My wife and I were in Napa for a few days earlier this week (with a short trip over to Santa Rosa). No real tasting notes, more just impressions. But here they are:
My wife and I just got back from a short trip to Napa (with a brief trip over to Sonoma). Just a few notes on places visited, in chronological order.
Domain Carneros - we were here on Sunday afternoon. Dang the place was jammed! (And it isn’t a small space - there must have been a couple hundred people). Sparklers were very nice and we bought a couple.
Alpha Omega - The find of the trip. This was our first stop Monday morning. Just fabulous. We sat outside overlooking their fountain. Mike, our server, would bring a bottle out, say a few things about the wine, pour a taste (and not scrimping either), then leave us to savor the wine. And what wine. Everything we tasted was smooth and complex. Probably the most complex Chardonnay we’ve ever had. And the ERA blend is the first wine over $100 (and well over at that) that I’ve ever bought. Worth every penny.
Oriin Swift - Monday after lunch (AO took the whole morning!). Nice tasting room, but the wine is rather easy to find. So, while we enjoyed the visit, we probably won’t return.
Siduri / Novy - Tuesday morning in Santa Rosa. A nice break from the Cabernet that dominates the rest of the trip. Discovered I like the single vineyard Pinots much more than the blends. In an industrial park in Santa Rosa, so not the most beautiful setting. Got to watch as everyone was working on the latest grapes to come in.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars - We were disappointed in this. Cab is supposed to have some leather or tobacco notes. But these were overwhelmed by them. This include the Fay, SLV, and Cask 23 wines. Not our style, and not cheap either. Another vote for Alpha Omega!
Trefethen - This was our last stop on Tuesday (and last of the trip). Tasting room is now in a rather fancy tent (complete with chandeliers). Very nice tasting and good mid range (pricewise) Napa wines. Will go back when they are recovered from the earthquake.
So, a couple of recommendations: If you don’t like crowds, avoid Sunday! If you like rich, complex, well balanced wine, you must visit Alpha Omega (and they do a marvelous tasting - no rushing, nice and leisurely, very well done).