Markham Merlot
Early on in my career, I was introduced to Markham Merlot. I was told it was the very favorite of our CEO; so, I thought, it must have been good. Many years have passed, and my wine journey has taken different roads; yet there is always a place for modestly priced wine that is good. This is one of them.
Markham is one of the oldest wineries in the Napa Valley that makes Merlot. It’s the 4th oldest continuously operating winery in Napa County. The vineyards were bought and brought into production in 1972. Today, the vineyards for Markham total 350 acres, which allows for a large production and a wide choice of grapes for blending.
Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate: A Class Act
There are over 500 wineries in the Napa Valley. You can walk in and taste the wine of almost 90 of those wineries; another 270 plus will welcome you by appointment. There is wide variability in what you can experience with each and every one of those tasting visits. This is a very good thing, as it begs us to explore.
This past week, that journey took us to a new and emerging winery in St. Helena named Bulgheroni Estate, and each aspect of the visit was executed with class. From the very beginning to end, it was gracious and relaxed, informative and interesting; and the wines – well they matched all aspects of the endeavor. They were well structured and balanced with expressive fruit and a long finish.
There’s a Castle in Napa Valley
When visiting the Napa Valley, many people center their experience on wine tasting and the enjoyment of the beautiful vineyards along with the views. Rightly so, as it is one of the premier locations on the planet to offer such great wine and beautiful vistas. Yet there is more to see and do.
One of those experiences is a visit to Castello di Amorosa. Which literally means “Castle of Love.” It is a real castle built from authentic materials to replicate a medieval Italian castle. The visionary and owner is Dario Sattui. This was his dream to honor his Italian heritage. He did so with authentic old, handmade materials shipped from Europe to the U.S. in 200+ shipping containers. These containers held old bricks, building materials and furniture. This is a magnificent structure that spans eight levels (four above ground and four below) and has over 100 separate rooms. It even has a prison and a torture chamber. The construction began in 1994, and the castle opened its doors to visitors in 2007. This is the real deal!
Vérité Wines: In Search of Consistent Perfection
Vérité is a winery in Healdsburg, California that takes on perfection as their goal at every turn. The winemaker himself brings diligence to each step in the winemaking process, even down to the selection of the wood for the barrels. This is their ambition. The efforts are clear – there is a big commitment to quality.
Donelan: A Family Affair
Donelan Wines is a family winery that takes great pride in delivering quality wines for your drinking pleasure. The venture began back in 2000 under the name of Pax wine. I originally joined the mailing list after visiting the industrial setting winery for a tasting. Their Syrahs were getting high marks from reviewers, and that always peaks my curiosity. I am not one to take it solely on a critic’s review and need to try the wine firsthand. The wines were wonderful then, and they continue to deliver with every year.
This is a working winery located in Santa Rosa. It is situated in an industrial setting that is home to several smaller wineries. The driving force in the winery is Joe Donelan. It is his vision and passion that set the stage for these winning wines. Joe has been quoted as stating that quality is the most important goal with every vintage. The scores and accolades the wines receive demonstrate his commitment. He is supported full time by his two sons, Tripp and Cushing. Tripp is the Director of Sales, and Cushing is the Director of Marketing. This is what really makes it a family affair.
Hall Wines: An Artistic Expression
Wine tasting in the Napa Valley is a joyous experience. Almost 500 wineries call the valley their home. So isn’t that a luscious palate to choose from for a tasting adventure? Yes, of course, yet not all wineries welcome visitors and offer tastings without appointments. Within the valley there are three distinct categories of wineries. One being that there is no permit or access to tasting. These wineries may not be able to build a tasting room based on the size of their production or because they sell out of their wines through their mailing lists. Secondly, there are wineries that welcome visitors on an appointment basis and may offer multiple choices of tastings that could include pairings with cheeses or other small bites. And then there is a third group of wineries that are open during certain hours and offer a menu of tasting options for the visitor, even without an appointment.
This is where Hall Wines fits in. Hall offers a portfolio of wines that one may stop in and sip through. They offer many different experiences to explore, although some of these will require an appointment as well. For those driving down Highway 29 looking for a beautiful setting and great tasting wine – Hall Wines is a perfect stop.
Mumm’s the Word
You will often hear folks refer to sparkling wine as “Champagne,” but this is an accurate description only if that bottle is from the French region named Champagne. There was a time when no other sparkling wines could come close to the quality produced in France, but that’s not true today. California sparklers can deliver the complexity, richness, and length of finish to rival those made by the French.
Mumm is one such producer to try for your next sparkling wine. Located in Napa Valley and growing fruit in vineyards in the southern, cooler part of the valley, Mumm offers many different wines to please your palate. A visit to the winery is not only refreshing but also enlightening when it comes to the production of their wines. Just recently, I took their tour and found it well done and informative.
Cliff Lede Wines: Great Wine Leads to Big Crowds
Once upon a time, one of my favorite wineries was readily accessible. One could walk in, without an appointment, and enjoy their wide portfolio of wines in a relatively mellow atmosphere. On this past Saturday, my experience was noticeably different. Cliff Lede has been discovered, and it seems to be by almost everyone! The tasting room was filled with people all along the long bar and out on the patio, and there was an event going on in a seated private tasting area.
I had to inquire, what transpired? Clearly something had changed — and that’s good for them. It is known that quality can’t be kept a secret. People finally discovered the limited production wines. Most recently, their 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry was awarded a perfect score of 100 points from Robert Parker. This seems to have opened the floodgates of individuals coming through the doors of Cliff Lede.
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.
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!