Napa is always a great trip, this was no exception.
First off . . .
Things I Thought
People, people, people - This is all about people, people. It’s not that hard, yet so easy to mess up. Know your guests, listen to what they’re trying to tell you while you spend the entire visit talking and not getting it.
People, people, people (part 2) - This is all about people, people. When you can just sit down like old friends over a glass of wine and have a great conversation, well . . . that’s what makes an awesome visit—that, and teach me about what makes you and your project awesome.
Temperature, Temperature, Temperature (a/k/a Muy Caliente!). Just because Napa had relatively warm days during our visit doesn’t mean you should warm your wines. Temperature matters immensely if you want wines to show their best!
Showmanship- Don’t show a wine and then tell us you’re not going to open it. See Number 1.
Cook in St. Helena was awesome.
The French Laundry is what they say it is—whatever that is. Glad I went once, my financial advisors have asked that I not go back for many years! Food was outstanding, corkage fee, though high, was worth it. We went home with a bunch of swag, including a personally engraved 25th Anniversary bottle of bubbles, which was neat. Someone noted TFL is “a spa for your belly”…very apropros
If Roy Piper recommends you rearrange your schedule on short notice, it’s not a suggestion . . . don’t ask, just do!
The 2022s will suffer from the ‘21 - ‘23 sandwich. Both ‘21 and ‘23 are a clear step up, but we tasted some very very good 22s where winemaking skills saved the day.
I learned how to inappropriately mispronounce a very well known Napa winery.
I spent 3.5 days laughing, bullshitting, eating and drinking — if that ain’t an awesome short vacation, I don’t know what is.
New wine find - Palisades Canyon. Felicia and Steve have a special project and very special wines in the works.
Confirmed rumors - Dustin Mowe is indeed making a special new Sauvignon Blanc, don’t sleep on the cab either.
Sometimes dropping an early F-bomb during a tasting is a great thing.
Dinner at TFL
This was technically our last meal, but first in the story. It took 8, yes 8, trips for us to finally secure reservations. Indeed, a first world problem. While I am not a fan of the wine list prices or the elevated corkage fee, the corkage fee was quite the ‘bargain’ . . . after trying to find something decent at a decent price.
- 2015 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain (7/2/2024)
Red cherry, black cherry, cigar box, saddle leather, saddle wax, still a bit boisterous but a nice wine to pair with entree courses at TFL. If you like Napa with a bit of BDX this is in the zone, if you prefer more tertiary notes, wait 5+ years. (96 points)
MOWE Napa Valley
Straight off the plane, and after a quick lunch at Gott’s, Dustin and Rene were kind enough to host us for a taste of their 2022s. Release coming either Fall ‘24 or Spring ‘25.
- 2022 MOWE Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville (6/27/2024)
Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Musque and it works in spades. Very acidic at the moment, but this is built to age for 5+ years for maximum enjoyment. Tropical fruit with a hint of petrol right now with an absolutely lavish mouthfeel. I’m a buyer when it releases. Word to the wise, let this rest for maximum enjoyment. 92 now, easy run up to 94-95 when this integrates. - 2022 MOWE Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (6/27/2024)
100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Opened in the morning for the late afternoon tasting.
Young and tannic, but this has promise for an elegant beauty in 5 years time. Red fruit with spice overtones, red cherry, red raspberry, but otherwise somewhat locked still. When this integrates, look out, would be a candidate to pair a great meal. Oak is very well managed here, tannins will settle sooner rather than later.
Dustin mentioned he wanted to make something elegant and restrained compared to the big boys, he hit the mark!
Dinner at Cook with Roy Piper.
A meal shared with Roy never disappoints! Roy was kind enough to share some great wines and as always share his knowledge of what’s going on in Napa and what to look out for. Thanks to Roy’s ‘suggestion’ we were able to make a visit to Palisades Canyon. Pasta is my go to at Cook from here out.
- 2022 Roy Piper Cabernet Franc - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (6/27/2024)
Bigger than, but less acidic than, its Cabernet Sauvignon brother, this showed lovely notes of roast beef, earth, and faint fruit on the nose, but the palate shined nicely with a lovely viscous mouthfeel with a balanced showing of fruit and earthy delight with no hint of green notes! I think with more time and less bottle shock, the nose will catch up to the palate quickly.
