Napa Valley Trip 2/5-2/6/05

By Marc Cohen

Andretti Winery (Oak Knoll Area, south of Yountville)

• Located on Big Ranch Road, between Trancas and Oak Knoll, just north of the town of Napa. Yes, this is the winery owned by the race car driver.  The wines across the board were above average to excellent. We tasted the ’02 Chardonnay - Sonoma ($12), ’04 Pinot Grigio ($16), ’02 Sangiovese – Napa ($20), ’01 Merlot – Napa ($26), ’01 Merlot - Estate ($40), ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa ($28), and the ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Montona ($50). The wines offered very good value, but the standout was the Montona Cabernet, which rated an A+.

Monticello Winery (Oak Knoll Area)

• Located near Andretti on Big Ranch Road. The small-scale reproduction of Jefferson’s Monticello is the physical highlight of this winery. The wines were mostly excellent quality, although somewhat pricey. We tasted the ’03 Chardonnay – Estate ($26), ’02 Pinot Noir – Estate ($34), ’02 Zinfandel - Napa ($30). The Pinot Noir was a bit disappointing, but the Estate Chardonnay was thick, buttery, nice French oak nose.

Trefethen Winery (Oak Knoll Area)

• This winery has made excellent wines for many years. They have extensive vineyards around the winery and in other parts of Napa.  We tasted the ’01 Chardonnay – Harmony ($36), ’01 Pinot Noir – Bambino Estate ($20), ’01 Cabernet Franc – Napa ($28), ’00 Merlot – Napa ($40), ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa ($40), ’99 Cabernet Sauvignon – Reserve Napa ($75). Both the ’00 Cabernet and ’99 Cabernet Reserve rated an A+.  Outstanding wines.

Turnbull Winery (Oakville Area)

• On highway 29, right side heading north, a bit above Oakville Grocery Store. We tasted the ’03 Viognier – Napa ($30), ’02 Toroso ($25), ’01 Merlot – Napa ($25), ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40), ’02 Syrah – Napa ($30).  The Syrah, very pricey at $30, was disappointing. The ’01 Cabernet was very good, will age, and rated an A-.

Peju Province Winery (Rutherford Area)

• On highway 29, right side heading north, just before you get to Beaulieu.  We tasted the ’03 Provence – California ($18), which is a red table wine composed of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Syrah, ’01 Merlot – Napa ($35), ’01 Cabernet – Napa ($38), ’01 Syrah - Napa ($32).  What is it with all these $30+ Syrahs?  The Provence was strange, I did not like it. The Syrah was very good but extremely young tasting.

Franciscan Winery (Rutherford Area)

• On highway 29, right side heading north, just before Zinfandel Lane. We tasted the ’02 Chardonnay – Napa ($17), ’02 Chardonnay Sauvage, which means they used the natural yeasts present in the vineyard ($35).  Why they want $35 for a wine that they didn’t even have to buy yeast for is a puzzle. I liked the regular better anyway. We also tasted the ’01 Magnificat ($40), which is a Bordeaux blend of 70% Cabernet, 29% Merlot, and that pervasive 1% Petit Verdot.  It was outstanding. We tasted the ’02 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa ($25, ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon – Mt. Veeder ($40), ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder Reserve ($65). The Mt. Veeder Reserve was the best Cabernet we tasted on the trip, and the other two Cabs earned an A- and A, respectively, as well.

Whitehall Lane (Rutherford Area)

• On highway 29, left side heading north, just before Zinfandel Lane.  We tasted the ’03 Chardonnay – Napa ($26), ’02 Merlot – Napa ($26), ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa ($40), ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Leonardini Vineyard ($160/1.5L), ’99 Cabernet Sauvignon (Library, NFS), ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (NFS?), and the ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($70).  All the Cabs were very good.  The Chardonnay and Merlot were just average, and too expensive.

Zahtila Vineyards (Napa Valley)

• On highway 29, right side heading north, just north of Calistoga.  Highway 29 turns right and becomes the main street of Calistoga, then when it reaches the east side of the valley turns north again.  We tasted the ’02 Zinfandel – Russian River ($20), ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa ($27), ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa ($27), and the ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon – Beckstoffer Vineyard ($48). The Beckstoffer was excellent, but all the wines were very good and good value.

