Press Restaurant in St. Helena — a WOW Dinner!
I am just about to dive into my dessert of coconut sorbet. One of the only times I ever order dessert is after a meal at the excellent Press restaurant in St. Helena, and it is well worth the indulgence. Quite frankly, it is the smoothest and richest sorbet ever, and it’s following a wonderful dinner here at Press. This is simply my favorite restaurant in the Valley — the food and the service are amazing. Tonight, I had my favorite meal of New York strip steak cooked to perfection with a side order of brussels sprouts. I know, I know – you’re saying, “Brussels sprouts??” These were served sautéed with bacon and cranberries — simply wonderful. The New York strip steak had a perfect char on the outside with juicy, meaty flavors. I hope I am making you hungry. Oh, yes, and the wine – a rich, opulent 2008 from Blankiet.
Leslie Rudd, the owner of Press, is very active in both the Napa Valley and throughout the United States. He also owns Dean & DeLuca, the Oakville Grocery, and the wineries Rudd and Edge Hill. I would have to say that I am a big fan of Mr. Rudd. Historically, I have had many a meal at both Press and the Oakville Grocery, and I truly admire his dedication to quality wine. Rudd Winery is a beautiful property at the corner of the Silverado Trail and Oakville Cross Road in Oakville, CA (in Napa Valley). Mr. Rudd’s Edge Hill winery produces wonderful wines that age gracefully. I have enjoyed them all and have several cellared. While Edge Hill is not open for visits, a visit to the Rudd Winery is well worth the time. It is a sophisticated experience with a sit-down tasting that includes a tour of the lovely and lush grounds. The wine is deep and rich – the Sauvignon Blanc to the big cabernets are well crafted and enjoyable.
“Erna Schein” Petite Sirah — a Real Wow!
Just the other night, I opened a bottle of Petite Sirah. It was an Erna Schein 2005. Now, I realize that neither Petite Sirah nor Erna Schein are household names for many, so let me just say that both are well worth the time and journey. This bottle was well aged and well stored in the cellar. Upon opening, it provided a deep rich nose and, in the glass, an inky, almost purple hue. With richness and depth, this wine was a sheer pleasure.
Two questions may arise: Who is Erna Schein and what is Petite Sirah? Let me answer the second first. Petite Sirah is not the same as Syrah, yet it is related. At one time, it was thought to be unrelated. Thanks to the work of Dr. Carole Meredith (who makes a great Syrah under the label of Lagier-Meredith) at the University of California–Davis, the mystery was put to rest through the use of DNA research. Dr. Meredith determined that 90 percent of the Petite Sirah found in California is really Durif, a grape developed in France in the 1880s. While the grape never caught on in France, it made its way to and was planted in California early in the 20th century and referred to by most growers as Petite Sirah. It is known for its dark hue and firm tannins and is used often in blending wine to give color and structure. On its own it can make a hearty, age-worthy wine.
Great Buys from the Northwest
Many have heard of Screaming Eagle or Bryant Family Wines. Both of those bottles most recent release price for a 750 ml bottle are $850 and $800 respectively. (That is the regular bottle you buy – not a magnum.) When one loves wine and has unlimited resources, that may be the way to go. Yet even those are outpaced by the recently released bubbly described below in a review in Wine Spectator Insider. I saw this price and figured it would be a long while before I would have the occasion to spend that type of money on champagne! I really am trying to envision an event befitting the price. I will ponder that one.
For those of us with more moderate tastes, it’s good to know that our friends in the Pacific Northwest offer some fine wines that will fit your everyday needs. I wanted to share a few with you, so you could be on the look out for these selections. The case productions are large enough that they may make it to many markets across the U.S. I frequently find great buys with quality to spare from vintners in the Northwest. Personally, I’m on the look-out for Zero One, which looks quite enticing.
Malbec — A Great Value Wine
Dining out can be a great experience with food and friends. In a restaurant, the challenge can be finding an excellent wine that is well-crafted and ready, but which won’t break the bank. We all know that while food margins may be small, the margins on wine can be quite big. Some restaurants may charge twice the retail cost — sometimes more. What then is a good choice in those situations??
A good option many times is Malbec. It’s grown in France (the grape’s birthplace is in Bordeaux), Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina. It’s growing in popularity, and South America is leading the way in production and quality. At its best, perhaps in Argentina, it has a dark purple color and violet aromas. It has been described as lush, with a rich fruit flavor and a soothing, ripe tannic structure.