From what I remember, not a lot to go around, so get what you can. - 2022 Roy Piper Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/27/2024)
Recently bottled, but no bottle shock here. Moulds on full display, opulence and deliciousness abound even at this early stage, almost like (and actually!) a 2022 ‘Reserve’, based on best barrel selection.
Black cherry, cigar box, lead pencil, bittersweet chocolate and metallic iron notes. Winemaking shows thru during an otherwise tough vintage. Apparently this was 100% new oak, no way I would have guessed that!
If you like Moulds and you like Roy’s prior vintages, you’ll love the ‘22. No apparent ‘22 vintage effects here.
ARNYCA
Tasted with Steve Distler at the Vineyard 29 Facility. Steve is a great host and all around fantastic guy!
- 2022 ARNYCA Cabernet Franc - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2024)
From Las Posadas on Howell Mountain, this is, for my palate, a big step up from prior years. More structure than in the past in a good way, seems it can last. No greenies here, and a great balance of earthy and fruit notes, though seemingly held back by tannins for now. Recently bottled, but no sign of bottle shock just yet. Bought. 92 now, 95-96 potential. - 2022 ARNYCA Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2024)
If memory serves me right, mostly Bolgheri fruit, recently bottled and not giving much at this early stage, oak and tannins managed well. If you like prior vintages, I think you’d like this. Would love to revisit this in 5 yrs.
Vineyard 36
One of this trip’s ‘new to us’ projects. Tasted at Vineyard 29 with Steve Distler. Interesting mix of vineyard sources with some good wines to match.
- 2022 Vineyard 36 Cabernet Franc The King's Storm - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (6/28/2024)
Cabernet Franc from Oakville Ranch, still young and in need of aging but has potential even though this was the most shut in of the Vineyard 36 wines we tasted. - 2022 Vineyard 36 Cabernet Sauvignon Five Bands - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (6/28/2024)
Best barrel blend from several sources, all Cabernet Sauvignon, if i remember correctly. Showing very well at this early stage, Mrs Geaux’s favorite, but really interested to see how good this will be when everything integrates. Slightly more fruit forward than the OVR, but the nose was a bit more restrained. Bought more. - 2022 Vineyard 36 Cabernet Sauvignon OVR Oakville Ranch Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2024)
Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville Ranch. This blew me away as such young wine, especially for a ‘22. Exquisite nose of fruit, sandalwood and perfume, with a palate that matched the nose. This is one I revisited the most and bought more. If it’s this good now, then wow! 94-95 now, potential to 97-98 in 7-10 yrs.
Covert
Over the years, we’d heard so many great things about Covert but could never make visit work, but no more. Tales of the tasting area being somewhat of a James Bond lair are not overblown. Mark was an awesome and gracious host. Started with a Sauvignon Blanc to cleanse the palate and then into a Syrah that was good, but we’re not Syrah folks so no notes there.
- 2019 Covert Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337 / 191 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville (6/29/2024)
Opened earlier in the day. 2 years older and further along in its development than the ‘21, this was more integrated and showed much better than the ‘21. Darker fruited, black currants, bittersweet chocolate, with more relaxed tannins, some hints of spice also showing through. Bought more. (94 points) - 2021 Covert Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337 / 191 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville (6/29/2024)
Most locked and tannic of the wines, this showed promise with swirls and puffs of fruit. Need 5-7 years sideways, but not giving much at this moment. Bought as the ‘19 showed where this is going. 92 as is, room to run into mid-upper 90s. (92 points) - 2021 Covert Estate Cabernet Franc - USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville (6/29/2024)
Decanted earlier in the day, but unknown how long. Boisterous fruit and floral notes that filled the nose and a palate to match. Minimal earthy development at this point and absolutely zero green notes. Drink now with a decant or later for more complexity along the development curve. Save a bottle to try at 10-12 yrs. My #2 wine of the trip.
Lunch with Will Segui at Farmstead
Visiting with Will has seemingly become a staple of our best trips. Oh where did the time go? After BS’ing about everything and talking CFB, lunch was done. Wait, did we even eat? Between the tall tales, Will was too kind in sharing his 2022s. Roy dropped back by for another shot at Will’s 22s after tasting earlier in the day.
