I have just returned from a tour out West where I spent three days as a judge in the San Francisco International Wine Competition. I tasted just more than 400 wines, and then rewarded myself with three glorious days kicking around the Napa Valley. After tasting all of those wines at the competition (the winners will be announced at a future date), taking time to savor the samples of some of Napa Valley’s best values was a nice change of pace and resulted in a few genuine gems.
The wines I tasted ranged in price from $15 a bottle all the way up to $500 a bottle. Needless to say, I enjoyed the latter as a result of someone else’s charity. But for we mere mortals who still have car payments and day jobs, here are a few wines in the reasonable price range that are worth the hunt. Most of these wines are either available in our area or can be purchased directly from the winery (check with local jurisdiction regarding specific shipping laws). Retail prices are approximate.
The 2009 Neal Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ($18) is made from 100 percent organically grown grapes. The first thing you notice is the floral bouquet of acacia flowers and ripe mango. The smooth, juicy mouthfeel exudes bright tropical fruits like guava, mango and papaya, and finishes crisp and fresh with a pop of grapefruit.
Owners Randy and Lisa Lynch call their 2006 Bennett Lane Winery, Maximus ($35) a “red feasting wine” and it’s easy to see why. The blend of the cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah and malbec results in a wine that opens with aromas of blackberry, violets and chocolate-covered cherries. On the palate the wine displays flavors of dark berries, mocha and more ripe cherry fruit. The wine pairs well with burgers or steaks.
I am not a fan of over-oaked, over-extracted chardonnay wines, particularly ones made from fruit grown in the hot climate of the Napa Valley floor, but the beautifully balanced 2008 Signorello Chardonnay ($42) is stunning. The fruit is grown, managed and harvested from old-age vines. This kind of control helps produce a wine with a nose of creamy pears, orange blossoms and roasted nuts that leads to lovely flavors of green apples, tropical fruits and a hint of baked pear and butterscotch on the delightful finish.
If you’re looking for an oxymoron in the wine world, try an elegant zinfandel. The 2008 Chateau Montelena Estate Zinfandel ($25) opens with pretty scents of strawberry and black raspberry on the nose and then melds into flavors of gentle black cherry and pomegranate in the mouth. The medium-bodied zin is nicely balanced and features sweet tannins on smooth, dry finish.
Kirk Venge has definitely stepped out of the shadow of his father, legendary winemaker Nils Venge, and into his own spotlight. Kirk’s 2008 Venge Vineyards Silencieux (The Silent One) Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($28) is proof. Much of the fruit for this labor of love comes from vineyards that Kirk’s family has farmed for nearly a half-century and the name, Silencieux, is a tribute to these old vineyards that stand silent and bear consistent grapes year after year. The wine opens with scents of blackberries, cassis, licorice and coffee on the nose and then leads to flavors of black fruit, black current and minerals on the concentrated, viscous palate.
While the name Silver Oak may not conjure up an image of delicately nuanced pinot noir, the famous producer of big California Cabernet’s sibling, Twomey Cellars sure does. Their 2009 Twomey Bien Nacido Pinot Noir ($50) from the Santa Maria Valley is their first vineyard-designated pinot noir bottling. Made from organically farmed fruit, the wine is crafted in a forward style, featuring aromas of sweet strawberry and wild raspberries on the nose and repeated on the palate where they are joined by lush, ripe berries and undercurrents of red currants and violets, all built on a graceful framework with a fine balance between tannins and acidity.
