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re: Random thoughts about the Napa Valley wine scene
Posted on 6/25/13 at 3:41 pm to L.A.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 3:41 pm to L.A.
i misread your post. Not trying to argue. Just got introduced to Napa over the past couple of years, and am in love with the beer, wine and food scene there. I prefer it to Sonoma, but am biased and to each his own. 
FYI, make sure to hit Cade the next time you are there, especially if you can catch a sunset. It is spectacular, and the wines are pretty impressive to boot.
FYI, make sure to hit Cade the next time you are there, especially if you can catch a sunset. It is spectacular, and the wines are pretty impressive to boot.
1
Posted on 6/25/13 at 3:43 pm to Mung
quote:I actually made it over to Cade and was impressed with their wines. I went there at the end of a day spent tasting, however, so my palate was kind of worn out by the time I got there. I was impressed with what I tasted, however.
FYI, make sure to hit Cade the next time you are there, especially if you can catch a sunset. It is spectacular, and the wines are pretty impressive to boot.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 3:47 pm to L.A.
are you in the business L.A.? you seem to know a lot. I play golf with the wine and liquor director for a major restaurant chain and he is always bringing some good stuff around
Posted on 6/25/13 at 3:51 pm to Tiger Ryno
quote:Not a business for me, unfortunately, just a 30+ year passion. I'm about 8-9 years away from retiring. When I retire I hope to move up to the Santa Ynez Valley and get into the business in some way. I have some friends in the business, so some opportunities are there.
are you in the business L.A.? you seem to know a lot. I play golf with the wine and liquor director for a major restaurant chain and he is always bringing some good stuff around
Posted on 6/25/13 at 3:57 pm to L.A.
Some great Burgundian styled Cali Chardonnay is easy to find out there knowing the right producers: Hyde vineyard partnered with aubert de villaine of DRC and opened Hyde de Villaine. Also Stony Hill uses no malo and restricted oak use. Plumpjack also restrains their Chardonnay from full malo lactic if any. Stags leap wine cellars, which you didn't care for, make an Arcadia Vineyard Chardonnay that could have similarities likened to a puligny-Montrachet but a ripeness of fruit that is napa.
I will say that crappy producers bulking out juice their awful grapes require being masked with overwhelming tones of butter and vanilla.
I will say that crappy producers bulking out juice their awful grapes require being masked with overwhelming tones of butter and vanilla.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:02 pm to L.A.
I'll be there next weekend! We're going on that tour that someone here recommended with Gene, and seeing Cakebread, Silver Oak, Mondavi, and a few others on the first day.
Then we're going the 19-20 for Duckhorn and others.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:05 pm to L.A.
I have to agree with everything you wrote....especially about what the current trend is with the Chardonnays.
I live in Healdsburg and I have to say it is great on the weekdays. Still a small town but it gets very yuppified on the weekends. That being said you're right at the crossroads of Alexander, Dry Creek, Russian River and Chalk Hill valleys. Easily some of the worlds best wines come out of that area. And Calistoga is right around the corner (+/- 40 minutes).
And the Santa Ynez valley would be my second favorite.
I live in Healdsburg and I have to say it is great on the weekdays. Still a small town but it gets very yuppified on the weekends. That being said you're right at the crossroads of Alexander, Dry Creek, Russian River and Chalk Hill valleys. Easily some of the worlds best wines come out of that area. And Calistoga is right around the corner (+/- 40 minutes).
And the Santa Ynez valley would be my second favorite.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:10 pm to G Vice
quote:
Good recommendation. You ever try The Prisoner?
if prisoner is anything like papillon i'm in.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:15 pm to L.A.
quote:
Plump Jack
We stayed at a Plump Jack resort in the Carneros Region, the Carneros Inn, and it was the best hotel/spa resort I've ever experienced. Simply amazing.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:16 pm to CreoleGumbo
Orin swift actually doesn't own the prisoner or saldo labels. They were sole to Hunneus that owns Quintessa. IMO it has decreased in quality over the past few years and escalated in price from when it first hit Louisiana. That being said, if you like an extremely young, ripe, and fruit driven Zinfandel based wine around 15% alcohol or do you'll love the prisoner.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:19 pm to LSU lilly
quote:
Cakebread, Silver Oak, Mondavi, and a few others on the first day.
That's an ambitious goal, more than 3 wineries in one day, but her, if you can squeeze in one more, try Quintessa. It's on the other side of the valley from Cakebread, but their wine is amazing. They grow all 5 of the burgundy reds and make a single meritage each year. It was my favorite wine of our trip.
Also, while at Cakebread, try the Syrah.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:27 pm to L.A.
Can I beg of you to start more wine threads around here? I like reading stuff like this.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:31 pm to notiger1997
quote:Thanks. I used to write more, but I wasn't sure anybody was reading them.
Can I beg of you to start more wine threads around here? I like reading stuff like this.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:32 pm to DonChowder
quote:Healdsburg is definitely on my list for the next time I get up that way. Thanks for the info.
I live in Healdsburg and I have to say it is great on the weekdays. Still a small town but it gets very yuppified on the weekends. That being said you're right at the crossroads of Alexander, Dry Creek, Russian River and Chalk Hill valleys. Easily some of the worlds best wines come out of that area. And Calistoga is right around the corner (+/- 40 minutes).
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:32 pm to L.A.
we did three in one day plus hit Russian River brewery up in Santa Rosa as well. it can be done with proper planning, the right driver with connections and an early start. we hit the first one at 9am before they were even open but they let us in and did a morning tasting anyway.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:35 pm to LSU lilly
quote:
Silver Oak
it was a gorgeous place, but a waste of time IMO.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 4:36 pm to LSU lilly
quote:I know Mondavi gets a lot of grief these days since they sold out to Constellation, and much of it justified, but I would defintely recommend visiting their winery. It's a good place to get a sense of the history of Napa, especially from around 1965 or so.
and seeing Cakebread, Silver Oak, Mondavi,
Posted on 6/25/13 at 5:26 pm to L.A.
quote:Give me a shout if you do. I can get you some freebie tasting passes and set you off in the right direction.
Healdsburg is definitely on my list for the next time I get up that way.
<--@gmail, like most folks are.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 6:13 pm to L.A.
quote:The reserve room there is worth visiting, particularly if they are pouring reserve cabs from the 90s, many of which are very good representations of what Napa can produce. The older wines are made in a traditional style, but still Californian in ripeness. I am a fan of that style and don't care much for big over ripe over oaked wines and hence don't buy much Napa cab. Love to eat in Napa though.
I know Mondavi gets a lot of grief these days since they sold out to Constellation, and much of it justified, but I would defintely recommend visiting their winery. It's a good place to get a sense of the history of Napa, especially from around 1965 or so.
Posted on 6/25/13 at 6:20 pm to coolpapaboze
Any place that i pull into looking for just a granola bar and some coffee , but i see chefs in full dress preparing apricot and Brie croissants or smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels has got my vote..... Oak ville Grocery, one of my best and most surprising experiences ever
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