Bell is an incredible winery in Yountville. If you can, book a private tour and tasting where you'll get the full story behind the single clone Cabernets and their winemaker Antony. If you're lucky, Maggie will do your tour. Brace yourself for the Clone 6!
Segway Napa We started tour off around the graveyard/Veterans area in Yountville. Gale the tour operator gives you lots of history about the area, wineries, etc...A great way to learn about the area and the rich history of the region. Next we glided down various back roads in the beautiful countryside surrounding Yountville. Gale gave us more wonderful historical tidbits and was quite knowledgeable about local plants, trees, wineries, etc. Then we hit Goosecross Cellars for a very relaxed winetasting and were treated to some fantastic wines. We ended up buying three different bottles and had lots of room to carry them back with us in the pack-sacks that are attached to the Segway's. The people at Goosecross were great and I will write up a separate review for them. After the tasting we sat out back next to the vineyards drinking wine and eating some great cheese and crackers that gale brought with her - lots of great conversation about the region and her time working at various wineries.
Teaderman Vineyards is owned by Stan and Patti Teaderman. Stan is a long time resident of Napa - since 1947 who has been exposed to viticulture and the wine industry for most of his life. He co-founded a propane gas business (headquartered in Napa) and also runs one of Napa's premier barrel storage facilities for premium wineries (Napa Vintage Storage). Their 14-acre vineyard was purchased in 1978 to help satisfy Stan & Patti's long time passion with wine and is located in the heart of Oakville; this is prime Napa Valley vineyard terroir. As a long time Napa grower and vintner, Stan's enthusiasm and energy regarding his own wine is clearly evident, almost as if he was just starting out in the industry! His nearby neighbors are Silver Oak, Groth and Screaming Eagle.
This small family winery is spectacular! The love and care that goes into producing a bottle of pinot is a testament to the pride that the owners have for this vineyard which has been in the family since 1938. Bravo!!Their vineyard is in Rutherford and they only make two wines, a Pinot Noir (yes a Pinot Noir) and a Chardonnay. These are both serious, and not inexpensive wines. That said, they are elegant, have wonderful cherry and raspberry flavors and will reward cellaring. I am a big Russian River Pinot fan, but these are very nice wines. Worth seeking out. Can't wait to sip again!
“Every wine in the Blackbird collection is a true expression of the Napa Valley, with each possessing extraordinary structure and finesse. These limited production wines display the complexity extracted from the highest quality fruit and devoted winemaking techniques.”
–Aaron Pott, Winemaker
Located off the beaten path and decidedly unpretentious, an afternoon visit to Bouchaine is a favorite. Their wine is quite good, especially considering the mostly modest bottle prices. Their riesling is crisp and wonderful, perfect for a warm sunny afternoon. Their pinots are excellent. There is a self-guided tour through the vineyards that offers great views of the southern Napa Valley.
Patrick Elliott-Smith, owner and winemaker at Elan Vineyards, was born in the United States to a French mother and an American father. His appreciation for fine wines began early, influenced by his grandfather René's extensive wine cellar filled with pre-World War II Bordeaux wines. As children, Patrick and his siblings were allowed just a few drops of red wine in their water—a practice that led Grandmother Madeleine to exclaim, "René, you will make them drunk!" This early exposure cultivated Patrick's taste for fine wines.
After completing high school in France, Patrick returned to the United States and earned a B.A. in philosophy. He found that his philosophical studies provided an excellent foundation for addressing the climatic challenges of agriculture. Following college, Patrick was drawn to Napa Valley by its resemblance to southern France, with its familiar topography and climate evoking fond memories. Deciding to make it his home, Patrick and his brother Dennis, an artist, acquired a parcel of land. Over the next four years, they raised horses, sheep, and goats; produced goat cheese; and grew gourmet herbs and vegetables for upscale Napa Valley restaurants. They also explored French intensive gardening techniques and bio-dynamic farming, which takes organic farming to an advanced level, sharing the 1960s ideal of living off the land.
