Favia: A Favorite!
Many times I get asked, “What is your favorite wine?” I glibly reply, “It comes in a bottle." Funny at times when I say it (folks do chuckle at my response), yet it is true. (Discussion of wine in boxes and cans to come later.) A friend of mine once said that every bottle tells a story. It comes from a specific place, grows in unique terrain, experiences different weather, and the winemaker has a specific expression with the varietal or blend. No two winemakers bring their art to you in exactly the same way. That allows you and I to discover what that expression is and what it means to us as we savor and enjoy their labor of love. That is the exploration each time we open a bottle.
With all that said, there are some wines and winemakers that consistently come to the forefront for me. One of those wineries is Favia. This is the labor of love for viticulturist Annie Favia and her husband and winemaker Andy Erickson. This is a marriage made in heaven and the vineyard. These two make a killer team, and the proof is in the bottle. Each time I open one of their wines, I am charmed and love nothing more than to savor each sip of wine.
The 2013 Harvest: Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley
“2013 was a phenomenal growing season in just about every way. A warm, dry spring led to early bud break, limited canopy vigor and berry size, and created ideal conditions through bloom and fruit set. An abundance of long sunny days, with only one heat spike in early July, resulted in even ripening and an early harvest with exceptional flavor development. The 2013 vintage offers very high quality wines that are striking in their balance and expression.”
The above paragraph was taken from a mailer I received from Paul Hobbs Winery. Paul Hobbs is one of the most respected vintners in the valley, who also has projects outside of the U.S. In fact, Forbes magazine called him the “Steve Jobs of Winemaking.” With all that said, you can trust the descriptors he provides of the growing season in 2013 for cabernet.
HALL Wines’ Cabernet Cook-Off: Charity Runs Deep in the Napa Valley
The Napa Valley is an agricultural region, with many different types of soil running through the area (50 of the known 100+ found in the world). Mountains surround this beautiful valley, rising as high 2200 feet. Nothing, though, is as inspiring as the charitable heart that runs deep through the residents of this region. Charity is one of the things that Napa Valley does so well. Winery owners and winemakers all show their heart with the many events put on throughout the year to help take care of their citizens.
The HALL Cabernet Cook-Off is a great example of this charitable heart. The theme of the day was to “pop a cork and grab a fork.” There were 13 chef teams, each representing a different charity and vying for your and the judges’ votes The challenge: What food paired best with the 2013 HALL Napa Valley Cabernet? What a great question! It really required some drinking and eating to cast an educated vote!
The Taste of Howell Mountain 2016
The Taste of Howell Mountain is one of my favorite events of the year. Over 40 wineries that make wine from vineyards on Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain come together to raise money for Howell Mountain Elementary School. Clearly, it is a charity event that displays the heart of these winemakers and owners as they contribute time, energy, wine, and special auction lots to support the education of the children who learn at the school.
The benefactors though are more than the kids. We, enjoyers of great wine, are given an outstanding opportunity to taste their wine as well as meet the winemakers and owners who call this mountain their home. More than a tasting, it is an event to vie for special bottles through the silent auction and to bid for one of a kind wine collections or wine experiences to treat yourself (and possibly friends) during the live auction. The energy and bidding is fast and fun!
Cakebread Cellars and a Dancing Bear
Cakebread Cellars is one of the most known names in the Napa Valley and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2013. It is a family-owned winery, which has generated remarkable success. This is due to the quality of their wine and the quality of their people. This is a winery that has grown and evolved over that time period, adding vineyards and expanding its facilities.
Cakebread is known most broadly for their white wines – Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. But this is only the beginning of their portfolio. You will find quality throughout their offerings from Syrah, Zinfandel, and red blends to their Cabernet. In fact, their most recent vintage (2012) of Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet was given a score of 99 points – that is nearly perfect.
Taste of Howell Mountain: Plan Now for this June Event!
