Arkenstone: A Gem on Howell Mountain
The predominate varietal from this lovely winery is Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a wonderful winery to visit to grasp the svelteness of tannins and complexity of their wine. The winery sits at 1400 feet in elevation; and the views are impressive, matching the quality of the wine.
Myriad Cellars: A Winner on Many Levels
I have been buying the wine produced by Mike Smith, winemaker and co-proprietor of Myriad Cellars, since 2008. In most cases, that should be, by itself, a ringing endorsement of his wine.
He honed his craft with one of the finest winemakers in the Napa Valley, Thomas Rivers Brown. Initially, Mike worked with Thomas for free for several crushes (seven to be exact), and ultimately Thomas offered Mike a job. It was in 2006 that Mike was able to purchase grapes and establish his own label with his wife Leah as “copilot.” My first tasting with him was at Carter Cellars where he was established as the winemaker. I was sold on his expertise by then.
A Remarkable Tasting in Kansas City!
This year, many fine wineries are taking their craft on the road. Recently, we had the distinct pleasure of sipping our way through wines made by some wonderful wineries from Napa who were sharing their wines in Kansas City. It was awesome to step into the traveling tasting rooms of many well-crafted wines.
Relic Wine Cellars: Worthy of Your Time
This past week, I had the pleasure to visit Relic Wine Cellars. The winery is located in Napa, CA, up Soda Canyon Road. It is well worth the drive. While it is only 20 minutes off the Silverado Trail, it narrows and winds up the mountain side. Once you arrive, the scenery is truly beautiful. Quite frankly, one could just sit and look out at the valley and feel the relaxing mood settle in. I loved the views.
What we came for, though, was the wine. That was truly the value of the trip.
Taste of Mount Veeder
The first question that arises is, “Where is Mount Veeder?” The next question may be, “What wineries are there?” Let's start with the appellation – Mount Veeder. It is one of sixteen diverse American Viticultural Areas within the larger Napa Valley. An AVA, as they are known, is distinct in soil, weather, altitude, and orientation to the sun, to name a few. These are all distinct aspects that contribute to the expression of the grapes grown there. When 85% of the grapes are grown within that AVA, you will find it denoted on the wine label. Other AVAs you may recognize are Howell Mountain, Oakville, Calistoga, Coombsville, St. Helena, and so on.
La Pelle Wines: Quality Being Made and Expressed
What I believe is most important to the wine aficionado is the quality in the bottle. Does what is in my glass represent the varietal, and is it well-crafted to enjoy slowly with thoughtfulness and great pleasure? The label is La Pelle; and the winemaker is Maayan Koschitsky; and the answer is “yes” on all counts.
Kale Wines: The Next Chapter
I first met winemaker Kale Anderson at a wonderful wine experience hosted by Pahlmeyer Winery, where each participant was charged with crafting their own red blends out of Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It was challenging; yet Kale, who was the Director of Winemaking for Pahlmeyer, was there as a resource and guide. His knowledge was very apparent, and his willingness to share with us was a gift. Pahlmeyer was the next step in his journey and expression of the vine.
Robert Biale Vineyards: History in a Bottle
Recently I needed to work with a physical therapist after a knee surgery. (Getting older isn’t easy on a body.) At that time, I had a great therapist in Calistoga, CA; and we started talking about wine (imagine that). She stated that her preference was Zinfandel. I got excited to share and asked. “Have you ever tried Biale?” She looked at me calmly and said, “Yes, that is my last name. My father is Robert Biale.” Embarrassed, I realized I had never looked at her last name. I quickly recovered and shared about my wine blog, my love of Black Chicken, and how I had written about it on the blog. More importantly, though, I told her how I had shared the wine with many, many friends over the years and bought more.
This “small world” experience encouraged me to put a return visit to Biale on my to-do list.
Gallica: A Gem To Discover
Gallica is a small winery located in St. Helena, California (part of the Napa Valley). It is a gem worth revealing to your palate. The owner and winemaker is Rosemary Cakebread, who has produced beautiful wines that are truly worth discovering.
Just recently I had the pleasure to visit for a tasting and be hosted by Rosemary herself – quite the honor given my appreciation for her artistry in developing remarkable flavors in the bottle. Historically she was the winemaker for Spottswoode from 1997 to 2005. Her craftsmanship brought 100 point scores to the winery for their luscious Cabernet. To gain a greater appreciation for her journey, you can find my interview with her on this blog, published in 2015. Rosemary established the Gallica label with her first vintage being in 2007. The name Gallica is inspired by a variety of rose native to southern Europe, and it fits beautifully given the refined Cabernet Rosemary crafts with wonderful aromatics. I am certain she has never looked back given the success that she has had.
Hourglass Winery: Time Well Spent
Just recently I caught an article about the best caves in Napa Valley. The very first picture was of the cave at Hourglass Winery. “I’ve been there and have the same picture!” (That picture is below.) Yet that was not the purpose of the visit, it was for the wine. While the beauty of the valley is breathtaking, the wine, in my opinion, is a good part of the heart and soul of it. The winemaker of Hourglass is Tony Biagi, who continues to produce lovely, svelte wine of all varieties.
Access and arrival to the tasting is a bit scarred. The Glass Fire in 2020 had an impact on the production site, so the great beauty lies underground. Met by Marie outside, we had the pleasure to enter the cave and were seated in what you see below. It was a serene and quiet space where the wine itself spoke volumes. Our hostess took us through the wines, starting with the Sauvignon Blanc and progressing through the lovely reds. The standouts were the plush and velvety reds that make a bold statement of “Drink me!” Yes, each sip of the Cabernet called out for more; and this is a label I would highly recommend. The tasting included Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet as single varietal wines. Each was done with finesse and smoothness that is a calling card of the winemaker.