DAY 1- Napa south (part 1)

Thursday 4/22/2010

Shafer Vineyards

As we drove up to the venerable Shafer Vineyards in Stags Leap, my first thought was of the understated nature of the property. Pretty hillside vineyards and a nice modern winery, but nothing that screams of the utter joy of wine that awaits you. This was the first stop of the trip- why not start big?

Running a minute late, we joined the group out on the patio as our host pointed out the Hillside Select vineyards surrounding the winery, and talked about Shafer's sustainable farming practices. It was all fairly simple, more of an orientation than a tour. The treat came when we were taken into the cellar to see the 2008 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon being bottled. Winemaker Elias Fernandez was overseeing everything, and was kind enough to say hello to everyone. We tasted the 2008 One Point Five in the cellar- with beautifully forward fruit and elegantly layered spice and tannins that should develop and integrate while the wine rests in bottle awaiting release.

We tasted through the Shafer wines in a sun room overlooking the patio and vineyards- a magnificent setting. To highlight the tasting, John Shafer came out and shared a few moments of his time with the group. It's a highly structured tasting, so we didn't get too caught up in every detail of Shafer's winemaking process. As a whole, the wines are balanced and classically styled, but unmistakably Californian. Bold and rich, but unmistakably luxurious and silky. The tasting was capped off with some insanely good chocolates paired with a nice port-style dessert wine only available at the winery. What a magnificent kick-off to the trip!


-2008 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, Carneros- 75% barrel fermented, no malo, wild yeast. Straw, green apple & stone fruit, pear, light oaky vanilla notes. Crisp and bright with great balance---Excellent---$48
-2007 Merlot Napa Valley- Caramel apple, cherry, plum. Elegant with silky spice tannins and mint on the finish---Very Good to Excellent---$48
-2007 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap- Dense and full. Vanilla, butterscotch, cassis, tobacco. Gliding red & black fruits that soar into cedar and spice box notes on the tannins and finish. Silky and velvety---Excellent to Stellar---$70
-2006 Relentless, Napa Valley Syrah/Petite Sirah- Co-fermented. Inky and full. Cassis, leather, white pepper, with meaty notes. Meaty black fruits, pepper-bold but elegant with firm peppery grip and spicy finish---Very Good to Excellent---$70
-2005 Hillside Select, Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon- 32 months in 100% new French Oak. Dense and full. Vanilla, green olive, cassis, currant, and cedar on the nose. Waves of cassis, cigar box, herbs, vanilla, cedar, and red berries that are elegant and silky. Firm white pepper tannins lead into a finish of berries and olive---Excellent to Stellar, but will move to "Stellar to Classic" as the red and black berry notes develop and the tannins further integrate with many years in the bottle---$215

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White Rock Vineyards

It was a short drive southeast into the Soda Canyon area off the Silverado Trail. Soda Canyon is not an official AVA, but like the hillsides of Stags Leap it features a slightly cooler climate than the valley floor. With a long history, the White Rock Vineyards were reclaimed by Henri Vandendriessche in 1977. Henri pointed us around his vineyards, planted to Bordeaux reds and Burgundian white- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, & Petite Verdot; along with two Dijon clones of Chardonnay. The vineyards have been farmed organically since the early 1980's.

The winery is totally underground, with an extensive cave where Henri also leases space to other small labels in Napa. One of the cooler things I've seen while touring wine caves, were the massive enclaves they carved out in the walls to age the bottled Bordeaux blends- totally unique. Henri and his family have been here for many years- low key in Soda Canyon, making just a few thousand cases each year of their classic Bordeaux style reds and Burgundian style whites. Henri's sons Michael and Christopher, are now winegrower and winemaker respectively. These are lean and European style wines by Napa standards- very enjoyable and well priced. This was a great stop-one of those cool "off the radar" places that are so much fun to visit.

-2007 Chardonnay, Napa Valley- Fermented in barrel w/natural yeast, 10% malo, 10 months on lees in 5% new French Oak. Lean. Peach, straw, and pear- vibrant apple and tropical fruit. Good balance and finish---very good---$30.
-2008 Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley- 50% malo. Richer color. Honey, peach, apple- balanced and lively- finishes long with butterscotch and pear---very good to excellent---price?
-2005 Claret, Napa Valley- 40% Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot, 14% Petite Verdot, 11% Cab Franc; 22 months in French Oak- 33% new. Caramel, dark berries, cigar box aromas descend into tart red berries, anise, herbs, and pepper through to the finish. Firm and balanced---very good---$36
-2004 Laureate, Napa Valley- 75% Cab Sauv, 20% Cab Franc, 3% Merlot, 2% Petite Verdot; 22 months in French Oak- 33% new. Lively color. Red fruit & boysenberry- fresh herbs, leather, and tobacco. Big tannins, integrated and long---very good to excellent---$50.

Next- more notes on the remainder of Day 1. Click the link for more photos of Napa day 1.