Napa Sights 2009 - napasights2009

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We enjoyed these during our tasting at Gloria Ferrer.  Our tasting host was kind enough to share how she made them. 

Ingredients:

Raw almonds

Sea Salt

Chili Powder

Cayenne Pepper

A little olive oil to get the dry ingredients to stick to the almonds.

Instructions:

Roast almonds at very high heat until they turn a dark brown color.  Stir often. If you don't roast them long enough they will be chewy instead of crunchy. 

All I can say is this is the best kept secret of the wine country.  They don't have a single wine you wouldn't want to take home.  The only wine we have found in retail is the Mi Sueno (my dream) El Llano Red Wine.  There are several Dallas area restaurants that do carry the wines as well.  The best way to get the wine is to call the winery.  Great people and very gracious hosts.  Rolando Herrera is the wine maker and owner and is passionate about every detail of the process.  You will love his personal story too about how he made it his 'dream' to have his own winery.

2005/2006 Mi Sueno El Llano Red Wine - super buy at $40

2005 Mi Sueno Syrah - excellent $45

2006 Mi Sueno Pino Noir Russian River Valley - excellent $48

2006 Mi Sueno Chardonnay Los Carneros - Excellent white wine $38

2006 Herrera Pinot Noir Seleccion Esmeralda - AWESOME!!!  $95.  Should be priced much higher for the incredible quality of this pinot.

I'm still looking for my tasting notes.  I was mostly taking pictures of everything we saw at this gorgeous winery.  But I do know we enjoyed the 2004 Chardonnay, 2006 Syrah and the 2006 Cabernet since these were delivered today!  Join the wine club to get in on the special dining events and learn how to get access to the guest house.

Cute little winery.  The outside looks like this beautiful refined winery.  You enter and you feel like you are in a circus tent.  They say they celebrate "decadence with a wink".  Explains the tent.

Our favorite is the 2005 Merlot $36

 

This is a beautiful winery and such a refined experience.  Every single wine was perfect.

Two chardonnays were our favs

2007 Estate Bottled Chardonnay $56

2006 Cave Collection Chardonnay $65

The Cabernet Sauvignons are the treat at Far Niente.  So many to choose from and each wondeful--and they should be ranging in price from $125-$500 per bottle.

A wonderful dessert wine is the liquid gold of Far Niente called Dolce.  We had the 2005 and could have licked the glass if we weren't in such a place. Retails for $170-$200. 

We had a GREAT time at this tasting.  Janie was a super host and we really enjoyed the barrel tasting in the cellar. 

2008 Rollicking Rose' - would be a great summer sipper around the pool and a bargain at $14 a bottle.

2007 Carneros Chardonnay - good $28

2005 Napa Valley Merlot (sorry, only available at the winery) but it was a wonderful wine!

This was one of our favorite stops and we enjoyed everything we tasted. 

2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa - Very fresh $27

2004 Howell Mountin Red Wine - Loved this one! $75

2005 Three Palms Merlot - spicy but a bit of a burn at the end $85

2005 Patzimaro Vineyard Cabernet - Loved it!  $95

2006 Paraduxx Napa Valley Red Wine - stars all around this one $48

2006 Goldeneye Pino Noir - good and buttery $55

 

We came home with the ducklings. :)

What a great little winery find!  Shelley has been in the wine club and loves all the variety they send her.  We really enjoyed everything we tasted.  They only do very small quantities so you aren't likely to find it at the local retail stores.  See the link on this site to get hooked up.  We brought home the 2005 'Two Moon' Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Retail $55.   

We had a great morning sampling sparkling wines and varietal wines from this beautiful Spanish winery.  We enjoyed:

2005 Brut Rose' $42

2004 Blanc de Blancs $24

2004 Carneros Syrah $19

2005 Carneros Pinot Noir - We really liked this Pinot $28

2006 Carneros Chardonnay - $18

The tasting notes from Darioush look like we enjoyed just about everything we tasted.  Here were the favorites:

2006 Signature Cabernet Franc - good $55

2006 Duel - 60% Cab, 40% Shiraz $45

2006 Cabernet - "Ribeye in a Bottle" $80

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Very good.  83% Cab 12% Merlot not on mkt

We really liked the following from Trefethen:

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Really good!  Deep ruby color, richly textured. $50

2006 Cabernet Franc - silky with a lingering finish.  Rob's fav. $38

2001 Library Cabernet Sauvignon - earthier $80

2007 Quandary - sweeter and would be great with shrimp $25

2007 Pinot Noir - good $48

I was bummed we didn't get there early enough to see the contemporary art museum.  We did find a few wines we liked and pretty good buys.  

2001 Library Cabernet Sauvignon - earthy $70

2006 Hess Mount Veeder 19 Block Cuvee $36

2006 Allomi Vineyard Petite Sirah $36

The tasting experts said that the best years for wine country wines were from 2001 and 2005.  They say the 2008s will be good although available in smaller quantities because of the early freeze last year.  They also said if you have any 2001 Cabs, enjoy them now.  That was all we had to hear to hit the good stuff we have been saving!

2005 Merlot, Napa - Heavier than a typical Merlot $54

2004 & 2005 Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet were EXCELLENT.  From Howell Mountain. $100

2007 Chardonnay, Napa - was (as a Chard lover would expect) terrific and not too acidic. $80

2006 Chardonnay Reserve, Carneros, Napa - This one comes from a cooler region and made in the Burgundian style (not sure I recall what this means).  But it was my favorite of the two Chardonnays.   But of course it also has the bigger price tag too at $115.

2006 Rubaiyat, North Coast - IT's a Pino Noir blend made by the Persian winemaker, Omar Khayyam.  It would be great served with grilled meats.$32

2005 Zinfandel, Red Hills, Lake County - I have to hold this wine in a special place in my heart because my dad grew up in Lake County.  It's a very nice little wine with a spicy taste. $41

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa - Very good. $64

2006 Cabernet - is a little young but will be good. Not on market.

 

 

Great stuff! Full-bodied Cab. $54.95

Gary and I really liked this for the value at about $40 per bottle.  It was part of the 3 Killer Cabs tasting at Bounty Hunter. The waiter also said they do a really great tour.  Something to look forward to next time!

We had this as part of a 3 Killer Cabs tasting at Bounty Hunter.  It was good

Great "Big Boy" red.  Retails $139.