The Grape Escape

Thought I would share some tasting notes from our time in Napa Valley last weekend. As always, reviews are subject to distortion, personal bias, and revisionist history.

We went to 9 wineries; here are some of the best.

Napa Valley

1. Whitehall Lane
They offer a recently refurbished tasting room featuring very courteous staff. The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($16) was very good with lots of fruit. The Reserve Cabernet ($75) was excellent (“velvety” I said to the host). Got a bonus pour of the 2007 Belmuscato dessert wine, which was mildly sweet, with banana and apricot flavors.

2. St. Supery ($15 per tasting)
They offer a couple of wines sold locally in DC; most others are only sold at the winery. Lots of wines on offer to taste; as I was holding a sleeping Jack, my main task was sipping wine without moving him around.

3. Charles Krug ($10 per tasting)
Most notable for Jack taking a leak on my shirt (which prompted a speedy “hold on, I’ll be right back” dash for the exit). Kelly was a big fan of the crisp, grapefruit 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($18). I liked the bold, deep-flavored Zinfandel ($25) and the chocolatey 2006 Cab ($27.00).

4. Chateau Montelena ($20 per tasting)
Brought to national prominence by the book “Judgment of Paris” and the movie “Bottle Shock, both of which chronicled the unprecedented success of Californian wines in a 1976 French wine tasting, Chateau Montelena is clearly living the good life. Located towards the northern end of Napa Valley, it cost $20 for a tasting, which didn’t include their winning Chardonnay. Tasted a Reisling (dry, tart, unlike a traditional Reisling), a Zinfandel (spicy and tannic, would need to pair with food), and two Cabernets (the Estate version of which was very strong and fruity and retails for $135).

Sonoma

1. Gloria Ferrer
The winery makes a number of excellent sparkling and still wines, most of which are only available by the glass. The sparkling wines were top-notch. We enjoyed a glass outside on the patio, overlooking the valley floor.

2. Cline
Our final stop before heading back to San Francisco. We’ve long favored their Zinfandel, but were pleasantly surprised by 2 blends ( a “Five Reds” and a “Four Whites”) both of which cost less than $15.