- 2022 William & Mary Cabernet Sauvignon Shifflett Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (6/28/2024)
Opened for 3+ hrs before we drank. This wine is consistent year on year and 2022 is certainly no exception. While young, this is less tannic and more open than the 2021 we had last year. I keep hearing 2022 was a tough vintage, and while that was true, winemaking showed through here. Roy Piper’s observations on this one are spot on. I’m buying more. - 2022 William & Mary Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (6/28/2024)
Opened for 3+ hrs before we drank. This was the most open and most giving of the three wines. Definitely more fruit forward and less tannic than its peers, red berry and black fruit showed nicely across the palate and complimented lunch as well. Faint markers of Eastern Oakville coming and going—yum!
This appears to be an earlier drinker than the 21s because it’s just so good now and because the 21s are just built differently. - 2022 William & Mary Proprietary Red Shifflett Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (6/28/2024)
Opened for 3+ hrs before we drank. Includes a significant portion (~25%) Cabernet Sauvignon for ‘22. I’m not sure the Cab Franc and Merlot appreciate their new buddy in this years rendition. This was the most disjointed of the three wines, the pieces and parts were duking it out in the glass, on the nose and across the palate. Think three brothers fighting in the mud.
That being said, based on the ‘16 I had a few weeks ago, this needs 8-10 yrs for maximum enjoyment anyway. If you’re not buying the ‘22, I could see this being one of those you’ll probably regret passing on later.
Lets these babies rest while you enjoy the ‘22 Oakville and some of your ‘22 Shifflett Cabernet.
Vida Valiente
Tasted with Sierra in the former Momento Mori tasting room in Napa. I like what they did with the redesign.
- 2022 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon Graveside - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (6/28/2024)
Decanted in advanced, but unsure how long. Black (and some blue) fruited beauty with a mineral streak holding it all together. Definitely felt like a St. Helena wine, sense of place shown through. Tannins and oak well managed. Young, but I like it and can’t wait to taste again with a few years under its belt. - 2021 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (6/28/2024)
From a recently replanted section of the vineyard, I think this wine has much potential, particularly in coming vintages as the vines continue to establish themselves. I have a love hate relationship with BTK, this one I wanted to hate, but it was delicious. More on the fruit side of your typical BTK wine without the complexity at this early phase. - 2021 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (6/28/2024)
Blue and black fruited, seemingly somewhat shut down at the moment, but in a stable of 5 great wines, this one got lost in the mix. I already bought and am looking forward to try this again in 2029+ - 2021 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon High Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville (6/28/2024)
My favorite of the tasting, a nice menagerie of cooler Coombsville fruit coming through with an elegant tannic structure holding it all together. As I drank this (and revisted of course), I kept thinking this wine ‘just fits’ me. 95-96 now, 97-98 with time. Try again in 2029+ - 2021 Vida Valiente Cabernet Sauvignon The Movement - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (6/28/2024)
Nice structure and fruit components but a noticeable gunpowder reductive note that only I was picking up seemed to hold this back from the pack. The other 3 tasters gave me the WTF look when I brought it up. Looking forward to trying this again after 2029
Arrow & Branch Winery Grand Opening
These wines were opened and tasted over several weekend events, including the Grand Opening dinner in the new winery.
- 2017 Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2024)
At 7 years, this is starting to really come into its own, big and black fruited beauty. Ready to drink now or can age a minimum 5+ yrs for more complexity and less fruit centricity. (93 points) - 2012 Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/29/2024)
Served at the Arrow & Branch Winery Grand Opening Dinner. From a 9L Salmanzar opened earlier in the day, this showed a richness of primary black fruit, with complimentary secondary forest floor and tilled soil notes that drank well alone and with our meal. (96 points) - 2018 Arrow & Branch Right Bank Blend - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/29/2024)
Served at the Arrow & Branch Winery Grand Opening. From magnums opened earlier in the day and decanted I believe, this was fantastic. Much more integrated than the ‘19 served the night before, this showed primary red and black fruit notes on earthy and mineral undertones with just enough tannins left to show this ain’t going anywhere anytime soon. Drink now with a decant or let sit for 2-3 more years. (96 points) - 2019 Arrow & Branch Right Bank Blend - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2024)
Still young and in need of time sideways. Red and black fruit with a nice structured backbone. Not much in the way of Cabernet Franc secondary notes showing through just yet. If the ‘16 is any indication, this ‘19 will be ready in 3-5 years for maximum enjoyment. The ‘18s served the following night appear to be in a better spot at the moment. (93 points) - 2023 Arrow & Branch Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2024)
This was a great palate cleanser, a solid tropical fruited SB, love the SBs that include some Musque clone. (91 points)
Celani Vineyards
Tasted at the Celani Estate in Oak Knoll. I’m still a big Mark Herold fan so this was yet another chance to try out his latest work. Wendy was an outstanding and gracious host and a hoot to boot! I’ve been missing out on these wines, a mistake fixed during this visit!
