AWC Loves California Wine – Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of AWC’s California wine escapades! Our final day of wine tasting in California wine country was about to begin and eventually conclude. As you may have surmised, AWC loves California Wine. This was a Sunday, and we were scheduled for only three wineries. We were anticipating longer durations with more intimate tastings. And of course, we had to accommodate the drive time between venues as well. On the drive out, we posed for the obligatory “Napa Valley” pix!

Our itinerary was nothing short of stellar. The first stop would be Joseph Phelps Vineyards, followed by some lunch in Calistoga. Next we would visit Robert Biale Vineyards. Our final tasting would be at Hall – Napa Valley (St. Helena). Then, as with all celebrations, the grand finale for dinner was at Press in St. Helena. For those not aware, Press is a highly acclaimed gourmet restaurant. A great day it was, and what a great ending as well!  How else could it go down, with AWC in California wine country? Read on to see how we did!

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

The drive out to Joseph Phelps was scenic and tranquil. Located in St. Helena, the winery was started in 1973. It is situated on a former cattle ranch and contains hundreds of acres of vineyards. After all these years, Joseph Phelps is still a family-owned and operated winery. They have a long and storied history in the Napa and Sonoma wine industry. The wines they craft represent a wide diversity of varietals and blends. As you may already know however, it is the Insignia wine line that is their flagship wine. Their wine pedigree is well established and their list of 100-point wines is impressive.

As we walked up to the greeters from the parking lot, we were met by two lines of staff.  It was true VIP treatment and this is why AWC loves California wine. As part of our visit we experienced a tour of the grounds and original winery. The building was recently renovated, and the trellis, rooms and grounds were simply immaculate. Our wine guide for the tasting was Matthew Ingram. He took the time to discuss the history and details associated with the wines. He was a wealth of information.

The Wines

As we were seated, we noticed printed tasting lists, customized for our party.  A very nice touch! We started by tasting the 2018 Chardonnay from Pastorale Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. It was refreshing and a great palate balancer. Next we dove into the reds. We sampled two 2017 Pinot Noir’s in succession. One sourced from Pastorale Vineyard and one from Quarter Moon Vineyard (both on the Sonoma Coast). These wines, while unique, were both tasty, lighter in body and very approachable. Finally, we arrived at the last 3 samplings. All Cabernet Sauvignon.

First was the 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet. It spent 18 months in both new and used French and American Oak. Then we did a side-by-side tasting of two Insignia Label Cabs.  The 2014 and the 2008. Barrel aging for both included 24 months in only new French oak. Both were predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, and each had smaller contributions of other Bordeaux varietals. While I thoroughly enjoyed both wines, it was the 2014 that resonated nicely with me. Retail price points were $350 and $400 per bottle, respectively. At the end of the day, Matthew noted that they did indeed sell a widely acclaimed dessert wine. Crafted from Scheurebe, he told us that the “Delice” 2018 would be a slam dunk with a cigar.  Sold!  To the man from Washington State! And again, this is why AWC loves California wine!

Robert Biale Vineyards

After a quick jaunt up to downtown Calistoga for lunch, we jetted back down the Silverado Trail, South, to Robert Biale Vineyards. What a beautiful California drive. We specifically wanted to taste some of Napa’s best Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. And we were in the right place. This winery was one of our favorite visits of the entire trip. Alina Harvell was our wine educator, and she was just outstanding! She told us the story of how things started back in the 1940’s to the present day. She was engaging, personable and just a delight to meet with. Winemaker Tres Goetting is a true master of his craft!

Initially our tasting list included only 3 Zinfandels and one red blend. But as luck would have it, we convinced Alina to bend the rules a little. So she simply demolished the rules for us and served up an amazing lineup! Thank you Alina for an awesome visit and tasting experience. The 7 tastings that included an amazing port-style wine as well, were a huge hit with us! Even better were the price points for the wines. Amazing quality for great prices. What a find this winery was!

