Mar

24

paristastingwinner.jpg

Since we had the fortune of spending a decadent night at Calistoga Ranch (as we described two weeks ago), we decided to combine the trip with a visit to nearby Chateau Montelena.  We had recently finished reading Judgment of Paris by George M. Taber, the only reporter to have witnessed the 1976 blind tasting contest that transformed the industry world-wide, and we were eager to pay homage to the winery that produced the winning Chardonnay for this very contest. 

Mistakenly wandering past the winery’s entrance, we found ourselves facing a large gothic-like building, which we later realized was the back of the winery.  Just a little farther down the path we took a few minutes to stroll onto the colorful (but a little kitschy for our tastes) islands built into the Asian-inspired Jade Lake.

We finally managed to locate the tasting room — it’s actually not difficult to find — and squeezed ourselves in at the very end of the tasting bar.   

We enjoyed each of the wines we tasted, and most of all the grande finale $125 2004 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.   While we were not inspired to purchase any bottles on the spot, we decided to purchase a future case of the 2007 Estate Cab (the year that our son was born), which will be offered to the public this November.

One postscript: as we were leaving, we asked our pourer, somewhat sarcastically, whether he had ever tasted the 1973 Chardonnay that took first prize in the famous Paris tasting.  He answered, “Yes, in fact last year, and it was perfect.”  A Chardonnay aging for 34 years… wow!  That statement, coupled with the shrine in the back to the very same bottle, certainly made our pilgrimage to Montelena rewarding.

www.ChateauMontelena.com
1429 Tubbs Lane
Calistoga, California 94515
(707) 942-5105

Feb

4

Happy belated Super Bowl, everyone. 

Wow, what a game, huh?  Congrats to the Giants fans out there on a well-deserved win.  As a tortured Eagles fan, I’ve spent a large chunk of my life disliking your franchise, but I am going to let bygones be bygones for just a few days in honor of your team’s achievement.

… But then I’m going to need a drink.  A big one.  And for those of you that are also looking for a place to drown your sorrows — whether you’re a Patriots fan, an Eagles fan or just a fan of another team that let you down – or even celebrate a victory, we’ve picked out a special winery for today.

dog-on-barrel.jpgVincent Arroyo is a tiny winery with an annual case production of just over 8,000 a year.  In fact, it’s so small that while some of the wines they make are available for purchase, much of their business is in selling Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah futures, meaning that you buy a case while the wine is still aging in the barrel.  As you can imagine, you literally won’t find anything they sell for sale anywhere else.   

What makes Vincent Arroyo so special as wineries go is that it’s located in Napa Valley, but so far north that the area is relatively tourist-free.  That adds up to an exceptional environment for growing Bordeaux grapes and no crowds. 

The winery itself is nestled in a picturesque area surrounded by small hills, and the tasting room doubles as barrel storage.  There are picnic tables and even a friendly, happy winery dog. 

On our visit, we were fortunate enough to meet Vincent himself, who was pouring out a bottle from his personal library — a Cab from the 1991 vintage.  While my wife, my mom and I were glowing from our luck in tasting a 17 year-old wine, my father, who doesn’t drink wine, sat on a bench outside and seemed to be soaking in the calm and beauty of the environment surrounding him.   

While I hate to let out the secret of such a good thing, it’s difficult to discuss wineries and not recommend this one for both wine enthusiasts and mourning football fans alike.

www.VincentArroyo.com
2361 Greenwood Avenue
Calistoga, California 94515
(707) 942-6995
*Tastings by appointment; no tasting fee.

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