Shafer Vineyards 2017 Napa Valley TD-9 2016 Napa Stags Leap District One Point Five Continuing on with my Shafer Vineyards visit, see my November 6, 2019 review of their 2017 Napa Carneros Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay and 2016 Napa Relentless together with some of its history. Keep checking back with SippingFineWine.com as I recently made a trip to Napa during 2019 harvest, visited several wineries, tasted some great wines, and met some outstanding individuals. I’ll continue to report on my discoveries. Shafer Vineyards also has a “Mailing List” you can join in order to purchase their wines and also get on the waiting list on…
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Caymus Vineyards 2017 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Special Selection Napa Cabernet Continuing on with my Caymus Vineyards visit, see my November 8, 2019 review of their 2017 Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay, 2017 Mer Soleil Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and 2017 Emmolo Napa Merlot together with some of its history. The Wagners produced their first vintage in 1972, consisting of 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, Caymus has focused their efforts in the production of quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Current production is about 65,000 cases. Caymus Vineyards has a “Wine Shop” offering their exceptional wines directly from the winery. I recommend…
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Elyse Winery 2016 GlenLyon Vineyard Sonoma County Syrah; 2014 York Creek Vineyard Napa Petite Sirah Continuing on with my Elyse Winery visit, see my November 1, 2019 review of their 2018 California Rose & 2015 Sonoma County Chardonnay and November 15, 2019 review of their 2014 Korte Ranch Vineyard Napa Zinfandel, 2014 Morisoli Vineyard Napa Zinfandel &2014 Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County Zinfandel together with some of its history. After thirty years of stewardship, Ray and Nancy decided that it was time to retire. What began as a casual conversation over dinner evolved into the next chapter for Elyse Winery. In October 2018, Ray and Nancy Coursen sold Elyse Winery…
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Spring Mountain Vineyard 2008 Elivette 2005 Elivette Continuing on with my Spring Mountain Vineyard visit, see my November 12, 2019 review of their 2006 & 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon and its history. Spring Mountain Vineyard is an 845-acre estate on the eastern slopes of Spring Mountain in Napa Valley. Only 225 acres of the estate are planted to vine, representing 135 discrete hillside vineyard blocks with many soil types, exposures, and microclimates. A substantial portion of the vineyard is planted in densities of over 4,000 vines per acre and trained…
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Silver Oak Cellars 2012 & 2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon I recently wrote about Silver Oak Cellars having its roots dating back to 1972, see October 18, 2019 review of Silver Oak 2014 Napa Cabernet. Over time, Silver Oak continued to acquire vineyard land, including the Red Tail and Miraval Vineyards in Alexander Valley and the Soda Canyon Ranch and Jump Rock in Napa Valley. The winery also developed close relationships with longtime growers in both appellations. The result is that both the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon are blends, made from grapes grown in both wineries’ estate vineyards as well as…
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Heitz Cellars 2014 Linda Falls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Marths’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Continuing with my Napa adventures, see my previous Heitz Cellars post on October 22, 2019. Today I will discuss 3 of their outstanding Cab’s. In April, 2018, Heitz Cellar entered an exciting new chapter as this rich legacy was passed into the hands of the Lawrence family, whose deep roots in agriculture and commitment to the same core values of fine winemaking made it a perfect match. The wines are made with an unwavering commitment to quality from organically farmed, 100% Napa Valley fruit, and a commitment to the sustainability of Napa…
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Hall Wines 2015 Eighteen Seventy-Three Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Bergfeld Cabernet Sauvignon Continuing with my Napa adventures, see my previous Hall Wines post on October 29. Today I will discuss 3 of their wonderful Cab’s. Since first working in her family’s Mendocino vineyards, Kathryn Hall dreamed of a place to showcase fine wines alongside expressive art and masterful architecture. The Halls acquired the historic St. Helena Bergfeld Winery in 2003 and re-opened as HALL St. Helena in July of that year. With a rich history spanning 150 years, HALL St. Helena’s location was once the home of the Napa Valley Co-Op, producing 40% of Napa Valley’s…
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Spring Mountain Vineyard 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon The new Spring Mountain Vineyard was once three separate properties each with its own vineyard and winery: Spring Mountain Vineyards “Miravalle” 257 acres, Chateau Chevalier “Chevalier” 120 acres, and Draper Vineyards “La Perla” 435 acres. The upper most property on the estate, La Perla, was founded in 1873 by Charles Lemme and expanded by the Schilling Spice family. Originally 285 acres it had the first Cabernet Sauvignon planted on Spring Mountain. The old winery remains today along with much of its original equipment and horse drawn carriages and wagons. Immediately…
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2017 Napa Carneros Red Shoulder Ranch Shafer 2016 Napa Relentless Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer left a 23-year career in the publishing industry and, with his family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, the Shafer family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards, which dated to the 1920s, and terracing the steep and rocky hillsides, eventually expanding vineyard acreage to its current 50 acres. From a modest beginning of 1,000 cases in 1978, the winery has grown steadily until…
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Silver Oak 2014 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon When Raymond T. Duncan first visited the Napa Valley in the late 1960s, he was taken by the region’s rugged beauty. He was also wise enough to understand the potential of the fledgling wine industry. In the 1970’s, he began to buy land in both Napa and Alexander Valleys with the goal of planting vineyards. But with his home and business in Colorado and no viticulture expertise of his own, Ray approached Justin Meyer, whom he had met through mutual friends, and asked him to plant and manage the vineyards. Then working at Christian Brothers, Justin agreed with one condition: in addition to managing…