- 2020 Celani Family Vineyards Tenacious - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (6/29/2024)
Cab Franc Merlot blend, restrained profile, very earthy on the nose and palate, ginger beer, root beer, cola notes. More earth than fruit, blind I would have guessed cool year Bordeaux. No smoke in this 2020. (90 points) - 2019 Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder (6/29/2024)
Opened far in advance, this was more open than the 21, but still needs years sideways for my palate. Black berry fruit, mineral and forest undertones. Excited to have asleep in the cellar. Try again in 2029+ - 2021 Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder (6/29/2024)
Opened far in advance this was a little more closed than the 19, primarily to due youth, but still needs years sideways for my palate. Black berry fruit, mineral and forest undertones. More tannic structure than the 19. I’m optimistic about this with more time, and excited to have some slumbering away in the cellar. Try again in 2033. - 2022 Celani Family Vineyards Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (6/29/2024)
Chablis like, crisp, something I could summer sip in Texas heat. (92 points) - 2021 Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Ardore - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (6/29/2024)
Similar profile to the Family, but more structured, more black and blue fruited and a bigger mineral note and a little more tannic at this early age. Lost the at the finish by a nose to the ‘21 Family. In a race 10 years from now, Ardore would win. 95 for now, room to run up to 97-98 (95 points) - 2021 Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/29/2024)
I had never tried this before and shame on me. Eye opening.
Mix of vineyards from the Vaca range and Coombsville, reminded me of my favorite Mark Herold wines of old. Red, blue and black fruit, hint of floral and spice components. Revisited and would have revisited more if we weren’t pacing ourselves. Bought a mini vertical back to ‘16. 96 today, 97ish potential. Outdid the Ardore in a sprint due to more fruit and less tannic structure, but the Ardore has a higher ceiling. (96 points)
Palisades Canyon
A new project up in Calistoga with wines being made by Graeme MacDonald. Go visit. Get on this mailing list. Fall 2024 Release at $150 for the Cabernet, $75 for the Petite Sirah which is a Spring ‘25 release. Roy’s Vintner Gazette and the website say it all, but the wines are even better than the words on the pages convey. Felicia and Steve are such welcoming hosts and absolutely some of the finest people you’ll ever share a glass with!
- 2021 Palisades Canyon Chenin Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga (7/2/2024)
I am not a Chenin fan, but loved the mouthfeel, clearly a well made wide. I’m guessing if you like Chenin, you better grab this. Our trip mates bought. - 2021 Palisades Canyon Petite Sirah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga (7/2/2024)
One of the most drinkable young quality Petite Sirahs I’ve ever had.
Given the vineyard location, I was expecting a high octane, motor oil mouthfeel, tannic beast that would need 15 years to find itself. To say I was wrong would be an understatement!
Tannic structure of an elegant Cabernet and plenty of dark fruit fruit, enough acid and structure to age effortlessly, yet enough elegance to be had now! I am a Petite Sirah fan, but this was extraordinary. Love what was in this bottle.
95 if scoring today, 96-97 potential. - 2021 Palisades Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga (7/2/2024)
Red cherry, red berry and some black fruit, a fine tannic backbone carried everything to a long finish. There were a lot of double takes, whoas, and wows! Did not expect a Calistoga cab to feel this refined on the palate. Don’t get me wrong, this is not restrained in any way shape or form, but rather a chiseled voluptuous specimen.
Still some fine tannins on the very back end at this early stage but once this integrates, look out, and I can see this going bananas once Felicia, Steve and Graeme get a few vintages under their belts.
This was our wine of the trip.
Release coming this fall at $150/bottle sold in 3 packs.
98 today-I hate giving high scores this early, but this is well deserved. (98 points)
Before dinner at TFL we went to Schramsburg - After visiting in ‘21 and drinking our way through more champagne than we should have over the ensuing three years, we decided to go back, armed with knowledge of where are palates are heading for bubbles. Like the first time, this was another awesome visit, but this time we had context of what we were looking for. Tasted through six offerings, all of which were delicious.
… unless we’re sharing bottle of wine in Napa