And So It Begins

We started off the tasting with 3 consecutive red Zinfandel wines. First was the 2019 Flagship Zinfandel known as “Black Chicken”, sourced from the Napa Valley AVA. This was followed by the 2018 Stagecoach Vineyard Zinfandel sourced from St. Helena AVA. Next we tasted the 2018 Monte Rosso Vineyard Zin from Sonoma AVA. Each was unique and delicious, reflecting the differences between the different climates and terroirs. The 2018 Basic Black red blend was up next. This wine was sourced from both Sonoma and Napa AVAs, 59% and 41% respectively. The blend of varietals included Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Early Burgundy, Zinfandel, Syrah, Carignan, Tempranillo and Petite Sirah. Is there anything left? This unique and proprietary red blend was something I’ve never come close to tasting. Terms like approachable and unique – don’t really do this wine justice.

Our next tasting was the 2019 “Royal Punishers” Petite Sirah from the Napa Valley. I learned that Petite Sirah is the descendant of Syrah and Peloursin varietals. But I already knew how much I loved it. Finally, we experienced the 2018 Petite Sirah Dessert wine from Napa Valley. This was a gem. A perfect pairing for my cigar addiction. At the end of the day, we purchased a bottle of the Stagecoach Zinfandel and the Royal Punishers Petite Sirah. And we also took home 2 bottles of the Port style 2018 Petite Sirah. Finally – I scored another logo’d and stemmed wine glass. Thank you so much Alina for that glass!!!

Hall – Napa Valley (St. Helena)

Our final tasting of the entire trip was to be held at Hall – Napa Valley, in St. Helena. No worries since we know AWC loves California wine and we will be back! As we drove up the long driveway, the expansive and beautiful grounds overtake you. To the immediate left is the iconic American flag-bearing rabbit in the vines. Hall was created to highlight amazing wine, beautiful art and stunning architecture. In my estimation, they are 3 for 3.

This winery has been operating since July 2003. The Hall Estate Vineyards are comprised of over 500 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Megan Gunderson is the head winemaker for Hall, and she can certainly craft exquisite wines. Our private tasting was called “The Art of Cabernet Sauvignon”. As we were greeted by our wine guide, we were poured a tasting of the 2020 Walt (Rosé of Pinot Noir). It was crafted from grapes as far south as Santa Barbara and as far north as Oregon! Our 2^nd warm-up was the 2019 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It was crisp and refreshing, but we were more focused on what’s to come.

The Grand Finale

Our first red taste was the 2016 Coeur Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from St. Helena. This was followed by the 2016 Ellie’s Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from the Napa Valley. These two Cabs, while unique, were smooth, nicely balanced and very approachable. I was still anticipating something more. Something better. Something that would say, “Damn Geena!” (think 90’s sitcom with Martin Lawrence). Next in line was the 2017 Jack’s Masterpiece. This Cabernet Sauvignon was also sourced from the Napa Valley and was a step-up in mouthfeel and finish. So now we were making progress.

Then there came the 1-2 punch. A Mike Tyson shot to the body, followed by an uppercut. A knockout, plain and simple. The 2016 Bergfeld Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena was really delicious, layered, complex and had a long enjoyable finish. This was everything I would expect from a high-end Napa Cab. Oh but I’m not finished. The finale was our sampling of the Kathryn Hall 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This baby was exquisite, truly living up to its 97-point rating and delivering on all counts. Enticing aromatics. Beautiful color. Sumptuous fruit. Silky and elegant mouthfeel, with a finish that charms you into drinking more. This was the wine. This was the Cab I’d been searching for. The last wine. On the last day. We left with 2 bottles of each of the last two Cabs. What a score!

Dinner at Press

With AWC in California wine country, first class is the ONLY way to go. That’s why our motto is “Live the Good Life!”  That’s just how we roll. So for Sunday evening’s dinner, we had reservations at Press Restaurant in St. Helena. Press is an iconic and highly acclaimed gourmet restaurant. For the past 15 years, it’s been famous for its ambiance, delicious cuisine and fantastic wine list. For our starters, we ordered the Benton’s bacon griddled cornbread and the Brentwood corn. The cornbread was amazing and the black truffle butter was decadent. My wife, a corn fanatic, was in heaven with the charred corn.

For our main entrées, my wife ordered the Alaskan halibut with braised romano beans, squash blossom and Genovese basil whey. As predicted, I ordered the 60-day aged Tomahawk steak (medium rare) with mushroom hollandaise. This meal was the emphatic stamp of approval for our party of four. Great food, great company, great wines and great times!  Thank you Rachel and Oliver for joining us in California, and Cheers from AWC!