EMH’s vineyard is situated on the valley floor near Pickett Road in Calistoga, just east of the Silverado Trail. Pocketed by the Palisades Mountains to the north and Diamond Mountain to the south, the tiny vineyard of just under an acre produces outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon fruit.
Surh Luchtel wines are something special, they are some of the best I found in Napa/Sonoma valley.
Don Surh was a very gracoius host and evey wine that was poured we found amazing. I can't say we have a favorite wine because they were all amazing. Surh Luchtel Cellars specializes in making small batches of age-worthy wines of character.
Buehler Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery located in the mountains east of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Situated north of Pritchard Hill and Conn Valley, near the base of Howell Mountain, this hillside vineyards are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller blocks of old-vine Zinfandel. Not the easiest winery to get to through the twisting Howell Mountain Road, but definitely worth your drive to enjoy the wonderful hospitality at this place. Their estate Cabernet is especially complex and very pleasing to the taste buds. If your looking for some new wines to try or just looking for an amazing experience... Go here!
Vine Cliff Winery was established in 1871, when 500 acres were carved out of the George Yount estate. One of the first bonded wineries in the United States, and the first in Napa to plant Bordeaux varietals on a commercial scale, Vine Cliff was one of the region’s most successful wineries through the end of the 19th Century. A series of natural problems drove the winery under in the early 20th Century, with the land remaining fallow until it was purchased by Nell Sweeney for her family in 1985. Now, under the leadership of Rob Sweeney, the family’s oldest son, Vine Cliff has regained its position as a leader in the production of superior Napa Valley wines.
Twomey specializes in pinots from pinot-hotspots around the state. They have 5 or 6 of them, and they all have very different flavor profiles. It's really a great educational experience for people who are new to wine-tasting or to pinots to taste so many very different wines from the same varietal. Some were light and fruity; others were rich and smoky. The Santa Barbara pinot in particular had a lovely smoky finish.
We also had a fantastic little table across the creek in the trees and each wine was explained to us. We really loved our experience and the wine is fantastic. I think this is a great little gem. The level of service, the little snack plate, the wine was amazing and it isn't sold in stores, so you have to know this place. All the reds were great overall, they seem to put a lot of care and time into their wines.
Livingston Moffett Wines is located in the heart of the Howell Mountain Appellation. This family-run winery uses a hands on approach to farming, winemaking, and sales to produce finely crafted wines. Trent Moffett is a second-generation vintner and carefully selects grapes from vineyards around the Napa Valley as well as from his family’s vineyard to make top-notch wine.
The rustic cave setting certainly took our tasting to the next level, but the Cabernet's stood on their own. Each had a distinct character, and some were liked more than others, but we honestly enjoyed EVERY wine that we tasted. The pairing of delicious cheeses enhanced the many attributes of the grapes. Von Strasser is a small, cozy winery tucked into Spring Mountain, just 5 minutes up the hill from Calistoga. They have beautiful, rich Cabs and it's a great experience.
13 Appelations - Against this trend of vineyard-designated wines comes THIRTEEN — a wine made not from not just one vineyard, but from a baker’s dozen, each one more esteemed than the next. What distinguishes these vineyards is that they have been chosen as the best representatives of their respective sub-appellations: Howell Mountain, Rutherford, etc. Napa Valley has 13 of these sub-appellations or did when we picked the fruit.
The main reason behind EDGE is to give their customers a premium Cabernet Sauvignon, without the premium price. EDGE is the most reasonable North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon that one will find on the shelf, which does not compromise on quality.
Blended by a notable winemaker, EDGE Cabernet Sauvignon drinks wonderfully now, and will age well for five to eight years. Edge spent 16 months in French and American oak barrels, of which 30% were new. It is a blend of Cabernet and a small amount of Merlot to round out the edges.