The Right “Stemware” for Beer Tasting…?
No one likes to be teased, but as long as it’s done with love — well, that’s okay, I guess. I have to admit — I have taken my share of jabs for the swirling and sniffing of wine. Friends and family have mimicked the process with their beer and pretended to be me.
Yet wine drinkers are not alone in their quest for aromas and taste. Beer itself has taken a big step forward in that same arena. At a meeting in Denver, we had a local distributor come in and do a beer tasting. He set up tables and glasses in the same manner as a wine tasting, using good glasses and arranging his samples for all from light to dark. He asked all to swirl gently and sniff to discern the notes of wheat, and so on. I am not a beer drinker (except when good wine is not available) and am not practiced in the nuances of beer, yet this event was no different from a wine tasting experience.
Update on B Cellars — 92 Point Score from Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator just released its score for B Cellars’ 2010 “Blend 24 Napa Valley,” and it scored 92 points!
Since I just posted about B Cellars last week, I wanted to share this news with you. The 2010 “Blend 24 Napa Valley” costs about $51, and 1600 cases were made.
B Cellars: Blending for Excellence in Calistoga
High up on the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley, just before you get to Calistoga, there is a small winery named B Cellars. It is a young enterprise (started in 2003) yet is quickly garnering a reputation. I was curious. I had never had their wines, but it piqued my interest based on a rating that I had read on one of the wines. The obvious path was to set an appointment.
That day, I was very surprised to step into a clean and modern, yet cabin-like tasting room. Check out the pictures of the interior. It was very nice. There was a porch area where guests can do their tastings. As we stood at the bar to start our tasting, we enjoyed a white blend. To my knowledge, there are not a lot of white blends, yet that is the signature of B Cellars — to produce great wines with depth of flavor by blending varietals and wine lots to achieve quality wines during each vintage. I was impressed by the blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, with each varietal imparting different flavors and delivering balance. It was very nice; and, of course, I had to purchase some for home.
Turley Wine Cellars: A $22 Zinfandel and Now Open in Amador County!
My first experience with Zinfandel left me wanting a cabernet. Many I tried were very single dimension, high alcohol with little depth. I never had much appreciation for prunes, and many were reminiscent of that flavor profile. That is until I met Turley. Smooth, rich and easy drinking with more complex flavors – my Zin relationship changed for good, and I wanted to have more.
Larry Turley founded Turley Wine Cellars in 1993. Turley produces terroir-driven single vineyard Zinfandels & Petite Syrahs from some of the oldest and most historic vineyards in California. Each terroir lends its own character to the wines, and they are given separate labels according to the location of each vineyard. With the purchase of Karly in Plymouth, CA, the vineyards are now located in Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Lodi, Howell Mountain, Contra Costa, and Amador. In fact, at last count, there were 26 vineyard-specific Zinfandels to enjoy.
Seavey Vineyard: Tucked Away and Worth the Drive
Picturesque views, mountainsides and vines, Seavey Vineyard is tucked out of the way and well worth the time to journey to Conn Valley to visit. The wines are the main event with great structure and a minerality that runs through the line-up. This is red territory, so there is not a white to be found — just be prepared for well-crafted wine that will age very gracefully. I opened their 2007 Cabernet a while ago; and, quite frankly, it knocked my socks off. Smooth, rich and complex, it was a delight to drink. I had to go back again to explore more.
“Went to a Garden Party” — No Ricky Nelson, but Great Wine at Spottswoode!
The story behind Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery tells the story of a remarkable journey, to say the least. It’s a world-class winery as the result of dedication, drive, and hard work. Mary Novak is worthy of anyone’s respect given the challenges she faced to bring this vineyard and winery to fruition, making it one of the most notable names in the Valley. Having moved to Napa in the early ‘70s with her husband, just five years later, she found herself facing the future alone with five children to raise. Shortly after the start of their journey together in the valley, her husband Jack suddenly passed. Her decision was to stay, raise her family in St. Helena, and build the winery. And we are all glad she did.
Last year, Mary and her family celebrated their 30/40 anniversary — forty years since they arrived to restore the property and thirty years since their first wine, a cabernet sauvignon, was produced. This winery has developed a fine history of accomplishment.