Patty's Birthday Trip, Part III

On Day Three of Patty's Birthday Trip to Napa, we visited just one winery, Cakebread Cellars. I highly recommend a visit to this winery because of their extraordinary tasting method. Unlike other wineries, Cakebread divides guests into small (4-6 people) groups and takes each group to a private tasting room. Guests have the undivided attention of a host, who pours the wines and explains in depth the varietals, growing methods and winemaking process. Our host was very knowledgeable, friendly, and down-to-earth, and my sisters ranked Cakebread as their favorite winery on the trip, not only for the wines (which they rated as very good to excellent) but also for the experience.

What we tasted:

Sauvignon Blanc 2008

The nose had soft peach and lemon notes, and was not particularly strong. The wine was hot, meaning the alcohol hit the palate throughout, and dry, with delicious tart lemon and peach flavors. The finish was light and smooth. I thought this would go well with sushi and Thai food. I gave it a 6 out of 10, as I did not like the alcohol factor.

Anderson Valley Chardonnay 2007

This is a very nice Chardonnay, with a beautiful nose that hinted of its French oak aging and apple flavor. There were oak overtones throughout the wine, and the flavors were of Fuji apple and pear. The wine had a lovely smooth, creamy finish. 9 out of 10 points, a very well-balanced Chardonnay that would be great with grilled fish, roasted chicken and pork, and just for sipping.

Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay Carneros 2006

Another superb Chard, this wine had a lighter nose that again hinted of oak aging. This was a dry wine with flavors of cinnamon apple, vanilla and oak. The finish was big, rich, and creamy. The wine would be great with creamy pasta dishes, risotto, and the meats mentioned above. I gave it a 10 out of 10 points.

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2006

The nose was rather light and smoky with a hint of pepper. Low in tannins, this was an unusual pinot noir. The front of the wine was big, earthy, and smoky, with flavors of cherry and chocolate. Sadly, the middle and finish were disappointingly flat. The wine tasted young to me, and might improve with age. I gave it a 5 out of 10.

Red Hills Lake County Zinfandel 2005

The host noted the grapes came from a young vineyard, and I could tell. This wine had a softer nose and was lower in fruit and spice than the typical zinfandel. The predominant flavors were of peach skin, dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and toasted oak with a hint of pepper and cinnamon. The finish was softer and more rounded, probably due to the age of the wine. I was on the fence, as I usually like big, punchy zins, so I gave it a 6 out of 10. This might pair nicely with food, I’d have to experiment.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

This had a big nose of oak, leather and dark cherry, and the taste did not disappoint. Well-balanced with punches of leather, cherry, chocolate and pine, the wine was rich and smooth. The finish was softer and very rounded. 9 out of 10 points.

We had lunch at Downtown Joe’s in Napa, where we drank some of their most excellent beer while sitting on the patio overlooking the Napa River – delightful! Dinner was at Celadon, also in downtown Napa, and another restaurant I highly recommend. We had the following wine with dinner:

Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir 2006

Starting with a lovely nose of bright cherry, this wine was well-balanced and smooth. Predominant flavor was of red cherry with hints of eucalyptus and vanilla. The wine was perfect with my grilled red snapper, and I gave it an 8 out of 10 points.

At the end of the third day, we all agreed the wine tasting part of the trip was a huge success. My sisters and I purchased many of the wines I reviewed, and as noted earlier, I joined two wine clubs, Acacia and Domaine Chandon. The hubby and I still are members and visit these wineries regularly. The rest of my sister’s trip was spent at Indian Springs Spa, Armstrong Redwoods State Park, and driving along the Sonoma coast. I was sorry to see my sisters head back home, and hope they’ll be back soon.