Another trip through Napa poses unique results when we taste our way through what we believed was to be an incredible day of fine wine to be enjoyed. While the day didn't let us down in the end, it started off horribly off track from our hopes. Naturally, any trip to Napa is first kicked off with a stop to Chandon for some bubbles. Tim hadn't been there before so at least it was a new experience for someone. Part of being a club member at Chandon is that every time you visit, they give you a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. Jen loves this perk and we take advantage every time we drive even remotely close to Yountville.
We had setup a quiet day of wine tasting at only 3 wineries. Chandon first at 11:30am then off to Cakebread for a 1:30 appointment and finally Caymus for 3pm visit. I spread it out this time to give ample time in between for snacking and sobering up. Jen is little girl with little tolerance for alcohol and can't take too much at once.
Cakebread Vineyards
After enjoying some time at Chandon, we headed to Cakebread where we arrived about 45 minutes early. I packed some snacks that morning so the three of us pulled out the bread and cheese, opened the car doors and turned up the stereo a bit. The site was a bite unique by wine country standards. While we weren't blasting music or making a mess, we were young people enjoying a sunny afternoon with some food and tunes. We had killed about a half hour snacking and bobbing our heads to the likes of Gwen Stefani's new album.Enough time passed so we headed in to see if we could jump start things.
We approached the entrance and were pleasantly greeted by an older gentleman were we signed in and received yellow guest cards. He then directed us back outside to another entrance which appeared to be the sales room. We got branded glasses (ours to keep for the $10 fee) and were poured a splash of the Sauvignon Blanc while awaiting our guide to direct us for our formal tasting.
I liked how they were conducting the tasting. Clearly, we were about to head off where a more private tasting would occur but in the mean time, the impressively hospitable, personable staff was a delight and enjoying a taste of wine while we waited was a nice touch. Granted, none of us were big fans of the Sauvignon Blanc (way too tropical) but the gesture didn't go unappreciated.
Not long after our arrival, we were introduced to our guide and a small group of us headed through their winery and fermentation rooms to a massive building housing their barrels quietly aging.
On our way, through all the sites of large tanks and endless rows of barrels, not once did our guide mention anything about the winery's history, winemaking style, approach or anything. Just a smile and hand gestures to follow her. I was quite surprised by this. I didn't mind because I had read up a great deal on Cakebread from their website but I doubt I'd feel the same if I didn't know much about wine or the process. It was probably decided to move people through quickly to keep tastings under a reasonable amount of time but I know if I was new to wine and had never seen any of that before, I'd want to stop and snap some pictures.
Either way, our guide began explaining some of these details once arrived at our station for tasting. Our small group huddled around the bar awaiting what was to come. Our guide spoke about the wine as she walked to each person and poured a small splash. The more wines we tasted the further we stood from the bar. We couldn't help stair at each other quixotically. I thought this would have been better stuff. We ALL thought it would have been better. For some reason there were fruit flies or gnats flying around our group and one of them eventually made their way into Jen's glass for an intoxicating bath. At the rate we were enjoying these wines and then having an insect fall into your glass, Jen poured out the remaining taste and called it quits. "What's the point" she whispered.
I had to agree. There were a couple wines that I thought were decent but by no means worth their price tag. We tasted one more wine after that which was their Syrah. Again, good but not on value.
We were then directed back to the sales room were we could purchase any of wine. Without missing a stride, all three of us walked out with hesitation.
The bar is set higher than usual when you're in the neighborhood of other wineries such as Heitz, Mondavi and Tchelistcheff. In regards to the tasting experience, it was wonderful. The people are incredibly nice and polite and the process by which they perform their tasting is unique and very enjoyable. For us, it simply came down to the fact that we didn't care for their wine at all.
You can't like everything I suppose.
Caymus Vineyards
Do I need to say anything else?... Believe it or not, I've only had one bottle of Caymus Cabernet and it was even their "good" stuff. I fell in love with their Napa Valley Cabernet over a filet mignon dinner for Jen's Birthday. She may have gotten gifts and an extravagant dinner, but personally speaking, I enjoyed practically that entire bottle to myself that night and left feeling as if it was my birthday! Caymus and
Cabernet are synonymous. If you're talking about who the heavy hitters are in Napa Valley and Caymus isn't mentioned then its obvious you've never had them before.
A good friend of mine, Mark from Franciscan, met us there at 3pm for a quick wine transaction and I managed to twist his arm to taste with us. Its not often I get to see him so I seized opportunity and extended the invitation.
We signed in for our original group of 3 and asked if it was a problem that we were now a group of four. They were very accommodating to the change. Once of entire tasting group arrived (around 10 of us total) we entered the formal tasting room where glasses on place mats lined the table. We quickly took to our seats and began tasting.
To the public, Caymus makes two Cabernets; the Napa Valley and Special Selection. If you're in the area and make an appointment, you are treated to taste the other wines they produce that are only accessible from their winery-- specifically that day, a Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel were in the mix. The production of these non-Cabernet wines are so small that they never see distribution beyond the four walls we sat.
The Sauvignon Blanc was incredibly unique. It was from 1997 and was barrel fermented giving it a full, round mouth feel while the fruit provided the tropical flavors classic to Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay lovers would never be able to tell the difference in a blind tasting. I guarantee it!
The Zinfandel was also very good. It was 100% from the Monte Rosso Vineyards. Big, heavy extraction and juicy. Big earthy flavors with bursting berries and spice. In my opinion, its hard to screw up Zinfandel from Monte Rosso so it wasn't a surprise that Caymus's version was very good also. Since Gallo recently purchased the vineyards, this is their last vintage of Zinfandel from Monte Rosso. They weren't able to keep their contract for the grapes like many other wineries are finding as well. Keep your fingers crossed that Gallo doesn't desecrate the vineyard by blending the juice into jugs...
We wrapped up with the Napa Valley Cabernet. Classic. Superb. Stunning. Fuck, I love this wine.
The tasting process was much more formal than most. Private, seating with a glass for each wine. The older gentleman pouring for us spoke about the specifics of each wine as we tasted and answered any questions along the way. There was no talking except for quick and quiet whispering to the person seated next to you.
Tim actually commented that he didn't enjoy this kind of tasting. He likes to talk to his companions about the wine be tasted to learn more and gauge his palate accordingly. I can see his argument. I wanted to talk with Mark being that a lot has been going on with the two of us but with the tasting set up this way, side-discussions were out of the question. I tend to like this type of tasting any other day though. When the people pouring continue to talk through each wine they tend not to probe the taster for their opinion leaving me to conclude my own thoughts without having to sugar-coat an answer for them.
Either way, nothing changes the fact that their wines were awesome! It was a treat to taste their smaller production wines and even revisit my love-affair with their Cabernet. I can't recommend them enough. Make the appointment to visit and taste with them. I assure you, they won't disappoint.
