "bell peppers" usually people call spices.

And last but not least I really found their old vine Zinfandel OUTSTANDING. Lucky me, they also make a port out of a Zin/ Syrah blend also in 750ml bottles.

It is worth a trip just for the Zin if nothing else. I was told it is their most popular wine after all...