A yummy lean medium-bodied Chardonnay from Cinnabar Winery. An excellent blend of acidity and fruit for a stand-alone sipper or a foodie wine. Delicious combinations of red apple, citrus and pear with a hint of vanilla Crème brûlée on the finish. Barrel and partial malolactic fermentations add to the complexity without overpowering.
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A lively light Sauvignon Blanc. Flavors of citrus and grapefruit with a touch of honeydew and vanilla. A bit high in acid for a patio sipper but it paired very well with a grilled chicken & vegetable pasta salad.
This Pinot Gris from J Vineyards is really an outstanding wine. Often Pinot Gris is overly acidic and thin, but this one is a winner even from a man’s perspective. Nice flavors of apricot, honey and citrus with a touch of mineral acidity layer beautifully into a very easy drinking wine. We served J Pinot Gris with artichoke bruschetta topping on toast points… Delicious!
This rosé is thick and chewy. A man’s rosé, if you will. Made predominantly from Cabernet Franc and other Bordeaux varietals, this enjoyable offering sports flavors of strawberry, dark cherry and spice with just a hint of tannin to add to the full flavor. A fantastic value at $12-$14. Excellent with grilled salmon.
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My second day in Napa Valley was an easy going one. This is in contrast to most days, as you will see in later posts are filled with scheduled appointments, tastings and winemaker meetings. I know, you are already filled with sympathy for this strenuous job of glass tipping, jaw boning and writing.
Calistoga Roastery
We left our hotel in Calistoga and headed the 8 miles south to St. Helena for a peach muffin (the best) and a latte at Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company (The tip jar reads “Livin’ la Vida Mocha”). As we drove past Calistoga Roastery (which later becomes my new favorite breakfast hang out) who should jog across the street in front of us, but Bo and Heidi Barrett ( Bo of Chateau Montelena and the movie Bottle Shock fame and his wife Heidi, a very highly respected cult winemaker, Screaming Eagle & Dalla Valle to name a few). When Conch was considering studying winemaking, it was the movie’s portrayal of Napa Valley and Bo, however inaccurate, that sealed the deal. So this can be considered a true Napa Valley star sighting. Continue reading »