Tickets are now on sale for the Taste of Howell Mountain, which is a fun event for a great cause on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. The Taste of Howell Mountain is a great opportunity to experience many Howell Mountain wines and all for a great cause — to raise money for the Howell Mountain Elementary School. Tickets will go fast, so don’t hesitate if you’re interested or looking for a good reason to visit Napa Valley on the weekend of June 18th!
Winemaker Helen Keplinger: One to Follow
People will tell you that much of winemaking takes place in the vineyard. They say that 80% of what goes into a wine’s quality is produced in how that vine is grown and nurtured. I buy that in many ways. That leaves at least 20% to the skills, abilities and palate of the winemaker. That 20% really matters. Helen Keplinger is one winemaker to follow – no matter where she is or what grapes she is working with, her wine is of remarkable quality. (See this recent post called California Women of the Rhone, which highlights Helen and three other winemakers who focus on Rhone varietals.)
I first tasted one of Helen’s early wines back in 2008. The bottle was a full throttle Grenache named Red Slope. The vintage was 2006, and I remember it well. Rich, fleshy and deep fruit flavors. I immediately went back to buy more and immediately joined the Keplinger mailing list. I have been buying her wine ever since and watching as her career and reputation have taken off. She has worked with many of the best in Napa Valley and been the winemaker for several different labels.
Spelletich Family Winery: A Tasting with the Winemaker
Wine tasting, in and of itself, is a wonderful experience. Exploring the aromas, sorting through the flavors, the weight of the wine, and, oh yes, the finish. How long does it linger? Does the wine call you back for more? That alone is a pleasure.
What about having a thoughtful, established, well-educated, experienced winemaker to taste through the wines with, as well? What about that opportunity? That is a very cool scenario. That is just what it is to taste wine at Spelletich Family Winery.
Kale Anderson: A Winemaker to Watch
It has been said that the quality of a wine is mostly a function of the quality of the grapes. Others simply say that the wine is made in the vineyard. While all that is true, that last 20% of what makes a wine great is the winemaker. They are the ones who say when it is time to pick; they watch over the development of the flavors of the grapes; and it is their final touch that brings all the components together to the finished product’s expression.
One of those winemakers to take note of and watch is Kale Anderson. Better yet, drink his wine. He has learned his craft well from some of the best in the business. I first met Kale at a blending seminar put on by Pahlmeyer. This was a great event where we were given different varietals to make our own Rhone-like blend. He had just become Pahlmeyer’s new winemaker, and he was engaging and readily shared his knowledge. His first full vintage for Pahlmeyer was the 2012, and their Red Blend received 94 points from Parker. What was intriguing to me was that prior to joining Pahlmeyer he was assistant and then winemaker at Cliff Lede. This is another winery that I send folks to frequently based on wines I have tasted and bought there. Kale was the winemaker on a case of wine I bought at auction – Cliff Lede’s 2008 Poetry. His success has not gone unnoticed in the valley, and Wine Spectator included him as one of the “Four to Watch” in an article in their March 31, 2014 issue.
The Wine Thief: It May Just Steal You Away!
The challenge for any small, boutique producer is how to get their wine tasted by the most important people – the buying public. The cost of overhead for a tasting room for a growing portfolio is daunting. Brick and mortar invested in a building is costly. Hiring tasting room associates is another big expense. The best resolve could be sharing overhead with others. This is how a “collective” is born. Bring many small, budding winemakers together and voila! What you have is a resource for all.
The Wine Thief is just that and more. It is the newest kid on the block in Napa, California located just across from the Oxbow Market. Oxbow Market is a destination by itself, and the convenience for wine lovers with the Wine Thief right next door is excellent. To simply walk across the street to enjoy several wines from many talented winemakers is a real plus. The Wine Thief setting is hip and has a cool vibe. The design is that of clean lines as you step up to the bar and are greeted and hosted by professionals who know their business. In fact, some of the folks pouring the tastings are the winemakers themselves. Not often do you get the chance to taste and chat with the person who makes the wine. No appointment necessary.