After a day of trekking around Yountville and St Helena I wound up at Girard Winery. Girard stays open till 7, very smart move I must say as they get the overflow of folks looking for a place to continue their wine tasting adventures or a place to grab drinks before heading off to a nice dinner. It's not a showy vineyard or winery so if you are looking for the fluff you will not find it (although it is a nice tasting room). What you will find are some REALLY GREAT WINES.
We tasted three pinot's a syrah and two cabs. The three pinot's were from the same vineyard in Sonoma but from three different blocks. Three distinctly different wines. All very Burgundian in crafting but with that amazing Sonoma Coast fruit. My favorite style...French winemaking but with CA fruit! The Syrah was amazing. Once again, very French. Northern Rhone in crafting but with Bennet Valley fruit. The Cabs...well, they were quite simply amazing. Two totally different wines from two different AVA's.
The vineyard has an interesting history that includes Clark Gable spending his honeymoon there. The Marston family purchased the vineyard in 1969 and use to sell their grapes to other wineries but began offering their own first commercial release in 1998. But an interesting history, warm hospitality and lovely setting are only part of the attraction. Marston Family Vineyard makes very limited releases of some outstanding, handcrafted wines.
Longfellow is dedicated to crafting "BIG" yet balanced wines. Their aim is to create wines with deep color and concentrated layers of aromas and flavors, while maintaining balance from start to finish. They strive to produce wines that not only improve with age but also become memorable conversations after a meal. With a small varietal production, Longfellow ensures that each wine is truly handcrafted from vineyard to bottle. Every aspect of the winemaking process is carefully managed to produce wines that are true to their varietal heritage while offering unique expressions of the vineyard and climate in which they were grown.
Quality begins in the vineyard, and Longfellow upholds a commitment to producing wines only if high-quality fruit can be sourced. Their case production is entirely dependent on the availability of grapes from extraordinary vineyards. To achieve this, they have built strong relationships with growers who are integral to their dedication to quality.
Kale Anderson, the winemaker at Longfellow, grew up in Sonoma County and was influenced by a community that fostered creativity, a love for the outdoors, and a commitment to land stewardship. He earned a degree in viticulture and enology from the University of California, Davis. After graduating, Kale worked for Ann and Joe Wender at Colgin Cellars, and held positions at Terra Valentine and Cliff Lede in the Stags Leap District. He later became the Director of Winemaking at Pahlmeyer, where he matured as a winemaker and earned acclaim as one of the youngest in Napa to receive a 100-point score from Robert Parker for the 2013 Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Piece de Resistance. After five years at Pahlmeyer, Kale chose to focus on his own label and consult for limited production projects like Longfellow.
Seen as a rising star in the Napa winemaking scene, Kale Anderson is a valuable asset to Longfellow. His energy and dedication to producing exceptional wines and attention to detail form the cornerstone of the Longfellow project. Longfellow is proud to have Kale as its winemaker, embodying the new foundation of their winemaking philosophy and sharing their singular goal of crafting exceptional wines with unique character from distinctive vineyard sites.
Bond offers four Napa Valley Red wines, Melbury, St. Eden, Vecina, and Pluribus. The wine not utilized for the final blends of Bond, then goes to create a second wine under the Matriarch label. I tasted a bottle of Matriarch recently and was very impressed with its silky nature.
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.
Buccella, under the guidance of well-known winemaking consultant Celia Masyczek has fashioned brilliant Cabernet Sauvignons in both 2006 and 2007 and the 2008 continues their success. The 2008s are slightly more powerful, backward wines but they have enough structure as well as sensational concentration and depth to support the tannins. ROBERT PARKER RATING: 95
We stumbled in here after hitting up a winery or five, and I'm so glad we did. While we waited for our table, we went next door to the tasting room where the staff was casual and personable. Fun fact - if you are dining at Farmstead, they give you discounted wine tastings! Inside the restaurant, it has a classic yet modern farmhouse feel, decorated with aged wood planks on the walls and mason jars filled with fresh flowers. Our waiter was helpful and knowledgeable
I generally prefer the Chardonnay production of the French in Burgundy but Kongsgaard is legendary in here for a reason. It bridges the styles of your American oak-ey/buttery styles with the mineral, citrus and complexities. One of the best California Chards. Kongsgaard Wine is closed to the public and sold to members only and in some fine dinning establishments.
Wing Canyon has played a major role in the evolution of Mt. Veeder as a prominent wine-producing region. From vineyards to carp farm, popular resort to a camp for the blind Wing Canyon has been home to valley pioneers and visitors for over a century. Captain Stalhan Wing produced the first Mt Veeder wine, which he entered into the Napa County Fair in 1864. He was also known for his carp, thousands of which he raised in man-made ponds amongst the vineyards.
