Napa’s Big Event: Auction Napa Valley
We’re coming up on the first weekend in June, and that means one thing in Napa Valley — Auction Napa Valley is about to get underway! This is one of the biggest wine events in the country (maybe the world?) and one of my favorite events in Napa Valley each year. Auction Napa Valley is the annual charitable fundraiser for the Napa Valley Vintners. Last year alone, Auction Napa Valley raised over $8 million for charitable causes.
A Final Pass through Paso
If you ever get to Paso Robles, you must visit the tasting room of Brian Benson. Again, being in Paso, the star here is Rhone Varietals. The wines are deep, rich and intense. Brian is the owner and winemaker at Brian Benson. He started making wine with his father at a very young age. He worked part time on the weekends learning the craft; and, at the age of 12, made his first wine. Back then, his first wine was a Cabernet. He became the full time assistant winemaker for his father at Dark Star Cellars in 2000. At the age of 19, he started making his own wines with an initial investment of less than $2000. His success has only grown from there.
Paso Pleasures
Spending a weekend in Paso Robles can be quite rewarding. The downtown is quaint and has very fine restaurants. The hotel where we stayed, the Hotel Cheval, is wonderful. One block off the square with excellent accommodations, you can rest and recoup from a long day of wine tasting.
One notable difference in this area is the set up of the wine tastings. This is a young and growing area, so the emphasis on wine education during the tastings is in its infancy, as contrasted with Napa. The heart of what you get in Paso is good wine that is well-priced and a very relaxed atmosphere. You do not have caves and the established wine tours that are available in Napa Valley; yet the low-key, relaxed approach is really quite enjoyable.
Don’t Pass by Paso…
Paso Robles is a quaint town situated off the central coast of California. There are now hundreds of wineries in this region putting out some very well-structured, quality Rhone varietals. There are delicious reds and whites that make a trip to this town very worthwhile.
How Long Should I Keep My Wine — or “Oops…”
Just yesterday, a friend emailed a photo of a bottle of 2002 Zinfandel from Peju. He was clearly excited to open the bottle on a Saturday night to enjoy with his wife. He asked if I had any thoughts about the wine, and (of course) I did. Simply from the varietal, the year, and the winery, I knew it would be past its prime. I let my friend know; and his response was, understandably, “oops.” This experience gave me the idea for this week’s blog.
Now, the fact that this Zinfandel was past its prime means nothing derogatory about Peju — it is a fine winery (although they are not known for their Zinfandel). But it does say something about the varietal. Zinfandel is not the most ageable wine. It is generally meant to be drunk young, in the 3-5 year time frame. This particular bottle should have been drunk for maximum pleasure from 2003-2006. It’s understandable that my friend would have thought, “Wow, this is a well-aged red wine that we’ll be enjoying.” But older isn’t always better.
Vineyard 29 at 2929 Highway 29: Unforgettable!
The sign says simply 2929. You would pass right by the entrance to this beautiful winery on Highway 29 north of St. Helena. There is no advertisement of what lies up the hill. Vineyard 29 has a quiet, stately elegance from your first approach to the massive double doors that open to a remarkably modern and techno savvy operation. This is a “By Appointment Only” winery where you need to book well in advance to enjoy the tour and tasting, yet it’s well worth the planning.
On your visit, you are welcomed into the winery through massive double doors. Up the stairs to the right is the office and a balcony where you begin your exploration of the impressive operation. From the balcony, you take in views of the valley floor with vineyards all around. Austin Gallion is in charge of hospitality, and he will lead you on a tour of the winery, talking about its beginnings and bringing you up to today’s operation — sipping great wine all the time, of course.
Exploring Wines with the Wine Consultant: A Special Place in Sacramento
If you want to get better, more informed, and have a richer and deeper experience of anything – you need a coach or a mentor. In my pursuit of wine knowledge, that person for me is Eric Stumpf. Eric and his wife, Renee, own a wine store in Citrus Heights, CA called “The Wine Consultant.” Eric has a vast knowledge and appreciation for wine. He has over 20 years experience and has traveled much of the world visiting wineries and meeting with wine makers, and then he shares his experience with his customers.
I first walked into his store about nine years ago, having just moved to Sacramento from Kansas City and in search of a fine wine connection. I have been visiting his store ever since. I would venture to say that there are few in the area who know more about wine than Eric. He has been a trusted advisor for me to grow and expand my palate and understanding of wine. What he knows is remarkable, and he’s willing to educate and share.
Outpost Wines: A Real Gem
There are many wineries that stand out for their wine, and Outpost is one of them. This winery crafts wonderful wine from high atop Howell Mountain. Outpost sits 2200 feet above the Napa Valley floor. The vineyards surround the property, and you can readily see many of them from one of the tasting rooms during your visit.
What’s relevant about the altitude? There are many who say that mountain fruit produces deep and concentrated flavors in a wine. There are attributes associated with altitude that contribute to this, such as heat during the day, cooling at night, exposure to more direct sunlight, and access to water. One thing that all will agree on is temperature. The higher you go, the cooler it gets. That translates to potentially longer hang time for the grapes on the vine, which benefits ripeness and flavor. The mountains also tend to have soils that drain more rapidly, and that contributes to the vines having to struggle to get water. This puts stress on the vine. What that means is that the vines put a lot of energy into the grapes, resulting in mountain fruit having thicker skin, smaller berries, and, many believe, a greater concentration of flavors.
Good Wine Buy – a Northern California Cabernet for $30.00!
Here’s a low-priced Cabernet from Sonoma — it’s the 2010 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet, and it’s priced at just $30. This AVA is only seven miles north of Calistoga; and, if you drive north from there, you might not realize that you’ve left Napa Valley. The tannic structure on this wine is such that, if you drink it now, it will be best with food or appetizers or decanted. The production is large enough that it should be available in many outlets, and it’s a value worth pursuing and a bottle worth aging. You could buy three bottles and drink one now, one a year from now, and one down the road. The 2009 vintage of this wine made Wine Spectators’ top 100 list. Will this one make it? I dare not say, but maybe.
Just a note about Wine Spectator’s top 100 list. There are specific criteria that the magazine uses to determine what is worthy of the list. Specifically, they consider, of course, wines that are well crafted; but they also consider wines that are well priced and have a certain level of production. Kudos to them, because it would be a shame to highlight only expensive, limited production wines.
Dunn: A Napa Valley Classic
One of the most iconic cabernets out of Napa Valley is the Dunn Cabernet from Dunn Vineyards. Randy Dunn, the primary principal of this winery, started his career with Caymus back in the 1970’s. He began his own winery in the latter part of that decade. Randy has been known and respected throughout the valley for crafting and creating big, muscular wines that age and age.
Mike Dunn (Randy’s son) is the cellar master and assistant wine maker and has assumed many more of the day-to-day responsibilities of the winery over the past seven years. Mike also started his own label — crafting his own style of wine called Retro, which is a Petite Syrah. He has two wines that are big, bold, and age-able, yet approachable young — at a killer price. His Retro label sells for under $35 and will age gracefully.