In 1979, Patrick discovered his ideal property at the top of Atlas Peak Road. Situated about 2,100 feet above sea level—roughly 1,900 feet higher than the average Napa Valley vineyard—the site was perfect for viticulture. Patrick entered the wine industry by developing vineyards for prominent wineries such as The Hess Collection, Liparita, Dominus, and Beaulieu Vineyards, along with various private hillside estate vineyards. In 1980, he constructed a small stone house on the property and lived in a teepee on the future winery site while clearing manzanita brush from five acres. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon on 110R rootstock using a French-style trellis, which was uncommon in California at the time. For the first seven years, Patrick sold the fruit to Caymus Vineyards.
The story of Relic is fundamentally the story of Mike Hirby and Schatzi Throckmorton. Their paths crossed in Napa Valley in 2000: Mike had recently relocated to Calistoga after managing the wine program at the innovative restaurant Primitivo in Colorado Springs for two years. His interest in wine had begun during his senior year at Colorado College, and his time at Primitivo intensified his passion for winemaking. Schatzi had arrived in the area the year before, inspired by her great uncle to take a gap year between her studies in African History at Northwestern University and a graduate program at Cambridge. Both were employed at Behrens & Hitchcock Winery—Mike working in the cellar and Schatzi in the office. Through numerous shared meals and wine tastings at Behrens, they discovered a mutual appreciation for similar wine styles. The influence of the Behrens/Drinkward/Hitchcock team was crucial; their vibrant, passionate environment provided the backdrop for the emergence of Relic. Discussions about cherished wines, disliked wines, and fascinating techniques fueled their inspiration, leading them to adopt methods like native yeast fermentation, whole-cluster fermentation, and extended lees aging. These techniques laid the foundation for Relic.
With the support of friends, Mike was introduced to two growers with exceptional vineyards, securing a few tons of Pinot Noir for the 2001 harvest. While still working as the sole employees at Behrens & Hitchcock, they were given the opportunity to produce their first wines with a strict adherence to their ideals: native yeast, native malo, no additions of water or acid, and direct barrel aging. Thus, Relic was born. The couple married in 2005, and Relic continues to be managed with a blend of their individual and shared responsibilities, with Schatzi overseeing the business side and Mike focusing on winemaking, though their roles often overlap.
Growing an Idea
Mike left Behrens in 2002 to become the winemaker at Realm Cellars, while Schatzi remained as the Business Manager at Behrens Family Winery. They were fortunate to produce their wines at Behrens for eight years, during which Relic grew steadily and intentionally, with the aim of remaining an independent winery free from financial partners. This independence allowed them the creative freedom to make bold, uncompromising decisions in winemaking, such as declassifying wines at a financial loss or creating new cuvées based on passion rather than profit. They expanded their production to include Syrah in 2003, which garnered acclaim from a major wine publication, establishing their reputation. Since 2007, their Rhone varietal program has expanded to include heritage varietals from Napa Valley, reflecting their commitment to preserving traditional winemaking practices.
The Fire
In the midst of the 2005 harvest, Mike was at the winery handling evening cap management when he received a distressing call about a devastating fire at the case goods warehouse on Mare Island, south of Napa. The shock was immediate, but there was little they could do but focus on the wines until morning. The following day revealed the extent of the damage: Relic had lost its library and half of its 2004 vintage, which had been shipped a month earlier. This disaster served as a stark reminder of the limitations of their insurance and the severity of their loss. Faced with the choice to either continue their small-scale project or fully commit to making Relic their primary endeavor, they chose the latter. Fifteen years later, they continue to thrive, driven by their dedication and resilience.
Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon is a sleek and supple full-bodied wine that offers aromas of cassis and blueberries. The palate is richly textured with silky tannins and wonderful fruit density filled with flavors of ripe blackberries, chocolate, mocha and toasty oak. Chasing Lions is produced by Nine North Wines.
Jim Barbour was raised on his family’s ranch in Rutherford where he learned the life of farming, a passion for land, and the understanding that hard work breeds success. In 1992, he planted his own vineyard and in 1995 produced just 50 cases of his first vintage of his eponymous Barbour Cabernet Sauvignon. Barbour is an estate wine handmade by Celia Welch and produced from dry-farmed and sustainably grown grapes from Barbour Vineyard.
