That is what happens when a new owner takes over and wants to recoup costs + make profits. Last time I was there is was $80 and from what Jordan said its now more.
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Not sure why you would put Heitz ahead of Barnett. In fact, Barnett is not even on your list. Go to Barnett, and thank me later.
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Iād highly recommend Rivers-Marie and while in Calistoga hit up Larkmead.
Cade is one of the most beautiful properties Iāve even seen and the wine is amazing.
Cliff Lede is a blast, great wine and a lot of fun. Beautiful tasting room and the wine blocks are all named after rock songs.
Most Importantly, If downtown Napa or nearby Downtown, Iād suggest Eleven:Eleven and Hendry. Eleven:Eleven is really great wines and a beautiful property. Hendry is the absolute best tours in Napa. Insanely educational with unreal wine at normal prices.
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FWIW, I LOVE these type of threads. My next trip to Napa is probably a couple years out, but these threads get my juices flowing, already looking at places I havenāt been in the past or have never heard of. Makes for a great week of reading as people contribute. Good stuff everyone
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I agree with the above about Barnett. One of the best views in the Valley from their observation deck. Good wine too. I also like the Behrens Family Winery and their sister wines as well. Pride - OK.
At the other end of the valley, just outside Napa, is Kenzo. Great wine, cool winery, and the grounds are a treat to see as well.
If you are on the mailing list, Peter Michael is top tier and the winery/grounds and vineyard observation deck is a must-see/visit. Not sure if they take appointments if you are not on the mailing list though. Maybe. Definitely worth a phone call.
Palmaz is a winery I always recommend to anyone that appreciates tech or engineering. Probably the coolest winery there is in that regard, plus the wine is great.
Vineyard 29 is another cool winery that you donāt hear much about lately, and I donāt know why. The wine is fantastic.
Morlet is another one for a nice sit-down, elegant type tasting of great wines. I have not had the tour, but the tasting experience is very nice. Wine is also excellent.
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Iām throwing in some Napa Micro-wineries for consideration! These are the guys you donāt read about (and have probably never heard of). All of them offer spectacular wines, special one-on-one tastings with the owners/growers/winemakers and most offer really affordable wines. I call them the hidden gems of Napa Valley:
-McKenzie Mueller winery - unfiltered Carneros wines, Magnifique!
-Gratus Vineyards - I love their Malbec
-Hossfeld Vineyards - extreme hillside Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
-Elkhorn Peak Cellars (shameless plug!) - Iām a second gen Pinot Noir producer in south Napa. Yes, Pinot Noir in Napa in Napa. Weāve been quietly making Pinot Noir from our 8 acre organic Pinot Noir vineyard since 1984. I host all of the tastings personally, we can hang out for as long as you like. Weāll take a nice vineyard walk together.
You have to call and ask for an appointment at all of these spots, theyāre a bit underground so tell them that Elise from Elkhorn Peak referred you.
Enjoy Napa! I can also recommend restaurants if youād like.
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Some great suggestions, none of which Iām familiar with. Will definitely try to check some of them out.
Considering view as the first criteria followed by the wine Iād recommend Vineyard 7&8 up on Spring Mountain. The view from their tasting room is fabulous. My wife and I also enjoyed the view of the mountains to the west from Larkmeadās tasting room.
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+1
This was pre-2019, but the tasting room was crowded and not enjoyable place to be. Same for Ridge in Sonoma. Perhaps opting for a sit-down tasting would be a better experience.
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I did a sit down tasting last spring, drove me to dump their club. Just a bad experience, too much talking about the Judgement of Paris, not enough time to learn about the wines, and really short pours. I was ready to leave after 30 minutes in a 60 minute tasting.
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I did their library tasting and was pretty disappointed. I was whisked off into a room and tasted wines while the host really pushed the club. No showing of the grounds, winemaking facilities, vines, etc.
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Holy cow, Peter Michael is spot on.
If I could own any winery just for the property, this would be the one!
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Lord Anton Dotson has a nice ring to it
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another thought. If you spend anytime South of SF and want to be blown away by Cabs that age forever, visit Mount Eden.
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And chards. Had an 11 ME Chardonnay last night that was mind blowing after a couple hours
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Itās all in the emphasis. I am accustomed to being called that; only itās usually, āGood lord, Anton Dotson.ā
Heck, my wife can say that exact sentence and it can mean different things at different moments. 
A great itinerary and great suggestions. Missing from your list is anything in Coombsville. There are two great opportunities at the Caldwell Vineyard. First is, of course, Caldwell itself. Limited availability, which is good, but a great tour and impressive array of wines. The tasting is fun and informative. Also on the Caldwell property are wines from Gagnon-Kennedy, the vin fraiche wine group. They have a great, private tasting in the Cheese Shed on the Caldwell property. One note on Rivers Marie. Iām a big Thomas Rivers Brown fan, but I checked with them for a March trip and they said they have extremely limited availability of their cabs for tasting. Might be a pass for this trip. Iād add in another TRB wine, maybe Round Pond or Mending Wall. Cardinale is great, but their Lokoya tasting location is very special.
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When I visted RM in November we tasted two Cabs, but we loved beung able to take a break from the very Cab heavy trip and taste some Pinots and Chardonnay.
I want to second Promontory. If there is a nicer tasting in Napa, I would be surprised. Itās expensive but really good.
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