Clos Pegase Winery (Napa Valley)

• Located on Dunaweal Lane, near the Silverado Trail.  Clos Pegase wines have gotten better and better ratings over the years.  Every wine we tasted this trip was A- or above, mostly A’s, a couple A+.  We tasted the ’03 Chardonnay – Mitsuko’s Vineyard. ($21), ’01 Pinot Noir – Mitsuko’s Vineyard ($25), ’01 Merlot – Mitsuko’s Vineyard ($25).  Mitsuko’s Vineyard is in Carneros.  We also tasted the ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa ($32.50), ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Graveyard Hill, Carneros ($60), and the ’00 Hommage ($75), which is 100% Cabernet this year and a mixture of the Graveyard Hill and Palisades Vineyards.  The Chardonnay is good value for the quality; the two ’00 wines were rated A+.

Casa Nuestra Winery (St. Helena Area)

• Located on the Silverado Trail, on the right side heading south, between Lodi and Bale Lanes.  We tasted the ’04 Chenin Blanc – Green Valley ($15), ’04 Chenin Blanc – Estate ($24), ’03 Tinto Classico – Oakville ($37). Tinto Classico is a combination of 9 varietals, most of which are pretty obscure.  Sorry, $37 is overpriced by at least a factor of two for this grapey, fruity wine.  We also tasted the ’02 Merlot – st. Helena ($36), ’02 Cabernet Sauvignon – Estate ($32), and the ’02 Meritage – Estate ($45). The Meritage has 54% Merlot, 37% Cab, Cab Franc 9%.  Most of the wines were good, but on the pricey side.  A Chenin Blanc at $24 probably has its cult following.

Raymond Winery (border of Rutherford and St. Helena areas)

• Located on Zinfandel Lane, about halfway between highway 29 and the Silverado Trail.  We tasted the ’02 Sauvignon Blanc – Napa ($12.50), ’02 Chardonnay – Napa ($18), ’01 Merlot – Napa ($20), ’01 Cabernet – Napa (#32.50), and the ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Generations ($65). All wines were excellent and good value, particularly the Merlot.  Warning: Raymond continues the irritating trend, followed by some other wineries, of labeling their regular bottlings as “Reserve. The term “Generations” is what they use for their real reserves.

V. Sattui Winery (St. Helena Area)

• Located on the right side of highway 29 heading north, above Zinfandel Lane. They sell their wines only at the winery out of a massive tasting room (Probably a dozen pourers at counters on 3 sides of a large room). Completing the picture is a complete Deli and mobs of people buying food to eat at the picnic tables outside.  Don’t even think of going here at the peak of tourist season during the summer.  We tasted the ’02 Zinfandel – Duarte Vineyard ($26), ’01 Cabernet Sauvignon – Preston Vineyard ($27), Madeira ($37). In general, overpriced, mostly B to B+ wines.  The Madeira was good but not buyable at $37.

Provenance Winery (Rutherford Area)

• Located on the left side of highway 29, heading north, near Grgich Hills.  Beautiful tasting room floor made from the wood from barrel ends.  We tasted the ’02 Merlot – Carneros ($27.50), ’02 Merlot – Mt. Veeder ($45), ’02 Cabernet Sauvignon – Rutherford, ’02 Cabernet Sauvignon – Oakville ($45), and the ’00 Cabernet Sauvignon – Hewitt (not for sale – out).  With the exception of the Hewitt, the wines were at least a year too young for proper evaluation, but all were A’s, and are memorable wines intended for extended aging.

Darioush Winery (Napa County)

• Located on the left side of the Silverado Trail, heading south, past Clos du Val and Signorello.  The winery is brand new (9 months) with stunning Iranian columns and architecture.  Everything just oozed yuppiness.  We tasted the ’03 Chardonnay – Signature ($41), ’02 Merlot – Signature ($44), ’02 Shiraz – signature ($64), ’99 Cabernet Sauvignon – Caravan ($24).  The Caravan was just a B wine, the others were A’s.  However, the prices were ambitious, shall we say. The Shiraz was A+, but at $64?  Nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live on their wines unless I was far yuppier than I am.